News & Releases

15 May: Scutari Seeks $3 Million To Fight Asian Longhorn Beetle

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, to appropriating $3 million from a USDA grant to combat the spread of the Asian Longhorn Beetle, was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“Preventing the further spread of the Asian Longhorn Beetle is of the utmost importance,” said Senator Scutari, D-Somerset and Union. “If they are not checked, these pests could present a significant threat to not only our neighborhoods and parks, but to the entire American hardwood industry.”

15 May: Scutari Pushes Epa To Keep Pollution Reporting Standards High

TRENTON – A resolution sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rescind proposed changes that would weaken the Emergency Community Planning and Right-to-Know Act, was approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.

“The ‘Right-to-Know’ standards have been an essential tool for notifying the public about the pollutants and toxic materials that industrial plants produce since they were adopted twenty years ago,” said Senator Scutari, D-Somerset and Union. “They have caused a substantial and sustained reduction in the amount of toxins these facilities are releasing into the environment.”

15 May: Sweeney, Burzichelli And Fisher Bill To Prevent Ground Contamination Clears Senate Committee

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Steve Sweeney and Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli and Douglass H. Fisher that would fund the removal and replacement of petroleum underground storage containers with above ground tanks, thereby helping to prevent soil and groundwater contamination was unanimously approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.

“This bill is designed to allow homeowners and business owners to take preventative measures to help stop ground contamination before it begins,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Environment panel. “For the most part, these tanks are not regulated by the State, and for that reason, the only way to know which ones are leaking is to dig them up. The State should not wait until these tanks start leaking – leaving an even larger, more dangerous and more expensive situation on its hands. Immediate action is necessary to help protect the health and safety of the people of New Jersey.”

12 May: Preview: Senate Committees To Tackle License Suspension, Environmental Concerns On Monday

TRENTON – On Monday, the Senate Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on the findings of the Motor Vehicle Affordability and Fairness Task Force, a panel of experts charged by the Legislature with reviewing the State’s driver’s license suspension laws to study the impact on New Jersey drivers.

Senator Nicholas J. Sacco, the Chair of the Transportation Committee and a prime sponsor of the bill establishing the Task Force as part of the larger Motor Vehicle Commission reform legislation signed into law in January of 2003, noted that the report issued by the Task Force will likely be a stepping off point for future legislation.

11 May: Democratic Senators Want Horizon Investigated For Hoarding Its Surplus

TRENTON – Three Senate Democrats – Loretta Weinberg, Ellen Karcher and Barbara Buono – today unveiled plans to investigate whether Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield is hoarding its $1.25 billion surplus to the detriment of the vulnerably uninsured, small businesses and New Jersey taxpayers.

“Our goal is to shut down any hoarding so Horizon can’t shirk its mandate to expand access to quality health care while keeping rates affordable,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “I sense there’s up to $500 million available in Horizon’s vaults that could be freed up to help people get access to health care.”

11 May: Senate Labor Panel Approves Minimum Health Care Benefits Rate

TRENTON – The Senate Labor Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senators Stephen Sweeney, Joseph Vitale, and Joseph Coniglio that would set a minimum health benefits rate for businesses with more than 1,000 employees in New Jersey.

“New Jersey can no longer afford to provide health care for individuals whose employers refuse to provide even a minimum amount of health benefits,” said Senator Sweeney, D Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem and chair of the Committee. “Over half of New Jersey’s one million uninsured individuals either work or have a family member who works, yet are not provided with health benefits. It’s time for large employers to meet their responsibilities and provide health care benefits.”

11 May: Madden/Vitale Bill To Protect Patients’ Rights Approved In Committee

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph F. Vitale that would prohibit pharmacists from refusing to dispense medication solely on the basis of philosophical, moral or religious reasons was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

“The sole purpose of this legislation is to ensure quality access to health care,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who sits on the Senate Health panel. “A patient seeking a prescription that has been legally prescribed by a licensed medical professional should be provided their medication without undue delay or compromise. It is my hope that with this bill’s passage, the citizens of New Jersey will be able to go into their local pharmacy and have their prescriptions filled with no problems. Pharmacies should also recognize the importance of this legislation and its positive effect on our health care network.”

11 May: Vitale-Sweeney Bill To Ensure Developmentally Disabled Funding Used

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Steve Sweeney which would require that any surplus in federal funds appropriated for developmentally disabled individuals living within our communities go to that purpose was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee by a vote of 6-0.

“This bill would protect funds dedicated to helping our developmentally disabled population in New Jersey from being absorbed into our cash-strapped coffers,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Committee. “Under the federal Community Care Waiver program, New Jersey receives federal dollars to help make life easier for developmentally disabled citizens living in a community setting. While there have not been any overt attempts to grab surplus funds to shore up our State’s finances, we need to clarify into perpetuity that this money should only go to its intended purpose.”

11 May: Doria/ Sarlo Bill Allows Property Tax Exemptions For Spouses Of Vets

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Joseph V. Doria and Paul A. Sarlo which would provide veterans’ widows with a property tax exemption when the veteran’s disability declaration is granted after death, was approved today by Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

“Our veterans have given so much for our freedom, and we need to express our gratitude for their efforts to them and their families by easing their property tax burden,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. “This bill is our way of proving to veterans and their families that we appreciate their service and recognize the financial burden that disabled vets and their families can go through.”

11 May: Girgenti Hopes To Ground Drunk Pilots Through Tough Legislation

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator John A. Girgenti which would keep those in the air and on the ground safe by increasing the penalties for pilots and crew members who are impaired in the air was approved today by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee.

“Although cases of flying while intoxicated are rare, even one occurrence is reason enough to create a tough law that will ensure that people will think twice about drinking before taking flight,” said Senator Girgenti, Chairman of the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee. “It’s a tragedy when aircraft crashes are connected to alcohol and drug consumption because they could have been easily avoided if the airline employee only remained sober. In order to keep our citizens– both in the air and on the ground — protected, we need to create strict drug and alcohol regulations for aircraft pilots and crew members.”