New Jersey news round-up

Several pieces today from our neighbor to the east:

1. The bill to move NJ's Presidential primary from June to February has passed and is headed to Governor Cody's desk. Since he has already called for such a move, it's essentially a done deal.

   "Every election cycle, New Jersey bankrolls a large portion of presidential candidates' campaigns, even though not every candidate stays in the race long enough to be given a vote here," [Sen.] Vitale said. "This bill would ensure that campaigns would have to spend campaign cash in New Jersey to be competitive..."

2. NJ legislators have passed a bill to protect consumers from ID theft.
   
   
3. The Senate also passed a bill to establish a housing trust fund to look out for the mentally ill and others with special needs -- an idea of Governor Cody, who takes a special interest in mental health concerns.

   In April, the state was sued because a lack of housing and other services was keeping nearly 1,000 patients in psychiatric hospitals past their discharge dates - some for years.

   Unclear what the Assembly thinks of this bill.

Interesting doings; I wonder if PA pols are noticing any of it...