LANGUAGE PASSES COMMITTEE

January 29, 2007 - 6:12pm
PRESS RELEASE

Senate President Richard J. Codey

CODEY PROPOSAL TO ERASE DISCRIMINATORY AND INSENSITIVE
CONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGE PASSES COMMITTEE

TRENTON - The Senate State Government Committee today approved a measure sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey that would erase more than 150 years of discrimination in New Jersey's constitution by removing insensitive and discriminatory language that currently bars certain groups from voting rights. SCR-174 proposes a constitutional amendment that would replace the language that currently reads: "No idiot or insane person should enjoy the right of suffrage."

"This is yet another big step towards removing the stigma of mental illness," said Sen. Codey. "We must bring mental health into the new century. The fact that this language has remained in our constitution for so long is a disgrace. Not only is it insensitive, but it does not take into account the individual circumstances of people with varying degrees of disabilities."

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