May 17, 2013
Contact: Kevin Israel / (732) 933-1591
Senator Joe Kyrillos
Obama Administration Must Be Held Accountable
The 13th District legislators today went on the record taking the Obama administration to task over the Internal Revenue Service’s actions targeting conservative groups. It has come to light in recent weeks that IRS investigators were singling out Tea Party groups for intense scrutiny when those groups applied for tax exempt status. IRS officials learned of the actions last year but said nothing.
“The outrageous actions of the IRS warrant a thorough, immediate investigation,” Senator Joseph Kyrillos said. “The resignation of an acting director does nothing to address a form of political spying at the taxpayers’ expense that does not belong in American democracy. I urge the President, Congress and the media to reveal who was targeted, why they were targeted and who directed the targeting. It would be naive to think that these decisions were made by civilian employees. Government must be held wholly accountable when it fails the people.”
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May 16, 2013
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Joe Pennacchio,
Senator Tom Kean
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. and Senate Budget Committee Member Joe Pennacchio stated the following in response to today’s announcement of New Jersey’s continued private-sector job growth and state revenue gains:
“Each month we are welcoming the good news for New Jersey families that we’re continuing to add private-sector jobs and the state’s revenues are rallying now beyond projections,” Kean said. “Members of this legislature should be inspired to act on more Republican reforms that can enhance jobs and revenue growth. Those who want to get things done should join Senate Republicans to enact more bipartisan reforms to improve the quality of life for New Jerseyans.”
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May 16, 2013
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Steve Oroho,
Senator Tom Kean
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. and Senator Steven Oroho, who both represent portions of Morris County, joined today hundreds of local residents and officials who are urging Democratic leaders not to cancel Monday’s vote to close the dangerous Fenimore Landfill in Roxbury Township, Morris County.
Hundreds of families and school children near the landfill face serious health risks due to the improper, overdue closure by the site’s private ownership group. Kean and Oroho sent a letter today to Senator Richard Codey, urging him to support legislative remedy S2617, sponsored by fellow Morris County Senators Anthony Bucco and Joe Pennacchio.
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May 16, 2013
Contact: George Mast / (609) 847-3600
Senator Joe Kyrillos,
Senator Robert W. Singer
Senators Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) and Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) urged Senate Democrat leaders on Thursday to reinstate vital Superstorm Sandy recovery legislation to Monday’s Community and Urban Affairs Committee agenda.
“It is appalling that Senate Democrats have decided to punish towns and residents devastated by the worst storm in our state’s history for personal, political motives,” said Singer. “Instead of choosing to work together to provide critical assistance to our residents and businesses, Senate Democrats have decided instead to hold them captive as political pawns.”
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May 16, 2013
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Anthony R. Bucco
Senator Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) urges Senate President Steven Sweeney to immediately reconsider his political order made yesterday to cancel Monday’s hearing on S2617 to properly close and seal the hazardous Fenimore Landfill in Roxbury Township.
“Yesterday’s order by the Senate President directly keeps dozens of suffering local families and hundreds of area school students at risk,” Bucco said. “I’m concerned with protecting the people of this area from this hazardous situation.”
Senator Bucco noted that so far more than 150 residents and local officials have reached out to Democratic leaders in outrage over their horrific decision. Senator Bucco and co-prime sponsor of S2617 Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris) sent this letter today to Senator Sweeney, highlighting health issues and urging that this legislation receive its due hearing on Monday.
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May 15, 2013
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
New Jersey Senate Republicans
The Senate President has decided to eliminate all Republican-sponsored bills from Monday’s Senate committee agendas. If you were planning to attend the May 20 committee meetings, please be advised that the following legislation is no longer up for consideration:
S1071, permitting conversion of fines for violation of certain municipal ordinances into tax liens; S1726, requiring municipalities to comply with state audit prior to receiving state aid; S1852, authorizing municipalities to deliver property tax bills, construction permits and receipts for payment via email; S2494, permitting municipalities to use beach fees to improve tourist areas; S2617, properly closing the hazardous Fenimore Landfill; S2618, concerning valuation of properties condemned for dune construction or beach replenishment; and S2457, making discretionary driver’s license suspension for first offense of driving without motor vehicle liability insurance.
May 14, 2013
Contact: Brad Schnure / (609) 847-3600
Senator Joe Kyrillos
Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for awarding more than $10.3 million in Community Disaster Loans to local governments in the 13th Legislative District that have suffered losses due to Hurricane Sandy.
“It’s tough for municipalities devastated by natural disasters to maintain balanced budgets and prevent property tax increases when they have to deal with the increased costs of responding to the emergency at the same time that tax revenues have declined due to homes that are damaged and destroyed, displaced residents and reduced tourism,” said Kyrillos. “That’s why the loans awarded by FEMA to local governments in Monmouth County are an important financial tool that will help our towns to maintain critical services without increasing the property tax burden on residents who are still struggling to rebuild from Hurricane Sandy.”
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May 13, 2013
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Robert W. Singer
The state Senate passed Monday an amended version of Senator Robert Singer’s legislation to eliminate a costly state mandate that county college students in New Jersey maintain and prove health insurance coverage.
“College is an increasingly expensive burden on students and families, and the state should not be in the business of making it more financially daunting,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “We can allow the next generation of leaders to focus more on their professional aspirations than whether or not they can afford to graduate.”
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May 13, 2013
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Steve Oroho
The Senate unanimously passed today legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) to facilitate charitable donations in New Jersey.
“If someone from another state wants to give to a New Jersey charity, that doesn’t make them a New Jersey resident and it should not subject them to New Jersey’s income tax,” Oroho said. “There should be a tax benefit, not penalty for people who donate to charitable causes in this state.”
Oroho’s bipartisan Senate bill 2532 disallows the Division of Taxation to consider a person’s charitable contributions as a factor in determining one’s income tax obligations.
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May 13, 2013
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9
As part of a collaborative effort with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove have introduced legislation that would strengthen current State law by allowing drug dealing offenses to be graded by “units,” rather than weight, of controlled dangerous substances, including heroin.
The intent of the 9th District Delegation’s anti-drug initiative would be to give prosecutors the option to grade the seriousness of a drug distribution offense by the number of dosage units involved, rather than the weight of the drugs. The “units” reflect how many people might have been injured by the drug dealer’s illicit conduct. Under the legislation, the charge by “units” would apply only to persons who distribute or possess illicit drugs with the intent to distribute. It would not be used to determine the seriousness of “simple possession” drug offenses.
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