TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny Jr. today dismissed Republican efforts to block tax relief for senior citizens, the disabled and homeowners who need the credits to be provided by the legislative reform initiative.
“The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for playing partisan games with our tax relief proposal.
“It’s clearly constitutional under Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph 5.
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey issued the following statement in response to calls from Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance to delay progress on legislation which would cap property tax increases and provide credits of up to 20 percent for New Jersey taxpayers by moving it into the usual committee process:
“While I think that Senator Lance and I would agree that the caps and credits bill is probably the most important thing we can do to directly impact property taxpayers in New Jersey, I respectfully disagree on his requested timetable for reform.
Madden: A Sustained Commitment To Upgrading Urban Policing Is Needed To Bring About Change In Camden
TRENTON – Senator Fred H. Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, today released the following statement regarding the state of policing and the safety of the residents of Camden city during a joint public hearing of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee and the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee:
“One of the major issues plaguing the city of Camden is the lack of safety for its residents. An abundance of crime and the lack of ability to be free in the neighborhood where you reside have a direct effect on local commerce and development. If people don’t feel safe, they are not going to venture out and support local business, nor will residents of neighboring towns come into the city to do business.
TRENTON – A bill, S-2342, sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria Jr., D-Hudson, to require the Department of Environmental Protection to hold a public hearing when the State plans a major change at a State park or forest has been approved by the Senate Environment Committee.
“People with good intentions don’t always agree and parks, especially those in urban settings, are very precious spaces,” said Senator Doria. “In my home county of Hudson, I am proud that Liberty State Park has a very loyal following whose patrons want to be a part of any modifications to the Park they love.”
TRENTON – The official gubernatorial portrait of former Governor and Senate President Richard J. Codey was unveiled today at a ceremony in the Senate Chambers of the State House before legislators, current and former staff, and family members. Codey will join other governors from recent history whose portraits hang in the Governor’s Outer Office at the Statehouse.
“This is truly a great honor. Without a doubt, my time as Governor was one of the best experiences of my life,” said Codey. “I certainly never expected the job, but I couldn’t be more grateful. The accomplishments we were able to achieve in those 14 months were some of the proudest of my life and I want to thank my former staff for all their hard work along the way. I’d also like to thank Paul Jennis for the outstanding job he did in making me look even better on canvas than in real life.”
TRENTON – The Senate State Government Committee today approved “The 2007 New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project Act” sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner.
“As the Legislature has attempted to hash out the issue of property tax reform, we are learning why this is an issue of paramount concern to the citizens of New Jersey,” said Senator Turner. “New Jersey residents need property tax reform, yet their own representatives cannot agree on any one idea because there are too many interests involved in the decision making.”
TRENTON – The Senate Transportation Committee today gave the green light to bill S-2480, sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex), which would enhance driver safety by giving parents greater supervision over their child’s driving practices. The bill would allow parents access to their child’s official driving records from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
“As a parent of young drivers, I know how hard it is to keep tabs on them and how many nights are spent worrying when they’re out driving,” said Sen. Codey. “Once they leave the house, it’s almost impossible to tell how they handle themselves behind the wheel. This proposal would allow parents to monitor their child’s driving record to see if they have any offenses, and hopefully encourage kids to be more cautious, knowing their parents can track their record.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Joseph Coniglio, which would honor New Jersey’s first black legislators, Assemblyman Walter Gilbert Alexander, R-Orange, and Senator Hutchins F. Inge, D-Newark, was unanimously approved today by the Senate State Government Committee.
“Assemblyman Alexander and Senator Inge overcame the racism of their respective time periods and won their seats because they were the best men for the job,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen, who chairs the Senate State Government Panel. “It’s only fitting that we show our respect and admiration for these trailblazers in New Jersey State government.”
TRENTON – The Senate Environment Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono that would require that county and local health departments receive advance notice of any hazardous site remediation undertaken within their jurisdiction.
“The involvement of county and local health departments is critical in protecting residents from potential health hazards caused by these remediations,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “We saw with the Ford Plant clean-up that while the end result is a healthier environment for residents, the steps taken to get there can be dangerous.”
TRENTON – The Senate State Government Committee today approved a measure sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey that would erase more than 150 years of discrimination in New Jersey’s constitution by removing insensitive and discriminatory language that currently bars certain groups from voting rights. SCR-134 proposes a constitutional amendment that would replace the language that currently reads: “No idiot or insane person should enjoy the right of suffrage.”
“This is yet another big step towards removing the stigma of mental illness,” said Sen. Codey. “We must bring mental health into the new century. The fact that this language has remained in our constitution for so long is a disgrace. Not only is it insensitive, but it does not take into account the individual circumstances of people with varying degrees of disabilities.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden and Joseph F. Vitale that would require the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to share donor information with federally-approved organ donation agencies was unanimously approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee.
“In essence, the decision to become an organ donor is one to give the gift of life to a perfect stranger,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “By easing the organ donation process, potential donors and their families would be able to help other people who so desperately need a second chance at life, without having to cut through a lot of bureaucracy and red tape. Organ donation does not have to be a long, drawn out process.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen Sweeney and Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher adding seafood products to the list of “Jersey Fresh” and “Jersey Grown” foods, promoted in the State’s national advertising campaign was signed into law today.
“By offering seafood under the ‘Jersey Fresh’ program, we are helping to boost the economy by promoting our multi-million dollar fishing industry,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “When people see the ‘Jersey Fresh’ name, they know that they are purchasing quality products, and by adding seafood to the list of items, we’re working to provide more variety for consumers.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner to permit spouses of armed forces personnel who are forced to relocate outside of the State to collect unemployment benefits was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.
“Regularly moving from one military base to another can be very difficult on the families of those who serve our nation,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “They shouldn’t be forced to lose their financial well-being just to stay together. In my mind, that goes against true American family values.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which will increase penalties for failure to register as a sex offender within a municipality under the State’s Megan’s Law was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.
“New Jersey’s Megan’s Law, when enacted, was the model for community notification laws, but without proper safeguards, holes develop in the safety net,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “The previous penalties were far too lax for failure to register, and as a result, offenders could slip under the radar, lurking unknown in communities. If we’re going to make the sex offender registry effective, we need strong penalties to ensure full compliance with those the registry is intended to police.”
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. welcomed Senate approval today of S-15, which would create the independent Office of the State Comptroller.
“I am pleased with the final outcome of the State Comptroller bill,” said Senator Kenny, D-Hudson. “We worked closely with Governor Corzine to create a bill that would enact strong new safeguards against waste and fraud while minimizing the impact of additional bureaucracy on local and county government.”