12th District Assembly members Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande are pleased to announce the passage by the General Assembly of A- 4159, a bill that requires the State to perform an independent study on the effects of privatizing 300 housing units located on Naval Weapons Station Earle.
“This bill is so important to the safety and well-being of the people of Monmouth County,” said Casagrande. “It will give us the financial and security related answers that we didn’t get from the Navy’s Environmental Impact Study. We cannot assume that moving 300 new families, with a likely total of 1,000 new citizens, into our area will not have an impact. We also cannot assume that there are no security risks with allowing civilians unfettered access to the heart of an ammunitions depot. With all of the risks involved with such a project, it is not safe to assume anything. We need the facts, and with this bill, we will get them.”
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The Assembly members of the 11th and 12th Legislative Districts are encouraged by the move today by the Assembly Education Committee to release a bill that would require certain conditions be met in order for school districts to provide their employees with tuition assistance for coursework or additional compensation upon acquisition of academic credits or completion of a degree program.
This bill was created in the wake of the revelation that certain members of school administrations as well as teachers, were receiving higher degrees from non-accredited schools or “diploma mills,” for which they received pay raises. This bill will require that the institution for which the employee is receiving the reimbursement be fully accredited with the State of New Jersey.
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Senators Bill Baroni and Jennifer Beck, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Kevin O’Toole, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, commented today on a report issued by the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) detailing waste and abuse at the local government level.
“The examples of waste and abuse of taxpayers dollars detailed in this report are appalling,” Beck stated. “The examples of abuse are widespread and cross partisan lines. Sadly it seems that some local officials are not interested in being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
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Senate Version of Bill Sponsored by Senator Beck Awaits Action
Legislation sponsored by Assembly Republican members Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande that requires the state Treasurer to issue a cost benefit analysis and security report for the conversion of military housing to civilian housing at Earle Naval Weapons Station was unanimously approved today by the Assembly Military & Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“This legislation is the first step in providing a thorough analysis of this ill-conceived concept of converting military housing for civilian use,” said O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth and Mercer. “There are many issues to be considered, including the economic impact on surrounding school districts and taxpayers as well as security concerns centered around housing civilians on a weapons base.
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October 30, 2009
Contact: Layli Whyte / (732) 933-1591
District 12
The 12th District Legislators would like to announce the indictments of two caretakers in the case of Tara O’Leary, a developmentally disabled woman who was neglected so severely in a sponsor home that it lead to her death. Tara’s tragic death inspired the creation of “Tara’s Law” which seeks to protect the developmentally disabled living in sponsor homes.
“This is a validation of the work we have done to get to the bottom of what really happened to Tara,” said Senator Jennifer Beck. “Tara’s Law is the first step in working to increase the protections of our most vulnerable citizens, and as this court case continues, we will find out what other changes need to be made in the system. Tara’s death is an unspeakable tragedy, and we will continue to make sure it never happens again.”
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October 20, 2009
Contact: Layli Whyte / (732) 933-1591
Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-12)
As the price for gasoline increased for the sixth straight day yesterday, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon said Governor Corzine’s promise to raise the gas tax would add insult to injury for New Jersey consumers who are looking for a break somewhere in the economy.
“Despite the fact that demand is down, prices continue to rise and impact the consumer,” said O’Scanlon. “The only thing more enigmatic than the price of gas is Governor Corzine’s ongoing support to raise the tax on it. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he reshuffles the deck and deals the toll increase card again.”
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Governor Jon Corzine’s proposal to address the projected $8 billion budget deficit for next year’s state budget is nothing more than the deceitful approach he used to balance this year’s spending plan said Assembly Republican Budget Committee members, Joseph Malone, Alison Little McHose, Declan O’Scanlon, and David Wolfe today.
Corzine revealed the details to the Star-Ledger’s editorial board in Trenton yesterday, saying he would make a smaller contribution to the state pension fund, continue the income tax surcharge and not fully fund state aid to local school districts.
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October 7, 2009
Contact: Layli Whyte / (732) 933-1591
District 12
Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande have extended invitations to state and federal representatives to the Oct. 27 rally hosted by NOPE, the Neighbors Opposed to Privatization at Earle.
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October 2, 2009
Contact: Layli Whyte / (732) 933-1591
District 12
Common-Sense Pension Reform Sponsored by 12th District Legislators Backed by State Health Benefits Review Commission
The State Health Benefits Review Commission recommended two pieces of legislation for approval that would end the practice of giving publicly-funded pensions to part-time employees and appointees to county tax boards.
“This is one step toward restoring sanity for taxpayers who cannot afford to pay overly generous benefits to part-time employee as a reward for being politically-connected, ” said Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, who sponsors A-3959, a bill that would require members of the state pension system to be full-time employees.
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September 23, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12)
Corzine Must Reform “Extraordinary Aid” Program To Stop Mismanagement
Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) called on the Corzine Administration to acknowledge that recent grants awarded through the State’s Extraordinary Aid Program are random and unfair and to immediately reform the program. The stated purpose of the Extraordinary Aid Program, run by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), is to allow municipalities experiencing extraordinary financial problems, not of their own making, to compete for approximately $25 million in discretionary grants to mitigate property tax increases.
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