Assembly And Senate Differences Could Delay Voters Referendum On North Jersey Gaming

By David Madden

TRENTON, N.J., (CBS) -- Procedure and politics might well delay legislative action on a plan that would allow New Jersey voters to decide on whether to expand gambling outside of Atlantic City next year.

Assembly and Senate leaders are wrangling over whether one or both of the proposed North Jersey casinos would be run by entities already in Atlantic City. That might not seem like a big deal. But the debate could affect how difficult it might be to get the referendum on next November's ballot. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo of Essex County thinks there could still be a vote before mid January, followed by another later next year, where Democrats alone could decide its fate. Caputo told KYW Newsradio, "Other than that, everything is exactly the same in both versions and they have an opportunity to vote on this by January 11th."

The alternative, a single legislative vote before next August which would require 60 percent approval, and therefore Republican support. North Jersey Senator Ray Lesniak thinks that's not a bad idea. "We have plenty of time to get it done," Lesniak said, "and it's better to get it done with Republican and Democratic support because this ultimately has to be approved by the voters."

It is too late to amend either version of the measure that's up for debate in the current legislative session.