Senate Passes Oroho Bill to Protect Members of the Military from Discrimination
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) to ensure that members of the United States Armed Forces are protected against discrimination was passed by the New Jersey Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steve Oroho to protect veterans from discrimination was passed by the New Jersey Senate. (Flickr)
“It takes a special kind of person to sign up for military service,” Senator Oroho said. “They put their lives on hold while they go out to serve our country. They deserve to have every chance to succeed once they return to civilian life.”
Senate Passes 9th District-Supported Bill Requiring Pledge Of Allegiance & U.S. Flag At All Public Meetings
The Senate passed legislation (S-308) sponsored Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove that would require all public bodies to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and to display the Unites States flag under the Open Public Meetings Act at the beginning of meetings.
All public bodies would be required to display the United States flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of meetings under legislation sponsored by Sen. Christopher J. Connors. (Wikimedia Commons)
The 9th District delegation made the following remarks in response to the Senate’s action:
“The Pledge of Allegiance and the U.S. Flag hold great meaning for many of our constituents, especially those who served and are serving in the Armed Forces as well as their families.
“Concerns were raised that, despite all the laws we have on the books, current law doesn’t require public bodies to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or to display the U.S. flag, although the overwhelming majority of public bodies do both voluntarily.
Senate Passes Oroho Bill to Allow 3rd Party Tests for Commercial Driver License
Bill establishes a pilot program that will allow three third-party vendors to administer the test required to obtain a commercial driver license.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) to speed up the process of getting a commercial driver license by using private third-party vendors to administer the test was passed by the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Steve Oroho’s legislation reduces wait times for CDL tests by establishing a pilot program to allow third-party vendors to administer the test. (Flickr)
“Drivers with commercial licenses are in huge demand, but New Jersey can’t keep up with new federal guidelines because our reliance on state-administered tests has created a massive backlog of people waiting to get their licenses,” Senator Oroho said. “This is a common sense solution to speed up the process and get these drivers to work.”
Pennacchio: Elected Officials Can’t Choose Which Laws to Obey
Calls for Passage of Ethics & Transparency Reforms
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) renewed his calls for the passage of ethics and transparency reforms he sponsors following published reports in which a candidate for governor said he would ignore certain policies that he doesn’t agree with.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio called for his ethics and transparency reforms to advance following suggestions that elected officials could ignore enforcing laws they disagree with. (SenateNJ.com)
“Elected officials have an obligation to operate within the law,” said Pennacchio. “The insinuation that someone might unilaterally choose to ignore the properly enacted laws of our state or nation as governor is insulting and dangerous to the democratic process.”
Pennacchio Bill to Stop Corruption on the State Investment Council Passes Senate Panel
Legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Essex, Morris, Passaic) that forbids State Investment Council members from voting on investments that present a financial or familial conflict of interest passed the Senate State Government, Wagering Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio’s bill would forbid members of the State Investment Council from voting on matters that present a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest on the council regarding Lehman Brothers cost the state $115 million in 2008. (Wikimedia Commons)
“In 2008, the State Investment Council invested in Lehman Brothers right before the firm went bankrupt,” Senator Pennacchio recalled. “The Lehman Brothers managers who sat on the council should have been forced to recuse themselves. Instead, they cost the pension system $115 million. This kind of blatant conflict of interest would not be tolerated under my legislation.”
Pennacchio Renews Call for Racinos Following Defeat of North Jersey Casinos Measure
Following the defeat of a ballot measure by New Jersey voters which would have allowed for the establishment of casinos in North Jersey, Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) renewed his call for the limited expansion of gaming at horse racetracks in the state.
Senator Joe Pennacchio’s proposed constitutional amendment, SCR-16, would allow for slot wagering at New Jersey’s horse racing facilities. (Wikimedia Commons)
Pennachio’s proposed constitutional amendment, SCR-16, would permit slot machine gambling at those venues.
“I’ve said for a number of years that the establishment of North Jersey casinos would cannibalize the existing casino industry in Atlantic City, putting the struggling city in further financial jeopardy,” said Pennacchio. “The defeat of Public Question #1 was the public’s response. It’s time that the Legislature consider the establishment of racinos, as I have proposed, to bolster our casino industry, stabilize our pension systems, aid in the financial recovery of Atlantic City, and provide the support our horse racing industry needs to survive.”
Singer Announces $1.8 Million Project to Fix Stormwater Systems Damaged by Sandy
Following the signing of the legislation to fund improvements through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, Senator Robert Singer (R- Monmouth, Ocean) announced a $1.8 million project to repair infrastructure and protect clean water in Manasquan Borough.
Sen. Robert Singer announced a $1.8-million project to protect clean water in Manasquan. (Pixabay)
“The stormwater management systems being addressed by this project were severely damaged in Superstorm Sandy,” Senator Singer said. “Improvements to these pumping stations and bulkheads are vital to ensuring that Manasquan is shielded from future flooding. I’m glad we could secure NJEIT funding to will help protect clean water for our residents.”
Pennacchio-Turner Bill Mandating Criminal Background Checks for All Day Care Providers Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Pennacchio and Shirley Turner mandating state and federal criminal background checks for all current and prospective family day care providers has cleared the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Sens. Joe Pennacchio and Shirley Turner’s bill would correct a dangerous oversight in state law by mandating criminal background checks for all family day care employees. (SenateNJ)
“A child abuse record check is simply not sufficient enough to prevent dangerous criminals from putting our children at risk,” Senator Pennacchio (R-Essex, Morris, Passaic) said. “It is unconscionable that family day cares are not held to the same ironclad safety standards as other facilities, simply because they serve a smaller number of children. They should be held to the same justifiable standard.”
Connors-Rumpf-Gove Supported Measure Requiring South Jersey Representation on Turnpike Authority Advances
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by the 9th District legislative delegation requiring at least one member of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to be from South Jersey was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Connors, Rumpf and Gove would require at least one member of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to be from South Jersey. (Wikimedia Commons)
The measure, S-1674, sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, would require at least one member of the Turnpike Authority be a resident of Ocean, Atlantic, or Cape May County. Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove are prime sponsors of the identical companion measure, A-3817, which is awaiting action by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee.
Oroho on Environment Committee Hearing on Proposed Septic Density Changes for Highlands Region
Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) responded to a hearing held today by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on the Department of Environmental Protection’s proposed changes to septic system density standards for the Highlands Region:
Sen. Steven Oroho reiterated his support for revisions to septic density standards in the Highlands Region to support the economic growth goals of the Highlands Act. (Morris County Preservation Trust)
“The proposed revisions to the septic density standards will provide some measure of relief to the present regulations that stifle economic growth in the Highlands Region,” said Oroho. “No matter how much overzealous environmentalists scream, no, the sky isn’t falling, but a little bit of sun is shining through.”
In a recent editorial, Oroho highlighted how some have misrepresented the goals of the Highlands Act to suggest that economic growth in the Highlands Region is not a primary designated purpose of the law.
