News & Releases

TRENTON – Two bills, sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher, which would ban public entities from hiring lobbyists and making political donations with taxpayer-collected funds was unveiled today in the Legislature.

“We need strict, clear language to ensure that public dollars are spent on the people of New Jersey, and not politics,” said Senator Karcher, D-Mercer and Monmouth. “Public institutions such as State colleges, public utility agencies and county and local governments, have a right to representation from their legislators, and should not devote public money to lobbying fees or political contributions. The fact that some of the State’s taxpayer-funded assistance gets funneled back into a political process already over-saturated with money is contrary to the interests of the people of New Jersey.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Wayne R. Bryant that would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remove any dam the Commissioner has concluded to be in eminent danger of failing, and charge the owner for the dam’s removal has been approved by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

“The flooding the State has experienced over the past year shows that there are a great deal of dams in need of repair, and many of the owners have been slacking on fixing the problem,” said Senator Bryant, D-Camden and Gloucester. “By allowing the DEP to remove any dams that aren’t in compliance with their guidelines and charge the owners, we would be sending a clear message that we mean business and the dams must be repaired in order to reduce the chances of serious flooding.”