Senator Sean Kean, Assemblyman Dave Rible and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini of New Jersey’s 11th Legislative District.
$400 Billion in Federal Funds at Stake for Local Communities
Senator Sean Kean, Assemblyman Dave Rible and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini are strongly urging all residents to fill out the 2010 United States Census.
“The purpose of the census is to make sure that everyone residing in the United States is properly counted,” said Kean. “Encouraging residents to complete the survey will help to ensure that our area receives an accurate amount of appropriate resources.”
Legislators Eager to Work to Address the Important Issues Impacting New Jersey
Assemblyman Dave Rible, Minority Whip, and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini have been selected to serve on two new committees in the General Assembly.
Rible will continue to serve on the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee and will now serve on the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee as well. The Telecommunications and Utilities Committee is responsible for monitoring all segments of the telecommunications and utilities industry in New Jersey. The panel oversees issues affecting cable television, the Internet, public utilities, telecommunications technologies, and the energy industry.
Governor Issues Executive Order to Freeze COAH
Senator Sean Kean and Assembly members Dave Rible and Mary Pat Angelini (all R-11) held a town meeting last night in Wall Township to discuss updates regarding the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) rules. Many residents were in attendance to learn how the rules will mean for their town.
Governor Chris Christie issued an executive order to halt COAH and created an advisory panel to provide recommendations for this policy within 90 days. During the 90 day period, the Council on Affordable Housing cannot take any action to process applications for substantive certification or to take any other actions to implement the COAH third round regulations.
Legislation sponsored by Assembly Republican members Caroline Casagrande and Mary Pat Angelini that will require hospitals and physician offices to make more widely available information about a health care appeals program was approved today by the Assembly Health & Senior Services Committee.
Casagrande explained that very few residents are aware of the low-cost program which they can utilize to have a determination made by an independent panel of physicians as to whether a medical procedure is medically necessary if it is first denied by their insurer. She added that in a state with 2.9 million people enrolled in HMOs or other managed care programs that make them eligible for the appeals program, only 326 residents filed appeals through the program during the first six months of 2009. The fee for the appeal is $25.
Measure Intended to Promote Transparency
Assemblyman Dave Rible today introduced legislation that will require the reporting of campaign contributions by candidates seeking election to a public office in a school district.
“The disclosures will promote transparency in school board elections by allowing the public to monitor campaign contributions collected by candidates,” said Rible. “Everyone running for any type of office should adhere to same standards of disclosure.”
Legislators Stress the Need for a Stable Source of Funding for Dying Ground Zero Responders
Assemblyman Dave Rible and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini are urging President Obama to dedicate permanent federal funding for the 9/11 first responders who are sick and dying as a result of their heroic actions following the terrorist attacks.
Just hours before his State of the Union address, the Obama Administration outraged Americans when they announced the president would not back H.R. 84, the Congressional bill that would guarantee long-term funding for healthcare and research for Ground Zero workers. Because of the backlash from 9/11 first responders, residents and lawmakers, the Administration reversed course and announced that President Obama would double next year’s budget for treating the sick to $150 million.
Concerned Citizens Are Invited to Attend to Share Their Thoughts and Concerns
Assembly Republican Whip Dave Rible invites Monmouth County residents to attend a special bipartisan public hearing hosted by members of the General Assembly Leadership to hear first-hand from state residents their ideas on how to make New Jersey a better and more affordable place to live. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 2nd, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm in Committee Room 11 at the State House Annex in Trenton.
Measure Would Limit Artificial Reef Use to Recreational Anglers
Legislation introduced by Senator Sean Kean (R-11) that would restrict the use of New Jersey’s artificial reefs to recreational fishermen will be heard by the Senate Environment Committee Monday, February 1. The hearing will be in committee room 10 at 10 A.M. in the State House Annex. Senator Kean will testify in favor of the bill at the hearing.
“The state spends large amounts of time and effort constructing and maintaining artificial reefs in local waters, ” Kean stated. “It is important that we take the necessary steps to protect our artificial reef system from damage of over fishing.”
In light of the recent massive earthquakes that have devastated the country of Haiti, the office of Senator Sean Kean, Assemblyman Dave Rible, and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini has been designated as a drop off location for any residents interested in donating to the millions of people who may have been affected by the quake. New Jersey and the local communities in Monmouth County are home to many Haitian immigrants who have surely been impacted by this natural disaster in some way.
Builders Remedy Suits May Result in Hundreds of Affordable Housing Units
Senator Sean Kean and Assembly members Dave Rible and Mary Pat Angelini held a town meeting last night at the Ocean Township High School Auditorium to discuss the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) rules. Hundreds of residents were in attendance to voice their opposition to the COAH rules that will result in the construct of hundreds of units of affordable housing due to builders remedy lawsuits that have been filed against the town.
“Ocean residents are obviously concerned about the impact the construction of new affordable housing units will have on their community,” said Kean. “Requiring the town to build hundreds of new units will dramatically change this community as it can result in overdevelopment and higher property taxes.”
