The only hard part about having a blog that's supposed to ripped from the headlines — like "Law & Order," but with no viewers — is that some days, the news just gives you too many easy targets.

Today's a day like that, but the one that has to take the cake is the story of an Assemblywoman who has a suggestion that could simultaneously solve soaring property taxes, build new schools in urban areas and create jobs.

No, not really. Actually, all Grace Spencer wants is to make sure when Fido is riding shotgun, he's wearing a seatbelt. From The Star-Ledger:

New Jersey's law on how drivers should transport their pets is vague. Spencer believes the law isn't tough enough. After she talked to the students, she moved her teacup Pomeranian, AJ, from riding unharnessed in the front seat to buckled up in back.

"AJ got harnessed. He's not happy, but he's harnessed in the back seat," she said. "I realize there are people that think that is going too far, but I'm optimistic it will move through the Assembly."

I have to imagine pet owners who are worried enough about their pets that they willingly buy and use harnesses for every car trip are probably too afraid to actually get in the car with their lovable Fluffkins, and in fact probably don't leave the house all that often to begin with, so this seems like just another for those nanny-state Democrats to tell us all how to live our lives happy, healthy and in perfect tolerance of one another.

Which would be true, except the Republican wing has leaped right into action, with Jay Webber defending his bill to allow pets to ride restraint-free and, if they like, play cards, smoke cigarettes, drink grain alcohol and take advantage of loopholes to pay less in corporate taxes.

Unfortunately, the GOP might be better off staying silent on this issue. Turns out there's a really well-known Republican who has some unusual ideas on pets riding in cars.

I'm even more irreverent on Twitter @joe_arney.