March 8, 2012
Contact: Robbie Kenney / (609) 654-1498
District 8
8th District legislators Introduced Concurrent Resolution and Requested President Sweeney and Speaker Oliver to Post for Floor Vote on March 15
Senator Dawn Marie Addiego, Assemblyman Scott Rudder and Assemblyman Chris Brown have introduced concurrent resolutions today which press for an independent State agency representing consumers to actively pursue a $45 million decrease in water rates from New Jersey American Water Company.
More pointedly, the bipartisan resolutions call on the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel to abandon its admitted current negotiations on the company’s request for a 20 percent increase — which could lead to yet another rate increase.
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March 8, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Steve Oroho
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (both R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) to permit county clerks to provide military veterans with identification cards was advanced today by the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The cards are designed to assist veterans in receiving discounts and other well-deserved courtesies from area businesses and organizations.
“This worthwhile initiative is for those who have risked their lives to preserve our freedom,” said Oroho. “It is a simple and rightful recognition of the sacrifice made by countless veterans.”
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March 8, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 847-3600
Senator Diane Allen
Bill Providing Financial Aid, Support to School Districts Clears Senate Committee
One day after earning Governor Christie’s support, legislation aimed at saving New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act has cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington) is the sponsor of S-1789, legislation that alleviates unfunded mandate concerns regarding the law expressed by the Council on Local Mandates and extends the assistance of a seven member task force to help districts implement the new law.
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March 8, 2012
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
Senator Christopher J. Connors
Would Require at Least One Member of NJ Turnpike Authority From Atlantic, Cape May or Ocean County
Legislation sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew and Chris Connors aimed at providing South Jersey with a stronger voice in the decisions made by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority which operates the Garden State Parkway, a main artery in the southern part of the state, was approved today by the Senate Transportation Committee.
The bill (S-1654) would require that at least one of the seven appointed members of the Turnpike Authority be from the counties of Ocean, Atlantic or Cape May. The senators’ introduction of the measure followed two major projects authorized by the Turnpike Authority that caused significant concern among local residents and public officials in the Southern region of the state. One included the mass cutting of trees along the Garden State Parkway. The other was the installation of security fencing along the parkway, which the authority said was for homeland security purposes.
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March 8, 2012
Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
Senator Christopher J. Connors
Senator Christopher J. Connors, representing the 9th Legislative District, completed the third and final day of the Legislator-in-Residence Program at his alma mater, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Under the Program, members of the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly are invited to Stockton’s campus to interact with students and faculty. Senator Connors was the Legislative participant for the Spring Semester.
On his final day participating in the Program, Senator Connors met with students enrolled in the course “Veterans: A Global Vision” to discuss veterans’ issues. Senator Connors currently serves on the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee and is a co-chairman of the New Jersey Veterans’ Hospital Task Force.
As an invited speaker, Senator Christopher J. Connors speaks to students enrolled in the course “Veterans: A Global Vision” at Stockton College taught by Professor Thomas O’Donnell, Assistant Dean of Students.
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March 8, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Robert W. Singer,
Senator Tom Kean
Paramount legislation by Senator Bob Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to increase fines on drivers who illegally pass school buses was unanimously advanced today by the Senate Transportation Committee.
“We’re dealing with one of the most life-threatening driving offenses and the stakes must be raised for those committing such a senseless crime,” said Singer (R-Monmouth and Ocean). “Vulnerable, defenseless children being picked up or dropped off along our roadways can be killed because of such carelessness. It’s more than reasonable to make violators pay double.”
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March 7, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 847-3600
Senator Diane Allen
Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington) today voiced her strong support for Governor Christie’s pledge to preserve New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (ABBRA), saying that a collaborative effort with the Administration, herself, and others has yielded a remedy to unfunded mandate concerns expressed by the New Jersey Council on Local Mandates that put the law in jeopardy of being nullified.
Governor Chris Christie holds press conference, with Senator Diane Allen, Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle, Garden State Equality Chair and CEO Steven Goldstein and Garden State Equality Vice Chair Luanne Peterpaul, announce the introduction of bipartisan legislation to fix the Anti-Bullying law at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. The agreement will strengthen the law and allow the protections it affords to New Jersey students to remain in place. (Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)
Allen, a prime sponsor of the landmark anti-bullying legislation, is sponsoring changes in light of a recent decision by the Council on Local Mandates to strike down ABBRA due to unfunded cost concerns. Governor Christie thanked the Senator and her staff for their hard work on this legislative fix. Without changes being signed into law this month, the law would most likely be nullified.
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March 6, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 847-3600
Senator Tom Kean
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. issued the following statement on Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s tax cut proposal:
For the eight years that Democrats held complete control in Trenton, they attacked the middle class and raised the cost of living in New Jersey with 115 tax and fee increases on everything from owning your home, commuting to work or vacationing down the shore. Property taxes spiked by 60% and property tax rebates diminished when the economy soured and people needed relief the most.
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March 6, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Joe Pennacchio
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Essex/Passaic) applauds Monday’s U.S. District Court ruling, dismissing several New Jersey unions’ attempts to avoid their part in necessary benefits reform.
“Judge Anne Thompson’s decision is in the best interests of taxpayers and our pension systems,” Pennacchio said.
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March 6, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 847-3600
Senator Tom Kean
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) issued the following statement mourning the death of U.S. Representative Donald Payne:
“Congressman Payne was not only a pioneer in New Jersey politics, he was a thoroughly decent man and public servant. I had the pleasure of getting to know Don through our shared representation of Millburn. He lent gravitas to every cause he championed, particularly his concern for the poor, disadvantaged, and oppressed the world over.
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