(Acting) Comm. Chris Cerf was scheduled to appear Thursday before the Senate for a confirmation hearing, but Sen. Sweeney has cancelled the appearance because he’s not sure that Cerf actually moved from his former town of Montclair, in Essex County. Due to an archaic Senate practice called “Senatorial Courtesy” the representative of the nominee’s county can forestall the confirmation, which is exactly what Sen. Ron Rice has been doing. Apparently Cerf is also claiming that he has a home in Somerset County (where Sen. Nick Scutari had indicated that he wouldn’t get in his way). But can Cerf be in two places at the same time?
That’s a far dicier trick than having “Acting” appended to his title. That qualification has no impact on his ability to exercise his duties and responsibilities; the current theatrics serves only to make Rice appear recalcitrant and, well, discourteous. Maybe someone should just hand Cerf an Equity card and let him do his job.
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