October 19, 2009
Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean on Governor Corzine’s announcement that he will move money around the budget to fill an immediate $205 million deficit and find $200 million more in case tax collections continue to plunge. The state treasurer said today that revenues have come in 3.1 percent below projections so far this year. If collections continue at that pace, the state will have a $1 billion deficit this year. The estimated budget deficit for next year is $8 billion to $10 billion.
“The governor has announced he’s planning to adjust the budget by $405 million when it’s clear that we could have a $1 billion problem in this year alone,” Senator Kean said. “The governor’s poor fiscal management could lead to an additional billion dollar deficit that could result in losses in state aid and dramatic increases in local property taxes. The governor has already committed to a $500 million cut in school aid for next year. These ominous revenue projections suggest a bleaker future for New Jersey property taxpayers under Jon Corzine.”
October 16, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Administration Has Not Released Revenue Collection Records
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following comments regarding the failure of the Corzine Administration to release first quarter revenue figures. Kean called on the Corzine Administration to immediately release revenue figures so that a future governor isn’t forced to scramble to make unreasonable cuts in vital services in the future.
This week, New York Governor David Paterson announced plans to eliminate $3 billion in spending from his state’s budget because of declining revenue numbers. Most economists anticipate New Jersey’s revenue collection will track New York’s, because of our shared regional economy. Two years ago, Senator Kean called on Governor Corzine to begin to initiate budget savings due to clear signs that a recession was approaching.
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October 9, 2009
Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said Governor Corzine’s published comments on school aid in today’s Star-Ledger are worrisome. The Governor thinks he can save $500 million by not providing enough money in the 2010-2011 budget to meet the school funding formula, the newspaper said. In the current year, Governor Corzine underfinanced the school funding formula by $300 million.
“Governor Corzine made promises on school funding to the citizens of New Jersey and the New Jersey Supreme Court that he has not kept,” said Kean. “The lack of state aid will translate into school property tax increases across most of New Jersey.”
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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.”
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September 25, 2009
Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Senator Republican Leader Tom Kean, a member of the Senate Health Committee, called on Governor Corzine to order that Health Commissioner Heather Howard immediately seek out any New Jersey residents who may have received the Menaflex knee implant.
“The widely reported allegations that this device is unsafe for patients are shocking and demand an immediate public health response from the governor,” Kean said. “New Jersey residents may be suffering, and, if so, we need to help.”
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September 24, 2009
Contact: Brad Schnure / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Incurable Form of Cancer Can Kill in Just Four Months
Senator Tom Kean (R-21) would like to help raise awareness of a deadly form of cancer that kills more than 3,000 Americans each year. Mesothelioma is an incurable form of cancer that involves the cells lining an organ, usually the lungs, abdominal organs and heart. The expected survival time of those diagnosed with the disease is as little as four to fourteen months.
Senator Kean has introduced legislation, SJR-77, to declare September 26th of each year as “Mesothelioma Awareness Day” in New Jersey.
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September 22, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Senator Tom Kean, the Senate Republican Leader, issued the following comments regarding New Jersey’s last place ranking in business tax climate by the non partisan tax foundation:
“For four consecutive years, the well-respected, non-partisan tax foundation has ranked New Jersey last in its annual rankings of state business tax climate. This is a direct result of the short-sighted, radical economic policies of Governor Corzine and his allies in the Legislature.
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September 16, 2009
Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Republican Senate Leader Tom Kean of Westfield said the disappointing rise in August unemployment casts serious doubt on Governor Corzine’s assertions that he has credible job creation policies and that his administration is on top of the state’s growing economic problems.
“Unemployment has risen to a 32-year high of 9.7 percent, far higher than the rates in neighboring states with comparable economic pressures,” Kean said. “The governor should call a special session to immediately come up with a bold new plan for economic development, or explain to the jobless, the homeless and the underemployed why this issue isn’t important enough to address immediately with every resource at the state’s disposal.”
August 25, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean today requested that Governor Jon Corzine call an immediate special session of the Legislature to review the COAH law and regulations adopted last year and to discuss the impact of yesterday’s Appellate Court decision on affordable housing.
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August 18, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
The Senate and Assembly Republicans today called on Governor Corzine to convene a special legislative session on ethics reform.
The request was made by the entire membership of both legislative caucuses in a letter signed by the 17 Republican members of the New Jersey Senate and the 31 Republican members of the New Jersey General Assembly.
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