TRENTON – Senator Paul Sarlo today said he will sponsor legislation to authorize the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to purchase Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, N.Y.
Senator Sarlo said he was grateful to Senate President Richard J. Codey for agreeing to his request to be the prime sponsor of the legislation needed to authorize the Port Authority’s plan to purchase the New York airport. Senator Codey will co-sponsor Senator Sarlo’s bill.
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey today released the following statement on the plans by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to acquire Stewart Airport:
“Without a doubt, I think Stewart Airport is the way to go, in terms of reducing congestion and delays at our major airports, particularly Newark Liberty International, which is crucial to New Jersey travelers. From a strategic standpoint this makes perfect sense. Stewart Airport is in a unique location to siphon a portion of travelers away from Newark, J.F.K. and LaGuardia.
TRENTON – Senator Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, released the following statement today regarding the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s decision to help cut down on traffic at Teterboro Airport by purchasing Stewart Airport in New Windsor, NY:
“I would like to compliment the Port Authority for this move, which will have the intended consequence of alleviating some of the problems that people in our area have had with the growing use of Teterboro Airport.
TRENTON – Senator Joseph Coniglio, D-Bergen, today said he is pleased the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wants to purchase Stewart Airport in New York to help alleviate congestion around Teterboro Airport.
“I’ve been urging the Port Authority to buy that (Stewart) airport for years,” said Senator Coniglio. “I’ve been talking to Mr. (Port Authority Chairman Anthony R.) Coscia about moving forward with that project so I’m very pleased they are taking action.”
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 – Two measures, sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice, to ensure that tenants’ needs and rights are upheld became law today.
The first enacted bill, S-1082, requires managers of State financed housing to arrange meetings at least four times a year with tenants to discuss complaints. The law requires tenants to receive written notification of the meetings once every three months, and tenants would be able to cancel meetings if they have no complaints.
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg, which allows municipalities to adopt a local ordinance to set the maximum amount of a yearly dog licensing fee has been signed into law by Governor Corzine.
“The signing of this bill serves as a good example of a group having a concern, bringing forward an idea, and actually getting it done,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen.
TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, a driving force behind the law creating the “New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act,” which banned smoking in restaurants and bars in the Garden State, issued the following statement regarding reports that an Atlantic City Council ordinance extending the ban on smoking to casinos may be watered down before a vote tomorrow evening.
“Tomorrow night, the Atlantic City Council has the opportunity to close a loophole in our State law banning smoking in indoor workplaces which adversely affects the health and well-being of the thousands of casino employees in the Garden State.
TRENTON – Senator Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, issued the following statement today on announced plans to increase NJ Transit fares on buses and trains by 10 percent, beginning June 1, to raise $60 million to cover the costs for new services:
“The planned fare hike on NJ Transit customers is the absolute last thing that should be considered, particularly at a time when New Jersey families are being squeezed by skyrocketing property taxes and face some of highest cost-of-living expenses in the nation. With the proven impact of greenhouse gas emissions on global warming, we should be doing all we can to draw riders to mass transit, not turn them away.
TRENTON – The Senate today unanimously approved a bill, S-14, crafted by Senator John H. Adler , to impose mandatory prison terms, fines of up to $200,000 and loss of pensions for all public officials convicted of a wide-ranging list of corruption offenses.
“This vote represents our choice to stand up for taxpayers and against corruption,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “The choice was clear.”
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny Jr. today said Senate Republicans should “rally their own local municipalities” to adopt pay-to-play ordinances instead of pushing for a statewide mandate on the issue.
“With all due respect to Senator (Leonard) Lance (the Senate Minority Leader), there’s almost 50 municipalities in his district (23) and only one or two, if that, have adopted local pay-to-play ordinances,” said Senator Kenny. “That’s hardly a groundswell.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would establish a municipal consolidation commission to recommend mergers and shared services in order to cut the cost of government in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 35 -2.
“In New Jersey, we have more government than we can afford, and tiny fiefdoms serving minimal people only drive up our property taxes higher and higher,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of a panel to review regionalization and shared services during the Legislature’s Special Session. “We need a panel of planning experts, who will be able to light the path towards cost savings from shared services and municipal consolidation. This bill will ensure that New Jersey adapts to the changing needs of our people, and operates at the highest level of efficiency.”
TRENTON – On behalf of the entire New Jersey Legislature, Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today presented the football team of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, with a joint ceremonial resolution to commemorate their remarkable achievements during the 2006 football season. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Codey, Assemblyman John McKeon and Assemblyman Mims Hackett, lauded the Scarlet Knights for their 11-2 season and first bowl championship.
“This year the Rutgers football team managed to surpass all of our wildest expectations and galvanize the entire state with some nail-biting, hard fought victories. They brought national attention to our state and were a huge source of pride for all of us. In honor of all their successes, and what are sure to be many more in the coming years, we are proud to salute them with this resolution,” said Senate President Richard J. Codey.
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Steve Sweeney which would require school bus drivers to visually inspect buses for students after completing each transportation route was unanimously (8-0) approved today by the Assembly Education Committee.
“Bus drivers are charged with the responsibility of transporting our children to and from school, and we depend on the drivers to keep our children safe,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Checking for students at the end of bus routes is something that would only take drivers a few minutes, but could prevent injury and potentially save lives. It’s all about taking preventative measures to protect our kids.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would require a higher recycling standard for plastic packaging sold in New Jersey to promote recycling, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease our dependence on foreign oil was approved today by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee today by a vote of 4-2, with one abstention.
“Global warming is a proven scientific phenomenon, aggravated by our increased dependence on the production of petroleum products, like plastics,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee. “Without a greater emphasis on the re-use and recycling of plastics, we will continue feeding into the global warming problem in New Jersey.”