Senator

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Shirley K. Turner

20 Nov: Turner Measure To Require Annual $25 Child Support Surcharge Is Now Law

TRENTON � A measure sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner, which permits the Department of Human Services (DHS) to cover the cost of a $25 annual fee on child support payments, or require non-custodial parents to cover the cost, has been signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine. The DHS has indicated its intent to pay the fee with federal incentive dollars. According to DHS, there will be no additional cost to the State.

In October of 2005 the Federal Government began requiring families to pay an annual fee of $25 when the State collects at least $500 in child support payments.

�By nature, child support payments are designed to ensure that kids receive financial support from both parents,� said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. �While payment of the fee is mandatory, it would be unfair to call for single, custodial parents who are already working hard to raise their kids to cover the cost of child support. By stepping up and covering the cost of the fee, DHS is reaffirming its commitment to New Jersey�s families.�

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Steve Sweeney

20 Nov: Sweeney Named ‘Legislator Of The Year’ By The New Jersey State Pba

EDISON – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney has been named “Legislator of the Year” by the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA). The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at The Pines Manor in Edison.

“I am honored to have been chosen to receive this award, from an organization whose members dedicate their time, talent and lives to ensuring the safety of the people of New Jersey,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “The men and women of the New Jersey State PBA pride themselves in ‘helping those who help others,’ and they deserve our respect and thanks for all they do to help keep the people of this state safe.”

By DMUAdmin Jeff Van Drew News & Releases

20 Nov: Van Drew Urges Horizon And Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia To Come To Agreement

TRENTON – At a news conference in the Statehouse today, Senator Jeff Van Drew was joined by health care professionals, representatives of the Medical Society of New Jersey, and patients’ families to urge Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to enter into good-faith negotiations with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to allow thousands of the State’s sickest kids to continue to receive top-notch specialized pediatric health care.

“Many families in South Jersey have relied on Children’s Hospital through the years to provide the sort of specialized pediatric care for which they have built a world-wide reputation,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May and Cumberland. “However, Horizon’s decision to end their relationship with CHOP means that such world-class care will be inaccessible for thousands who subscribe to the State’s largest health insurer after March 11 – the cut-off date under the existing contract. Horizon needs to come to the negotiating table in good faith and ensure that New Jersey families continue to have access to the health care resources of the world’s best pediatric hospital.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Nicholas P. Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset, addresses his colleagues on the floor of the State Senate.

By DMUAdmin Jeff Van Drew

20 Nov: Senator Jeff Van Drew Holds News Conference to Urge Horizon and Children’s Hospital to Come to Agreement

Senator Jeff Van Drew Holds News Conference to Urge Horizon and Children’s Hospital to Come to Agreement

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Steve Sweeney

19 Nov: Sweeney Wants Credit Unions Authorized To Receive Public Funds

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney today said if credit unions in the State get access to public deposits of government funds, it will boost the New Jersey economy and help fight the credit crunch locally.

“The infusion of funds from public deposits will enable credit unions to provide more loans to their members and help struggling small businesses,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland.

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Steve Sweeney

18 Nov: Sweeney Proposes County Tax Assessor Pilot Program For Gloucester

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney today said he is gathering support to establish a state-funded, county-wide tax assessment pilot program for Gloucester County to replace the current municipal system.

“It’s clear we’ll save money for taxpayers, increase efficiencies and streamline government services with a county-based assessment system,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland.

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Richard J. Codey

18 Nov: Codey, Beck Ask Corzine To Convene Blue Ribbon Commission On Horse Racing Industry

TRENTON � Senate President Richard J. Codey and Senator Jennifer Beck today sent a letter to Governor Jon Corzine urging him to convene a panel of experts and interested parties to discuss the long term stability and funding of the horse racing industry in New Jersey.

�The recently signed purse supplement was a short term solution for an industry with longer term issues,� said Codey (D-Essex). �We feel it is imperative that the Governor impanel this commission as soon as possible so we can have a thoughtful and deliberative process with input from all interested parties to ensure the viability of the horse racing industry in New Jersey. If we don’t move quickly, we’ll be left in the starting gate while other states race to the prize.�

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Shirley K. Turner

17 Nov: Turner: We Need To Develop Real Solutions To The Real Problems Of Underage And Binge Drinking On New Jersey’s College Campuses

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, released the following statement regarding today’s Panel hearing on underage drinking:

“For many students, college is a time of self-discovery. Many of them have never been away from home for extended periods of time. Many have never known such a high level of personal responsibility, without the immediate support of parents and family members to back them up. These students will make mistakes. They’ll oversleep for an early class, they’ll forget to do an important assignment, or they’ll eat too much junk food and not enough vegetables from the campus cafeteria.

“These mistakes are all part of campus life, and play an important part of the personal growth that we all go through when we’re out on our own for the first time. However, while we need to give our college students the freedom to make and learn from the innocent mistakes associated with growing up, we cannot allow them to make life-changing and potentially lethal mistakes while under the influence of alcohol.

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Richard J. Codey Shirley K. Turner

17 Nov: Codey, Turner Call For Taskforce To Curb Underage Drinking On College Campuses

TRENTON � Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) and Senate Education Chairwoman Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) today said they will introduce legislation to form a taskforce to examine best practices to curb underage and binge drinking on college campuses. The announcement came after a lengthy hearing on the issue before the Senate Education Committee, which heard testimony from both Senators, several college presidents and administrators, law enforcement officials, and representatives from the state Department of Law and Public Safety and the Commission on Higher Education.

�After we examined all of the alcohol policies submitted to us by state colleges and universities, it was clear that there is no uniform policy to effectively address this serious issue,� said Sen. Codey. �I think a taskforce is the best way to bring our colleges together cooperatively to find solutions to address the problem head on. We saw how effective this was after we convened a taskforce to discuss campus security in light of the Virginia Tech tragedy. Hopefully we can get the same type of hands-on results.�

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Nicholas P. Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset, addresses his colleagues on the floor of the State Senate.

By DMUAdmin Jim Whelan Richard J. Codey

17 Nov: Senate Education Committee’s hearing on underage drinking on college campuses

Senate Education Committee’s hearing on underage drinking on college campuses

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