Senator Phil Haines (R-Burlington) issued the following statement regarding Governor Christie’s budget address today.
“Governor Christie has shown that he is willing to make the hard choices and deliver on his promise to shrink the size of government and end the policies of out-of-control spending.
Legislation Sponsored by Sen. Phil Haines Would Outlaw Burglars’ Tool
Legislation sponsored by Senator Phil Haines, a member of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, that would ban the use of “Bump Keys” unanimously cleared the committee today. Bump keys are specially designed keys that allow amateurs to pick locks in a fraction of a second.
“These kinds of keys are clearly used by burglars to gain access to their victim’s residences and places of business,” Haines stated. “These keys could also be used by terrorists to gain access to secure areas that protect critical infrastructure in our cities and towns.”
New Jersey will be better prepared to respond to calamities including natural disasters, terrorist attack and other large-scale catastrophes now that a bill sponsored by Senator Phil Haines has become law.
Senate Bill 451 requires the Office of Emergency Management to maintain a directory of emergency supplies.
8th District Legislators Earned Perfect Scores for Being ‘Most Vigorous Defenders of the Taxpayer’
Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder all earned 100 percent grades and were named “Taxpayer Champions” when the New Jersey Taxpayers Alliance released its 2009 Taxpayers Legislative scorecard this week.
“The Taxpayers Alliance confirms our commitment to protecting the interests of taxpayers and assuring that tax money is spent responsibly and transparently,” said Assemblywoman Addiego. “New Jerseyans are fed up with Governor Corzine’s propensity to spend money and increase taxes and fees.”
“Dogfighting Zero Tolerance Act of 2009″ Guarantees Minimum of Five Years Behind Bars for Anyone Convicted of Dogfighting Charges
Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder have drafted legislation putting some badly needed teeth into New Jersey’s law banning dogfighting.
“The Michael Vick incident exposed the horrifying secrets of dogfighting for all of us to see,” said Assemblyman Rudder. “As Vick prepares for his return to the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, we are acting shut down the vile, inhumane activity of dogfighting in New Jersey.”
Senators Philip Haines (R- Burlington) and Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Somerset) have drafted legislation that would address the ill-advised Appellate Division court decision, Homes Of Hope, Inc. vs. Eastampton Township Land Use Planning Board , which trumps local zoning regulations, mandating more government housing in local towns.
Legislation Sponsored by Haines, Addiego & Rudder Signed into Law
A bill sponsored by Sen. Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder to help smooth the transition from the military base to the college campus for New Jersey’s veterans has been signed into law.
“We owe a great deal to our veterans who have volunteered to fight for our country. Their military training has prepared them for the challenges on the ground in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. This new law will help them adjust to a tour-of-duty as a civilian on a college campus,” said Assemblyman Scott Rudder.
Committee Formed in 2007 to Provide Oversight of Housing Affordability Has Never Met
Senator Phil Haines (R-8), an appointed member of the Joint Committee on Housing Affordability, cited ongoing turmoil with New Jersey’s affordable housing laws in his call for the first meeting of the committee. The committee, created by law on March 15, 2007, has yet to meet.
Haines noted that a number of issues, including a controversial vacant land use analysis and an appellate court ruling that appears to undermine the provisions of the state’s affordable housing laws, need to be addressed.
Almost $20 million in Green Acres funding will be appropriated to the DEP to provide grants to acquire and develop lands for recreation and conservation through legislation sponsored by Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder.
The bill, signed into law today by Governor Corzine, utilizes $19,919,700 in existing Green Acres money for preservation and conservation.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee issued the following statements regarding published reports that New Jersey’s credit outlook has been put on “negative” outlook by Moody’s Investors Services. The Republican members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee are Republican Budget Officer Anthony Bucco, Senator Kevin O’Toole, Senator Steve Oroho, Senator Phil Haines, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Marcia Karrow.
