PROPERTY TAX CAP DEBATE ALMOST LEADS TO SENATORIAL BRAWL

While debating the legislation that would impose a 2% cap on property tax increases in New Jersey, Republican State Senator Mike Doherty used a portion of his time to argue for a new school funding formula. It's Doherty's belief that the current formula heavily favors urban districts.

I was standing roughly 40 feet away from him, but I could still hear Democratic State Senator Ray Lesniak say "Not true" on several occasions.

When Doherty was done speaking, GOP State Senator Bob Singer took his turn at the mic and Doherty took a walk over to confront Lesniak. Doherty was speaking softly and I couldn't hear him from my vantage point, but I could clearly hear Lesniak as he angrily said, "Get out of my face!"

It truly looked as if the two were going to come to blows. Former Governor and current State Senator Dick Codey must have thought so too because he got up from his seat and stood between Lesniak and Doherty. Within seconds Doherty was smiling and joking with Codey.

Codey is telling reporters that it was Poland v. Ireland and he was remaining neutral. He also says that Lesniak thanked him for interveing and told him he would have, "punched his (Doherty's) nose down his throat."

It would have been very interesting if fists had flown. I know you can get arrested for that, but it's possible an offense like that could get you booted from the Upper House.

As a side note, one other Senator who wishes to remain anonymous said, "That was a welcome distraction from Singer's speech."