The Chamber

Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 11/06/2001
Next Election:
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Ellen; Children: Karen, Lisa
Birth date: 03/25/1947
Birthplace: Scranton, PA
Home City: Piscataway NJ
Religion: Catholic

Profession

Owner, Attorney, Bob Smith and Associates, 1996-present Partner, Smith and Schechter Law Firm, 1981-1996 Professor, Chemistry/Environmental Science, Middlesex County College, 1970-1981 Teacher, Lourdesmont High School, 1968-1970

Education

JD, Seton Hall University School of Law, 1981 MS, Environmental Science, Rutgers University, 1973 MS, Chemistry, University of Scranton, 1970 BA, History, University of Scranton, 1969

Committees

Environment and Energy
Judiciary

S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 3172 Permits Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: -

S 3173 Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 958 Permits the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

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S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 3172 Permits Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: -

S 3173 Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 958 Permits the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

S 3173 Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 958 Permits the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

S 3173 Authorizes Nonprofit Organizations to Construct and Manage Public Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 3172 Permits Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: -

A 2806 Conversion of Certain Private Schools to Charter Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 4000 2011-2012 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2937 Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 805 Regulation of Senior Tenants' Rent
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 2899 Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2756 Permitting Registered Voters to Receive Mail-In Ballots Automatically
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1216 Loans for Women and Minority-Owned Businesses
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

S2636 Reduction of Toll Road Prices
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 958 Permits the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S2636 Reduction of Toll Road Prices
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2381 Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

ACR 151 Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2139 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

A 2740 Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 29 Reducing the property tax levy cap
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

A 3009 Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2139 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3009 Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 3000 2010-2011 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 29 Reducing the property tax levy cap
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2090 Car Inspection Waiver
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 2105 Delaying the Effective Date of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2094 Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 2036 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2105 Delaying the Effective Date of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 29 Reducing the property tax levy cap
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2139 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2090 Car Inspection Waiver
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SCR 108 Appeal to Governor Against Joining Federal Health Care Lawsuit
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 10 Increasing Income Tax Rate on Income Exceeding $1 Million
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 799 Adopted Individuals' Access to Birth Certificates
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

A 4378 Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 119 Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

A 4378 Exception to the Ban on Former State Employees Working for the Casino Industry
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 119 Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

A 2029 Chiropractic Regulation Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 1967 Legalizing Same Sex Marriage
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 339 Handgun Purchasing Limitations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3901 Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4100 2009-2010 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3901 Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4048 2009 Economic Package
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 702 Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A4141 Eliminating Non-Operating School Districts
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4048 2009 Economic Package
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 702 Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3901 Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 702 Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4048 2009 Economic Package
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 702 Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4111 State Employee Wage Increases
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

S 1880 Establishing Criminal Sentencing Commission
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

A 3101 Creating Homelessness Trust Funds
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

A 2451 Vote by Mail
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: -

S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2091 Formalizing Palimony Agreements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: -

S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2091 Formalizing Palimony Agreements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: -

S 119 Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 2873 School Construction Bonds
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 2873 School Construction Bonds
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 2800 2008-2009 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 500 Education Funding Reform
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 500 Education Funding Reform
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4559 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4314 Traffic Control Signal Monitoring
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4225 National Popular Vote Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 171 Eliminating the Death Penalty
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 3000 2007-2008 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 1044 Notification of Job Loss and Plant Closures
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2193 Presidential Primaries
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4714 Fur Clothing Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2007 2006-2007 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4707 Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4714 Fur Clothing Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4901 Sales Tax Bill of 2006
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4705 Tobacco Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4714 Fur Clothing Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4901 Sales Tax Bill of 2006
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4707 Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4705 Tobacco Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 4707 Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1471 Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 2813 New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

S 2907 Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2907 Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 2907 Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 1412 Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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