Senator Baroni Drafting Pension Reform Legislation

Legislation that would prevent a practice known as double-dipping is being proposed by Senator Bill Baroni (R-14). Under the legislation that the Senator is drafting, retired public employees who accept post-retirement public employment would be prohibited from collecting both a paycheck and a pension check from the state government at the same time. “This legislation will protect the state pension... 

read full story

Senator Bateman Asks Corzine to Release Secret Housing Study

Senator Kip Bateman asked Governor Corzine to finally release a secret housing study that was produced by Rutgers University for the State Planning Commission.  The report is believed to indicate that New Jersey job growth will be a fraction of what the Corzine Administration had previously estimated. If the rumored job growth numbers are accurate, they would put into question the Corzine Administration’s... 

read full story

Senator Tom Kean Asks Corzine to Impound Unspent State Funds

With a New Jersey state budget deficit estimated at nearly $10 billion in next year’s budget, and a deficit that may exceed $1 billion in the current fiscal year, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean has called on Governor Jon Corzine to impound any unspent funds that exist in the current budget. Under state law, the Governor has the legal authority to set aside and not spend money that has been... 

read full story

Tom Kean Says Corzine Revealed New Toll Hike Scheme in NY Times Interview

Governor Corzine revealed yesterday that he may revive his plans to lease New Jersey toll roads and increase tolls yet again.  The shocking revelation that a new scheme to lease toll roads may be in the works came during an interview with the New York Times. The Governor’s original monetization plan included toll increases of 800%. Speaking of the plan, which could possibly include the Garden State... 

read full story

Corzine May Support Toll Increase Plan Similar to Deal in Indiana

Governor Corzine expressed renewed support for his 800% toll increase plan that was set aside last year amid broad public and legislative opposition. During an interview with the New York Times, the Governor says of the plan, “This idea worked.” Realizing that the Governor may have inadvertently revealed a previously undisclosed toll increase plan, a spokesman for Governor Corzine later... 

read full story

Republican Senators Want Corzine to Address New $1 Billion Deficit Immediately

The State of New Jersey is facing a new budget deficit that will likely reach $1 billion in the current fiscal year.  After weeks of prodding by Republican legislators to release updated revenue data, Governor Corzine finally admitted that tax collections are 3.1% lower than he had previously estimated they would be at this point of the year. This new deficit is in addition to an expected deficit... 

read full story

New Law to Protect Children from Sex Offenders

Legislation that would prevent convicted sex offenders from holding positions in youth organizations has been signed into law.  The measure, sponsored by Senator Anthony Bucco, passed through both houses of the Legislature with no opposition before its recent enactment. “This bill’s intent is to protect the children of New Jersey and now that it is officially signed into law, it serves... 

read full story

New Jersey Nets Shouldn’t Be Released from Lease

Published reports say that the New Jersey Nets are considerning a move from the Izod Center in the Meadowlands to the Prudential Center in Newark. Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) responded by saying that the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority should not waive and $8 million penalty that would be incurred by the Nets for breaking the team’s lease. “It would be disturbing if Governor... 

read full story

Senator O’Toole Says Corzine’s Economic Policies Preventing Job Growth

Trenton, NJ – Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40) responded to the release of new labor statistics that show New Jersey has the highest rate of unemployment in the region: “Governor Corzine’s assertion that New Jersey’s economy is better than our neighbors is patently false, disproven by the facts. Our state, once an economic powerhouse, is now a pale shadow of its former self due to the... 

read full story

Baroni’s Citizen Service Act Signed into Law

Legislation Makes It Easier for Citizens to Perform Public Service Legislation sponsored by Senator Bill Baroni (R-14) that would make it easier for concerned citizens to participate in their municipal government has been signed into law. The measure, S-1426/A-2784, is meant to help residents find out what positions are available on local authorities, boards and commissions, and to make it easy to... 

read full story