Passions are running high in Trenton and throughout New Jersey these days over a topic that would not normally inspire strong feelings: milk. Advocates of a bill (A-743) that would permit the sale of raw, unpasteurized milk in the state have been pushing for its final passage before the end of the legislative session next month. Opponents have been equally vocal.
Both sides packed a hearing last week of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, which needs to vote the bill out to get it to the floor of the upper house and then to the governor. Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), committee chair, announced at the start that the bill did not have enough votes to pass. After hearing a number of speakers on both sides of the issue, he promised to hold another hearing and call for a vote before time runs out. The Senate has called sessions for January 5 and January 9, but no committee hearings are scheduled yet.
