The Assembly Appropriations Committee this afternoon approved a supplemental, which appropriates $2 million to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to support costs associated with hosting NAACP National Convention in Atlantic City.

“It is not unusual,” said Assembly Committee Chairman John Burzichelli (D-3), but sources grumbled prodigiously about the awarding of monies to a nonprofit group that might otherwise avidly criticize legislative leadership.

Senator Nick Scutari (D-22) – the incoming senate president – was the primary sponsor.

It passed along party lines, with the Republican members of the committee voting no.

The vote came after a long day of lame duck bills ramming through the committee against the backdrop of leadership finally getting behind a pared-down abortion rights protection bill.