NJ DUers: Lt. Governor.....

[PfNJ]

I haven't seen a discussion on this yet, so.....

NJ absolutely needs one. We've had two Acting Governors/Senate Presidents in each of the last two gubernatorial terms. I don't think the bill that just passed the State Assembly is sufficient, never mind the fact that it won't pass through the Senate, since it would have the party nominee select a "running mate", I believe the position should be an independent elected office, (I also believe the Attorney General should be an elected office, but that's another story) even if it means you could end up with a Governor and Lt. Governor of different parties, which could also happen under the current system, if the State Senate is controlled by the party other than the Governor's. The State Senate will never allow it, though, they have a vested interest in protecting their "turf". Their weak counter-proposal will be to have the Acting Governor resign his post as Senate President, which might be seen as a start, but would actually pretty much kill any chance at creating the Lt. Gov position anytime soon, and it would also not change the fact that the most powerful Governor in the nation was not elected by the people of the state, only by a simple majority of voters in his/her district.

Any thoughts?