Installation That Will Save Southampton Residents $1.2 Million Almost Lost on Technicality, New Bill Would Protect Future Projects
Legislation to be introduced by Senator Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Chris Brown provides priority status to solar electric projects that can potentially save taxpayer money.
Southampton School District superintendent Michael L. Harris asked the 8th District legislators for help when a technicality threatened a solar project that is expected to save property taxpayers more than $1 million.
“This is a system that will generate clean, renewable electricity for the next 15 years, and provide substantial cost saving to the district. But through no fault of the district, after expending approximately $100,000 in architectural and legal fees in planning, the project was in jeopardy,” said Senator Addiego.
Senator Gerald Cardinale joined with military veterans at American Legion Post 153 in Park Ridge on Friday to announce legislation requiring all colleges and universities in New Jersey adopt policies providing greater support to students with military obligations.
“Our military members who are also in college shouldn’t be penalized in the classroom because of the many sacrifices they make outside of it in protecting our country,” said Cardinale (R-Bergen, Passaic). “We need to ensure that all colleges and professors are providing appropriate support when military duties take students away from classes.”
Senator Gerald Cardinale introduced bipartisan legislation on Thursday that would authorize courts in any county in New Jersey to order patients with mental illness to partake in outpatient treatment. Currently, only six counties have taken advantage of legislation enacted in 2009 that enabled an involuntary outpatient treatment program.
“For many who suffer from certain mental illnesses, the disease itself makes it impossible for them to recognize that they are ill,” said Cardinale (R-Bergen, Passiac). “Therefore, informed consent to treatment becomes an impossible and frustrating problem. Often these folks are periodically in and out of institutions and eventually too many commit acts of violence against themselves or others.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to provide emergency responders with critical health information about injured motorists was unanimously advanced by the full Senate on Thursday.
Senator Singer’s S-71 would give interested motorists a yellow sticker to place on their vehicle to alert emergency responders that there is vital health information stored in the vehicle’s glove box.
Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) introduced today a Resolution urging an immediate investigation by Congress and the President into the discriminatory targeting by the Internal Revenue Service.
“The IRS belongs to the people and should not be a hired gun for any Presidential administration,” Kyrillos said. “The public has made it clear that they do not tolerate political spying at the expense of their tax dollars.”
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R –Morris) released the following statement today following the Senate Environment and Energy Committee hearing.
“Today the Senate Environment and Energy Committee heard heart-wrenching stories from residents whose children’s lives and health are at risk because of Fenimore Landfill. Although Democrats on the committee heard the testimony they were not listening to the people.
Senators: It Is Imperative to Immediately Advance Bill, Which Can Be Amended If Necessary in the Process
Dozens of Morris County residents and local officials attended today’s Senate Environment and Energy Committee hearing in hopes that Senate Democrats will allow a vote on Senator Anthony Bucco’s Senate bill 2617 to close the hazardous Fenimore Landfill in Roxbury Township.
Senate Democrats removed this bill from the committee’s May 20 agenda due to the Senate President’s politically charged emotions and then denied it a vote during today’s and for this coming Monday’s hearings.
“I am utterly dismayed that Senate Democrats have obeyed orders based on lingering politically charged emotions, rather than protecting children and families from a compounding health hazard,” said Bucco (R-Morris). “This bill should have been advanced as scheduled at the May 20 committee meeting and not withdrawn just because the Senate President felt angry. Today’s meeting should not have been a no-vote hearing on a longstanding issue; it should have been to advance legislation to solve this dangerous problem. And there’s no reason why it can’t advance on Monday.”
Senator Gerald Cardinale will announce legislation requiring all colleges and universities in New Jersey adopt policies providing greater support to students with military obligations.
When: Friday, May 31, 2013 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: American Legion Post 153; 118 Ridge Ave., Park Ridge, NJ 07656
Who: Senator Gerald Cardinale; Bob Salvini, County Commander of Bergen County American Legion; Bill Thomson, Junior Vice Commander VFW Eastern Conference
Senator Steve Oroho questioned today the decision by Senate Democrats to reinstate a clause in bill, S2467/S2471, that would force New Jersey to divest pension funds from thriving American companies that legally sell firearms.
“After sensibly agreeing to remove the requirement at a May 9 public meeting, Senate Democrats have reinstated the very clause that they publicly removed,” said Oroho (Sussex, Warren, Morris.) “I’m disappointed that public action taken by Democrats apparently doesn’t hold up behind closed doors.”
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean appeared on NJTV’s NJ Today with Mike Schneider tonight to discuss important Republican-sponsored legislation that has been blocked by Senate President Stephen Sweeney. Sweeney has said that he will not post any Republican-sponsored bills for a vote.
Speaking of the need for sick leave reform, Kean noted it was reported today that 25 retiring police officers in Jersey City could cost property taxpayers $5 million when their accumulated sick leave is paid out, and taxpayers statewide are on the hook for $880 million in accumulated sick leave that may need to be paid.
