Karcher Bill To Establish Teen Driver Safety Commission Advances

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner to crack down on private companies that mislead unsuspecting homeowners by…

HAMILTON – State Senator Ellen Karcher today attended the first meeting of the Governor’s Teen Driver Study Commission in Hamilton. The Commission was created by legislation sponsored by Senator Karcher to review specific dangers for teen drivers.

“As a mother, I worry each time my son gets behind the wheel,” said Karcher. “Today’s meeting begins the process of examining teen driver safety so we can take the necessary steps to push for safer standards and greater education for our young drivers.”

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono today released the following statement regarding the signing of the “Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.”

“I stand before you today in the midst of a Wall Street meltdown caused by freewheeling, profligate borrowing gone bad.

“The vote in Washington today on the $700 billion pledge of public money is said to be necessary in order to save and rebuild the nation’s financial system but the impact is already being felt on Main Street.

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would establish the Teenage Driver Safety Study Commission to make recommendations to improve teen driver safety was unanimously approved by the Senate today, receiving final legislative approval.

“Recently, a tragic and fatal accident involving Freehold teenagers has underscored the need to examine the safety issues that affect teen drivers across the board,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “As a mother of a teen driver, my heart goes out to the family of the teens killed in Freehold, as well as the family-members and friends of everyone who died in the accident. We must do everything in our power, so that fatal crashes like the one in Freehold are far less frequent.”

TRENTON – Legislation, sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform, to reform the State’s pension system by addressing pension abuse and ensuring sustainability, became law today.

“Last Summer, we held a special session of the State Legislature to address New Jersey’s property tax crisis,” said Senator Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset and Union. “We were asked to look at the State employee benefits and produce a plan to create a system that cut expenses and eliminated the potential for abuse. At the same time, we needed to be certain that any changes to the benison and benefits system would not penalize our dedicated workforce.”

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, who chairs the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, released the following statement today, regarding the passage (31-8) of the “Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.” The bill is aimed at reforming the State’s pension system.

“I am encouraged today by the passage of this bill. It took a lot of compromise and long hours, but I’m glad that we finally passed this legislation that will help put an end to the abuse of the State’s pension and benefits systems.

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem released the following statement today, regarding the signing of the “Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.”

“The signing of this legislation reaffirms the Legislature’s commitment to protecting the benefits of the State’s current workforce. This new law is the product of a bipartisan effort to bring real pension relief to the hard-working men and women of New Jersey, and I’d like to thank the leadership, Senators Buono, Scutari, Kean and O’Toole and the rest of my colleagues in the Legislature for their help in crafting this legislation.

“As a union official, I have heard quite a few members tell me to ‘negotiate, not legislate.’ Unfortunately, the irresponsible acts of the legislature and union leaders in the 1990’s , along with additional changes in legislation in 2001, which were done without any real dollars to cover the cost of the enhancements, have put the State in a financial bind. These irresponsible decisions placed the State’s pension system in a financial crisis, and it would be absolutely unfair to ask taxpayers to shoulder the additional costs.

Measure Reins In Practice Of Private Deed Companies Preying On Unsuspecting Homeowners TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K….

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem released the following statement today, regarding the passage (31-8) of the “Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.” The Act is aimed at reforming the State’s pension system:

“Today is a great day for New Jersey’s workers. The passage of these bills shows that protecting the benefits of the State’s workforce is an issue of importance on both sides of the aisle. I’d like to thank the leadership, Senator Barbara Buono, Senators Kean and O’Toole, and my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, for their help in crafting this legislation.