Oroho Bill to Promote NJ’s Farm-to-Table Industry Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) to promote farm-to-table businesses Statewide has passed the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
Sen. Steven Oroho’s bill would promote farm-to-table businesses Statewide, by promoting restaurants on New Jersey’s tourism website. (SenateNJ.com)
“Farm-to-table restaurants provide vital opportunities for small businesses to compete in a new and rapidly-growing part of our vibrant agricultural tourism industry,” Senator Oroho said. “The impact of choosing a farm-to-table restaurant stretches far beyond a diner’s plate. By highlighting local restaurants that serve ‘Jersey Fresh,’ we’re feeding the future of New Jersey’s farms, restaurants, and our local economy.”
Kean Says Murphy Should Consider All Opportunities to Reduce Health Benefit Costs
Urges Administration to Support “Platinum-to-Gold” Reforms
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said Governor Phil Murphy can build upon the modest healthcare savings he announced today by supporting “platinum-to-gold” reforms proposed by the Legislature.
Sen. Tom Kean urged Gov. Phil Murphy to support significant cost savings on public employee healthcare through “platinum-to-gold” reforms proposed by the Legislature. (©iStock)
“We are encouraged by the modest savings on health benefits announced by Governor Murphy today and encourage him to look at opportunities for even larger savings, like a shift from platinum-to-gold that has bipartisan support in the Legislature,” said Kean.
Kean: More Must Be Done to Help NJ Transit & Other Agencies Recruit Qualified Employees
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said that a decision allowing NJ Transit to hire train and bus operators who live out of state is a good start, but more must be done to ensure that every State agency has the opportunity to hire qualified employees, regardless of where they live.
Sen. Tom Kean said that a decision allowing NJ Transit to hire train and bus operators who live out of state is a good start, but more must be done to ensure that every State agency has the opportunity to hire qualified employees, regardless of where they live. (SenateNJ.com)
Sen. Kean has long-sponsored legislation (S-508) that would eliminate in-state residency requirements for public employees.
Kean noted that he has repeatedly called for the passage of his bill, in light of the catastrophic staffing shortages that continue to put thousands of NJ Transit customers in harm’s way.
“Allowing NJ Transit to hire out-of-state employees is a good first step, but the reality is that without a full repeal of the in-state residency requirement, many agencies will continue to struggle to hire enough qualified employees for critical positions.
“I have no doubt that NJ Transit will be able to better serve commuters by casting a wider net to recruit candidates from neighboring states. Every agency, every department, and every school district in our state should be able to do the same thing.
“Let’s have the courage to make big, bold changes that we all know are in the public’s best interest. A full repeal of state residency requirements is the right thing to do. I urge legislative leaders to post my repeal legislation for a vote as soon as possible.”
Corrado Announces National Adoption Day Toy Drive
As part of her ongoing effort to support New Jersey’s foster children and adoptive families, Senator Kristin Corrado’s district office will be collecting children’s toy donations through November 9th.
All new and unwrapped toy donations collected at Senator Corrado’s district office will be distributed to the Passaic Vicinage on their National Adoption Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 16.
Sen. Kristin Corrado’s district office will be collecting new and unwrapped children’s toy donations through November 9th. (SenateNJ.com)
“Seeing a child find their forever-family is truly a blessing,” Corrado said. “I was fortunate to grow up in a loving home, where two of my sisters were adopted. This experience definitely inspired me to become a lifelong advocate for foster kids and adoptive families. During my time as Passaic County Clerk, I also had the privilege to participate in many remarkable Adoption Days,” Corrado added. “These moments celebrate a child’s path to a new family, and honor their story. Donating new and unwrapped toys is a great way for people in our community to show their support.”
O’Scanlon & DiMaso Warn Voters to Be Vigilant
Say New Voting Laws May Lead to Confusion
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (both R-Monmouth) issued the following statement today regarding recent changes to voting laws:
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Asw. Serena DiMaso warned voters to be vigilant this year following changes to New Jersey election law that will result in vote-by-mail ballots being sent automatically to some voters. (©iStock)
“Any resident who requested a vote-by-mail ballot in 2016, or later, must be vigilant this year before voting. The Governor and legislature have instituted a new policy wherein vote-by-mail ballots will be sent automatically to anyone who had previously requested them in 2016.
“Voters should check their mail and if a vote-by-mail ballot is delivered to their home, residents should use that to vote in this years’ election.
