Senator Kevin O’Toole, R-Bergen and Passaic, seeks public hearings that will help Toyota owners ensure their cars are safe and inform the public about what auto executives and state officials are doing to prevent injuries from defects in cars sold to New Jersey residents.
“Toyota owners are becoming alarmed by rising estimates of fatalities caused by defects in this company’s automobiles,” Senator O’Toole said. “Hearings will prevent tragedies and help Toyota owners separate fact from fiction.
Measures Would Protect Retirements of Rank-and-File Public Employees, Require Government to Meet Its Obligations
Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Republican Leader Thomas Kean announced that bipartisan legislation to complete the unfinished business of reforming the state’s public employee pension and benefits system first begun nearly four years ago was formally introduced last night in the Senate.
The four bills would return the pension and benefits system to its original goal of ensuring the retirements of rank-and-file public employees and constitutionally require government to meet its annual pension obligations.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Senate Republican Budget Officer Tony Bucco and Senator Kevin O’Toole issued the following comments regarding the announcement by Senate President Steve Sweeney that pension and benefits reform would be a top priority.
“My colleagues and I are all-too-aware that the pensions and benefits systems are unsustainable at the current time,” Kean stated “This effort will build on the bipartisan cooperation on pension reform that was successful in the last legislative session. It is vital that we complete the process of identifying and implementing necessary reforms to ensure that rank and file employees’ retirement funds are safeguarded.”
Senator Kevin O’Toole, R-Bergen, Passaic and Essex, praised Governor-Elect Chris Christie for his sensitive, intelligent and non-partisan decision to let Jennifer Velez continue her outstanding service to the people of New Jersey as Commissioner of the Department of Human Services.
“Governor Christie has demonstrated again that his administration, first and last, will be about competence and dedication to public service,” O’Toole said. “Jennifer Velez has served both Republican and Democrat administrations with unsurpassed passion and ability. She is the best choice to head the biggest agency in state government, and I applaud Governor-elect Christie for recognizing this fact.”
Senate Republican Whip Kevin O’Toole praised Governor-elect Chris Christie’s selection of Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow as New Jersey’s attorney general.
“This appointment proves beyond a doubt that Governor-elect Christie will build his leadership team based on ability and not partisanship,” O’Toole said. “Paula Dow has skillfully managed the largest and busiest county prosecutor’s office in New Jersey, and has a record of public service that any career attorney can be proud of.”
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.”
Senator Kevin O’Toole issued the following statement regarding the release of the regional employment numbers:
“Governor Corzine’s assertion that New Jersey’s economy is better than our neighbors is patently false, disproven by the facts. Our state, once an economic powerhouse, is now a pale shadow of its former self due to the policies of Jon Corzine and his allies in Trenton.
The Senate Republican caucus announced today that they have unanimously voted to keep their strong leadership team in place for the next year. In addition, the senators also unanimously agreed to cast their votes for Senator Tom Kean as the next Senate president.
“Over the last decade, the policies of Governor Corzine and his allies have failed New Jersey’s struggling middle class,” Senate Republican Leader Kean said. “People are looking for change in Trenton, and our caucus is united and determined to provide real alternatives to the governor’s failed policies that will create jobs and make our state more affordable for everyone.”
Republican Legislators Also Plan to Introduce Legislation Requiring Blind Trusts for Governors’ Investments
The controversy surrounding Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s personal finances requires a special investigator to determine whether there is a conflict of interest, said Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Sen. Kevin J. O’Toole, who are also planning legislation to require investments of future governors be placed in blind trusts.
In a joint statement, they called for the appointment of a special investigator to determine if any conflicts do exist “so we can put to rest any lingering questions about Governor Jon Corzine’s finances and what appears to be several serious instances where the governor’s finances are in direct conflict with state business.”
Senator Kevin O’Toole called on the State Auditor to immediately begin a performance audit of the Extraordinary Aid Program – a property tax relief program that is clearly being mismanaged.
The 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 a share of approximately $25 million to mitigate property tax increases.
