News & Releases

TRENTON – The Senate supported legislation today sponsored by Senate Shirley K. Turner that would create a commission to study the application of the death penalty in New Jersey.

“It was a disappointment to many people of great conscience when Governor McGreevey vetoed this same piece of legislation two years ago,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “In the time that has passed, the evidence of the significant flaws with the death penalty system has only mounted. Fortunately, in Governor Codey we now have a Governor who recognizes the need to study these flaws and fix the system so that we have a fair criminal justice system.”

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak today said New Jersey residents could turn their love for native son Bruce Springsteen into a means of helping to feed the poor by purchasing a “Born-To-Run” special license plate.

“Springsteen’s message of hope should be a springboard for all of us to do something positive for the less fortunate,” said Senator Lesniak, a co-founder of Democrats for The Soul Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism.

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak today said New Jersey residents could turn their love for native son Bruce Springsteen into a means of helping to feed the poor by purchasing a “Born-To-Run” special license plate.

“Springsteen’s message of hope should be a springboard for all of us to do something positive for the less fortunate,” said Senator Lesniak, a co-founder of Democrats for The Soul Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism.

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher, Fred H. Madden and Loretta Weinberg that would create a task force to help promote cancer prevention, early detection and treatment received final legislative approval today by the Senate with a vote of 38-0.

“Early detection is the best way to help prevent cancer deaths,” said Senator Karcher, D-Mercer and Monmouth, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “The task force would work to help promote cancer awareness among high-risk New Jerseyans, as well as help to provide the best possible treatment for cancer patients. This must be about saving lives.”

TRENTON – The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono that would require every New Jersey elementary and secondary school to install carbon monoxide detectors inside each building, reducing the likelihood of children falling sick from carbon monoxide poisoning while on school grounds.

“For years, we have encouraged families to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes to provide them with a measure of protection against the silent killer,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Our children deserve to have the same level of protection while at school. I think there is an expectation on the part of parents that our schools make every reasonable effort to ensure that our children learn in a healthy environment.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher, which would create a statewide campaign to improve awareness of lung cancer in women, was approved by the full Senate today.

“The Surgeon General just released a report that found that since 1965 the number of smoking related deaths nationwide each year has more than doubled to over 400,000,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “Smoking-induced lung cancer is now the foremost cause of cancer deaths among women. More women die every year from lung cancer than from breast cancer.”