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Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40), a member of the Judiciary Committee who voted in support of the nomination of Bruce Harris to the New Jersey Supreme Court, said on NJTV that the rejection of Harris by the committee was little more than a political tactic by Democrats to derail Governor Chris Christie.
In response to Thursday’s news report regarding the indictment of Elizabeth School Board President Marie Munn on charges of theft by deception and tampering with public records or information related to the free lunch program, State Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblywoman Alison McHose and Assemblyman Gary Chiusano, all R-Sussex, Warren and Morris, said much more is involved in this issue than allegations of fraud in the state’s free lunch program.
A State Auditor report issued in June that sampled 10 school districts indicated that state aid is increased between $4,700 and $5,700 for each student enrolled in the lunch program. The audit also found that 37 percent of students in the program were ineligible.
Tune in to tonight’s episode of 20/20 on ABC at 10 PM for a story about teacher meltdowns in the classroom, including shocking incidents of teachers bullying students caught on tape.
The segment will highlight legislation sponsored by Senator Diane Allen that would speed the disciplinary process for teachers and other school officials found to have engaged in bullying, intimidation, or harassment of students.
The full Senate unanimously passed today a bill sponsored by Senator Kevin O’Toole, R-Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, to require wheelchairs are properly secured by emergency and commercial transporters. This legislation aims to prevent tragedies such as the case of Hanson Kim Tu Chan, an 86-yeaer-old Fort Lee resident who died after suffering a broken neck during a 2008 ambulance ride to physical therapy.
“I am proud of my legislative colleagues for stepping up to protect the most-vulnerable New Jerseyans from potentially deadly safety risks,” O’Toole said. “It is paramount that passengers in wheelchairs are afforded extra measures to be belted in.”
The full Senate unanimously passed today Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman’s bill to remove financial impediments hindering towns from merging.
“The passage of this bill brings a positive message toNew Jersey’s overburdened property taxpayers that there is a bipartisan commitment in the legislature to lower our nation-high property taxes,” said Bateman, R-Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Sussex. “We must provide our ample number of local governments with any possible measures to encourage money saving shared services and mergers.”
The State Senate has passed legislation sponsored by 9th District Legislators Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove that would prevent first responders from photographing persons whom they are assisting or disclosing photographs of such persons without their consent.
Senator Connors is the prime sponsor of the legislation (S-199) in the Senate, while Assemblyman Rumpf and Assemblywoman Gove have joined as cosponsors on the companion bill (A-789).
Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth) issued this statement following the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on the nomination of Bruce Harris to the New Jersey Supreme Court:
Confirming and granting tenure to candidates for our state’s highest court is a responsibility I do not take lightly. In the past, it has led me to vote against nominees who I believe did not understand their constitutional role as a justice or were not qualified for the job. I stand by my vote in favor of Bruce Harris today, just as I stand by my votes against Justices Albin (2009), Poritz (2003), Long (2006), and as the only vote “no” in a 36-1 vote on Justice LaVecchia in 2006.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) issued the following statement on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s action today in rejecting Bruce Harris’s nomination to the New Jersey Supreme Court:
It is New Jersey’s loss that Bruce Harris has been denied the opportunity to serve on the Supreme Court. His intellect, personal story, professional record, and educational background qualify Bruce by any objective measure to serve on the Court.
Senators Gerald Cardinale, Kevin O’Toole, Christopher “Kip” Bateman, and Jennifer Beck, Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued this joint statement following the committee’s rejection of Bruce Harris to the New Jersey Supreme Court:
Once again, the committee’s majority has applied unsound arguments and unreasonable standards to the confirmation process to mask partisan, ideological motives for rejecting a well-qualified nominee.
Senator Joe Pennacchio, R-Essex, Morris, Passaic, renews his call for this legislature to pass the “Transparency in Government Act” to prevent abusive spending of public moneys by New Jersey’s community colleges, as detailed in state Comptroller Boxer’s report released Thursday.
“Comptroller Boxer has found deeply troubling levels of arbitrary, wasteful spending thatNew Jersey’s community colleges are getting away with,” Pennacchio said. “The ‘Transparency in Government Act’ would make community colleges and other entities own up to this abuse in the public eye and report spending to the state Treasurer, making people immediately aware of college presidents being reimbursed for country club memberships, spouse’s travel or $400 lobster dinners.”
