TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, the prime sponsor of a bill to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey, said he hopes to get the measure posted for a vote in the near future.
“I am looking forward to moving my legislation to abolish the death penalty and to replace it with a penalty of life imprisonment without parole,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union.
TRENTON – Senator Ronald L. Rice today introduced a measure that would require voting machine systems to notify voters if they attempt to leave the polling machine without their ballot being cast.
“The public’s confidence in the election process has been shaken since the controversy in Florida during the 2000 presidential election and voting mishaps throughout the United States,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “It is important that we find more foolproof alternatives to our voting system so that we can uphold the sanctity of the democratic process.”
TRENTON – Senators Paul A. Sarlo and John A. Girgenti have introduced a measure to expand the State’s shoplifting laws by establishing criminal penalties for “organized retail theft enterprises.”
“FBI statistics show that organized theft rings have resulted in roughly $30 billion in losses for businesses nationwide,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee. “Any way you look at it $30 billion is a large sum of money, but it is especially large when taking into consideration the types of items these criminals steal. You have to take an awful lot of shaving cream and baby lotion to make it add up to $30 billion. This bill would increase the penalties for shoplifting and send a clear message to these thieves that we will not tolerate their attempts to defraud New Jersey’s businesses.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Joseph V. Doria which would require that non-prescription, cosmetic contact lenses only be distributed by licensed professionals was approved by the Senate yesterday by a vote of 37-0, receiving final legislative approval.
“While cosmetic contacts might seem like a simple novelty item, the simple fact of the matter is that they’re largely unregulated, and can cause serious vision problems, such as corneal abrasions, conjunctivitis, and even blindness,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Contact lenses should be properly fitted by a licensed professional, not handed out over the counter, and should be subject to strict safety guidelines, whether they are prescription or not. The fact that kids can get their hands on these and do lasting damage to their eyesight makes it that much more of a priority, and we need to take immediate legislative action.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Paul A. Sarlo and Barbara Buono which would require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disclose certain identifying information to law enforcement agencies investigating a crime was approved by the Senate yesterday by a vote of 38-0, receiving final legislative approval.
“Unscrupulous individuals are turning to Internet crime, because it’s become very hard to track down the criminals’ identities,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic. “We want to respect the privacy of citizens, but at the same time, we cannot give criminals a loophole large enough to drive a truck through. By asking ISPs to cooperate with police officers to investigate wrong-doing, we are finding the middle ground between a legitimate law enforcement need and the freedoms of law-abiding citizens.”
NEW BRUNSWICK – Senator Joseph F. Vitale today said the state-of-the-art facility being built as the new College of Nursing at Rutgers University will be a hallmark for long-term quality health care in New Jersey.
“Nurses who train here will provide high-quality health care to our patients in New Jersey,” Senator Vitale said after attending groundbreaking ceremonies for the new multi-million dollar facility to be built on the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Campus.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would allow county prosecutors and the State Attorney General to pursue damage fees against corrupt developers to help repay the municipalities for the cost of corruption, was introduced for consideration last week in the State Senate.
“I intend to push this bill during the legislative lame duck session, because I believe we need tools to help shield New Jersey’s property owners from the harmful effects of public corruption right now,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “Public corruption is not a victimless crime, and always comes at a cost to the taxpayers of the area, whether in the form of unwanted and unnecessary development, pensions for corrupt politicians, or outright theft of public funds. This bill would give our law enforcement officials the ability to hit developers in the checkbook if they are convicted of bribing public officials, and would put their money to good use for the taxpayers.”
TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, sponsor of S-2913, which would place a public question on the November 2006 ballot asking the public to approve $350 million in bonds to support stem cell research grants, made the following remarks today on the floor of the Senate:
“Today we have the opportunity to create a legacy for New Jersey of hope and compassion for those who we serve who suffer from some of humanity’s most debilitating and painful diseases.
TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the prime sponsor of legislation to remove the legal protection for charities that negligently put children in harm’s way by hiding sexual predators within the institutional framework of the charity, issued the following statement on its passage today in the Senate by a vote of 34-1, receiving final legislative approval:
“Today, we are one step closer to having true justice for the victims of sexual abuse who have had to suffer because of the deceitful and negligent actions of charities that have turned a blind eye towards sexual predators in their midst.
TRENTON – Senator Nia H. Gill, the prime sponsor of legislation to remove the legal protection for charities that negligently put children in harm’s way by hiding sexual predators within the institutional framework of the charity, issued the following statement on its passage today in the Senate by a vote of 34-1, receiving final legislative approval:
“Victims of sexual abuse have waited so long for their day of reckoning, and today, we are so much closer to granting them the justice they so richly deserve.
TRENTON – The Senate today approved a bill, sponsored by Senator John H. Adler, to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and in all indoor places except casino gaming floors.
“This is the most important public act this Legislature may ever take,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “This bill will save thousands of lives.”
TRENTON – The Senate supported legislation today sponsored by Senate Shirley K. Turner that would create a commission to study the application of the death penalty in New Jersey.
“It was a disappointment to many people of great conscience when Governor McGreevey vetoed this same piece of legislation two years ago,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “In the time that has passed, the evidence of the significant flaws with the death penalty system has only mounted. Fortunately, in Governor Codey we now have a Governor who recognizes the need to study these flaws and fix the system so that we have a fair criminal justice system.”
TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak today said New Jersey residents could turn their love for native son Bruce Springsteen into a means of helping to feed the poor by purchasing a “Born-To-Run” special license plate.
“Springsteen’s message of hope should be a springboard for all of us to do something positive for the less fortunate,” said Senator Lesniak, a co-founder of Democrats for The Soul Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism.
TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak today said New Jersey residents could turn their love for native son Bruce Springsteen into a means of helping to feed the poor by purchasing a “Born-To-Run” special license plate.
“Springsteen’s message of hope should be a springboard for all of us to do something positive for the less fortunate,” said Senator Lesniak, a co-founder of Democrats for The Soul Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism.
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice, which would allow for the establishment of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), received final legislative approval today.
“The health care system in New Jersey is changing rapidly, but not necessarily for the best,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “A lot of the cost is being shifted to some of our neediest citizens, and we need to fight the federal regulations that back New Jersey’s residents into a corner.”