Bucco Bill to Give Research Animals a New ‘Leash’ On Life Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25) that would give cats and dogs serving as research animals a second chance has passed the Senate Environment Committee. The bill would require New Jersey’s higher education institutions to offer laboratory animals to rescue organizations for purposes of adoption.
New Jersey uses more research animals than any other state in the country, according to the USDA. In 2017 alone, more than 5,000 cats and dogs were serving as research animals.
Sen. Anthony Bucco’s bill would give cats and dogs serving as research animals a second chance, by requiring institutions of higher education to offer them up for adoption. (©iStock)
“When a dog or cat is used for research, far too often their life is unnecessarily cut short,” Bucco said. “It is heartbreaking to see countless animals denied the right to a long life, when they could be given to a loving home. By creating a pathway to adoption, we can ensure our furry friends get a new ‘leash’ on life.”
Kean Legislation to Improve Transparency at NJ Transit, Independent State Agencies & Authorities
Says Important Public Oversight Hindered by Murphy Administration Secrecy
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean will introduce legislation to improve transparency at independent agencies and authorities of the State, including New Jersey Transit, the Turnpike Authority, the Motor Vehicle Commission, the Schools Construction Corporation, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
Sen. Tom Kean will introduce legislation to improve transparency at independent State agencies, including NJ Transit, to reverse the Murphy Administration’s attempt to limit information and hinder public oversight. (SenateNJ.com)
“Despite a crisis of mismanagement at New Jersey Transit that calls for greater scrutiny of its operations, the Murphy Administration has stemmed the flow of critical information to make it more difficult for the public and the media to act as watchdogs,” said Kean. “This new level of secrecy is designed to hinder oversight, which is contrary to the Governor’s promise to increase transparency. A legislative solution is called for that forces the shadow governments at New Jersey’s expansive independent agencies and authorities into the light.”
Bucco Bill to Discover Why Businesses Leave NJ Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony Bucco that would require the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJLWD) to conduct exit interviews with companies that close their doors or relocate to another state has passed the Senate Labor Committee.
“When companies in New Jersey close their doors, or move to a more business-friendly state, the effects of layoffs are felt Statewide,” Bucco said. “Our mom-and-pop businesses help millions of families put food on the table. That is why it is critical that we discover the real reasons why so many job creators are fleeing New Jersey. This data will help us implement policies that draw innovators to our state, instead of driving them away.”
Sen. Anthony Bucco’s legislation would require the NJLWD to conduct exit interviews with companies that close, or relocate to another state. (WikiCommons)
Sen. Bucco’s bill, S-2356, aims to discover the tangible reasons why local companies are exiting the Garden State. More than 2,000 New Jersey jobs were placed at-risk this year, due to employers closing their stores or moving to a new state, according to a report by NJ Advance Media.
Bateman Bills to Incentivize Taxpayers & Public Utilities to Protect Pollinators Pass Committee
Two bipartisan bills sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman to provide corporation business tax credits to taxpayers and public utility companies who develop habitats to protect pollinators, such as honeybees, have passed the Senate Environment Committee.
Sen. Kip Bateman’s bills would provide corporation business tax credits to taxpayers and public utility companies who develop habitats to protect pollinators, such as the honeybee. (Flickr)
“We can’t keep New Jersey ‘the Garden State’ without pollinators and keystone species like the honeybee,” Senator Bateman (R-16) said. “Think about all of the resources we have funneled into our farming and agricultural tourism industries. None of these businesses can flourish without pollinators. Providing CBT tax credits to people who take action to protect pollinators is a fiscally-responsible way to keep our ‘Jersey Fresh products’ growing strong for generations.”
Kean: Crumbling Hudson Rail Tunnels a Tragedy Waiting to Happen
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said the crumbling trans-Hudson rail tunnels are a tragedy waiting to happen after a piece of metal pierced the roof of a New Jersey Transit train this weekend.
Sen. Tom Kean said the crumbling trans-Hudson rail tunnels are a tragedy waiting to happen after a piece of metal pierced the roof of a NJ Transit train this weekend. (SenateNJ.com)
“It was pure luck that this didn’t happen during rush hour when commuters would have been standing where the damage occurred,” said Kean. “Looking at the pictures, it’s clear that somebody could have been killed. The poor state of the Hudson tunnels and our rail infrastructure in general is a tragedy waiting to happen.”
As a member of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee, Kean has pushed New Jersey Transit to address maintenance and staffing issues that impact the safety and reliability of the region’s rail service.
