The 12th District Legislators are pleased to announce that legislation that would require the State to prepare an independent impact study for the privatization of military housing located on Naval Weapons Station Earle passed of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. It is expected to be put up for a vote in front of the full Senate on Thursday, March 11th.
Proposal Would Help Local Government Avoid Placing Economic Burden on Property Taxpayers, Employees or School Children
All public employee salaries would be frozen for up to three years to allow local governments withstand tough economic times under legislation introduced today by Assemblymen Joe Malone and Declan O’Scanlon.
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth and Mercer, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, issued the following statement after testimony from state pension director Fred Beaver and representatives of public employee unions about the state’s troubled pension system:
“There is no denying the fact that the state’s pension system, which was strong just 10 years ago, is in ruin, but I am encouraged by the willingness expressed today to consider every options to fix New Jersey’s failing pension system.
Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande are pleased to announce that, S-1063, which prohibits local officers or employees from lobbying or advocating before any body of the municipality where he or she serves was passed out of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today.
The Assembly version of the bill, A-1619, sponsored by O’Scanlon and Casagrande was introduced in January and referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee.
Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande have recently written to officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requesting an update on the status of the Fort Monmouth revitalization plan.
The plan was submitted on September 5, 2008, but no word of approval has come back from either HUD or the Department of Defense (DOD).
The 12th District Legislators are please to announce that S-826, known as the “Diploma Mill Bill” was passed today in the State Senate.
The bill requires that in order for a public school employee to receive tuition assistance for coursework or a completion of a degree that the college or university be fully accredited. This bill was created in response to school employees using on-line “diploma mill” programs to increase their salaries.
The 12th District Legislators are pleased to announced that a bill they sponsor that would require the State Treasurer to conduct independent studies of the impact of the privatization of 300 housing units on Naval Weapons Station Earle was heard today by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. The bill passed out of committee by a vote of four to zero.
Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, who sponsors the legislation in the General Assembly with Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, was on hand to testify. Senator Jennifer Beck is sponsoring the bill in the Senate.
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon introduced legislation Monday that would prohibit an elected or appointed official, who is convicted of a crime involving their office, from becoming a lobbyist in New Jersey for a period of 10 years. The legislation also provides for a $10,000 fine for those who would violate the new law.
“There have been a lot of public officials arrested in New Jersey over the past few years. Many of these demonstrably dishonest people have high level connections in government and their respective parties,” said O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth and Mercer. ”We must make sure they are removed from influencing government – and getting paid for that influence – going forward. It’s time the Legislature takes seriously its responsibility to enact stringent ethics reform legislation. This bill essentially prohibits convicted public officials from continuing to profit from their government connections.
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.
If you are interested in donating to or volunteering at the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, please call 732-918-2600 or visit www.foodbankmoc.org.
12th District Legislators Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande applaud the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties for their participation in a nationwide study conducted by Feeding America that exposes the alarming and devastating reality being faced here in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
At a press conference earlier today at the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in Neptune, the findings of the study were announced.
