News & Releases

TRENTON – The “Coalition Against Bigotry and Hate on NJ101.5 Radio” will hold a news conference at NOON on Thursday, March 29th, in Room 109 of the State House to unveil an information program to condemn the ethnic slurs, anti-gay comments and religious hate broadcast daily by the station’s afternoon hosts.

Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, will be joined at the news conference by representatives of the Catholic Conference, the Anti Defamatiion League, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Garden State Equality, the Pulaski Day Parade Committee, the Polish Legion of American Vets, the Polish American Congress and the Council of Churches.

TRENTON – The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will continue their hearings on Governor Corzine’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2008 next Tuesday and Wednesday.

“These hearings provide us with the opportunity to sit with the public and cabinet officials to see which programs have been effective over the past year and where our funding priorities should be for the year ahead,” said Senator Bernard F. Kenny, Jr., D-Hudson and Chair of the Committee. “The discussions we have now are essential in putting together a final budget that best serves the people of New Jersey.”

FREEHOLD – Senator Ellen Karcher, D-Marlboro, the Vice Chair of the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, issued the following statement regarding reports that Harrah’s Entertainment, which also owns Caesars Atlantic City casino, has alleged union intimidation in an effort to delay collective representation for the casino’s dealers:

“Unless Harrah’s can point to concrete evidence of intimidation in the vote for union representation at Caesars casino, they should withdraw any appeal that delays fair representation for casino employees.

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny Jr. today announced his decision to retire from the Senate when his current term is finished next January.

“When I complete this term, I will have served in the Legislature for 20 years,” said the Hudson County Democrat. “It’s been an honor to serve in both the Assembly and in the Senate and to have been chosen by my colleagues as their Majority Leader. Hopefully, the people of the 33rd District have realized an improved quality to their lives during my time in the Legislature.

TRENTON – Senator Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, the prime sponsor of legislation which was recently signed into law to establish the “New Jersey Teen Driver Safety Study Commission” issued the following statement upon being selected by Senate President Richard J. Codey to serve on the panel:

“I’m excited to be able to continue working to improve teen driver safety, as a member of the Study Commission which was signed into law last week.