Kean: NJGOP Continues Focus On Jobs

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement today following the Senate President's announcement that the Legislature will spend the next several months seeking to implement a series of economic measures that will help jumpstart the state’s sagging economy:

"Republicans continue to be willing and ready to work at a moment's notice on any legislation that creates permanent, private sector jobs in the state. We must reignite our state's competitive advantage and attract businesses and create jobs. Unemployed workers deserve a government that works across party lines to consider every responsible proposal to improve our economy and get residents working again."

Below are a list of several bills Republicans asked Democrats to consider, nine months ago, that would have helped jumpstart New Jersey's economy and create much-needed jobs.

S-543 (Kean, T., Introduced 1/12/10) — Economic Development Promotion Act

Goal: Seeks to promote economic development by: overhauling an inefficient economic development bureaucracy, eliminating antiquated statutes, providing low-cost assistance to prospective employers and entrepreneurs, and revamping New Jersey’s tourism marketing strategy.

S-1850 (Kyrillos, Introduced 3/22/10) — Requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to study impact of State business income taxes on business out-migration, business formation, and employment.

Goal: To provide legislators an understanding of which policies, past and present, contribute to job losses in New Jersey.

S-1865 (Kyrillos, Introduced 3/22/10) — Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain investments in manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation, modernization, and expansion.

Goal: To stop the manufacturing job losses, and encourage the cutting edge companies to stay and expand in New Jersey.

S-761 (Beck/Kyrillos, Introduced 1/12/10) — Revise Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP) to remove grant caps for each new employee hired and give equal treatment to all businesses under the program.

Goal: Provide strong incentives for employers to hire new workers.

S-976 (Allen, Introduced 2/1/10) — Allows free access to certain job training courses for employees affected by plant closings, mass layoffs, or transfer of operations.

Goal: To help improve the employment prospects of workers laid off in declining industries.

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NJ Power Outage: How To Reach Sen Tom Kean

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement regarding power outages in his Westfield District Office:

“Power outages in my Westfield office have disabled the phone lines.  Constituents needing assistance, on any issue including the cleanup from Hurricane Irene, can reach my staff by e-mail at: senkean@njleg.org.  Constituents needing help by phone should contact my Assembly colleagues; Assemblyman Bramnick at 908-232-2073 or Assemblywoman Munoz at 908-918-0414.

 “I hope to have normal operations restored in the Westfield district office in the next couple of days.”

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Kean: It's Groundhog Day In Trenton -- Again!

“What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?”

-Bill Murray, Groundhog Day, 1993

On Day Two of Senate Democrats’ quest to wipe out state reserve funds and plunge the state budget into the red for political purposes, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) issued the following statement:
It’s beginning to feel a bit like Groundhog Day in Trenton, with another set of politically motivated override votes scheduled by the Majority.
Just like yesterday, this is all about Democrats’ plans for a misleading smear campaign in the fall elections, not the best interests of taxpayers.
Just like yesterday, the Democrats are attempting to spend far more money than the state of New Jersey has in the bank.
And just like yesterday, Democrats will ignore the fact that they handed Governor Christie a budget that was nearly $1 billion out of balance and relied on false revenue estimates and phantom savings.
Their scare tactics, misinformation, and name calling didn’t accomplish anything yesterday. This movie is unlikely to be better the second time we all watch it.

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Kean: NJ High Court Cannot Legislate From Bench

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) issued the following statement in response to the New Jersey Supreme Court's ruling ordering the state to spend $500 million on the 31 former Abbott school districts:

"The unelected justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a ruling today that created law from the bench despite having no constitutional authority to do so. In so doing, they have thumbed their noses at the residents of the state who elected a Governor and a Legislature to make these policy decisions as is prescribed by the state constitution."

"The Court is wrong. A thorough and efficient system of education is not solely contingent on dollars, but requires significant reforms to make those dollars work better for students: rewarding excellent teachers for merit rather than longevity, reforming tenure to more easily and quickly remove ineffective educators from the classroom, and capping superintendent salaries to rein in administrative costs. Quality education is about holding the system accountable for student outcomes, and we should not turn to spending as a remedy until accountability measures are put in place."

"The Court's ruling fails disadvantaged students by continuing a decades-old legal theory that, since its inception, has not measurably improved the poor graduation rates and test scores of chronically failing school districts."

"Republicans have been clear: we will not raise taxes on the most highly taxed people in America to pay for another wrongheaded decision by the Supreme Court. The state's tax burden has, according to census figures released today, cost our state another 190, 000 residents in 2009. The Legislative Majority needs to put its cards on the table and come forward with ideas on how to address this ruling."

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Kean: GOP Budget Discipline Shows Results

New Jersey State Senate Republican leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) says that the state's positive revenue outlook shows Republican budget discipline is getting results in the fight to repair state finances damaged during:
"With state finances in shambles, Republicans and Governor Christie led last year by offering a balanced, fiscally disciplined budget after the Democratic Majority abdicated their responsibility to govern," said Kean. "Today's improved revenue forecast shows that the decision to live within our means and hold the line on taxes is working. While our recovery is tenuous and we must remain cautious, the revised outlook is a welcome change from a decade of higher taxes, spending, and debt under total Democratic control of state government."
Kean urged caution to lawmakers who would view increased state revenues as a license to spend.
"Surplus revenues should not be viewed by Trenton politicians as an excuse to go back to the days of unchecked spending," he said. "While the picture painted today is better than the alternative, the numbers show that tax revenues in New Jersey are highly volatile. Democrat plans to increase taxes would be the equivalent of chopping down one's house for firewood- short term gain followed by long term misery as revenues flee the state. Republicans will continue to focus on meeting the state's obligations and living within our means, rather than frittering tax dollars away on special interests and bigger government."

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Kean To Sweeney: Saving Tax $$$ Isn't 'Garbage'

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union) today said that he strongly disagrees with Senate President Stephen Sweeney's comments characterizing toolkit bills not passed by the Legislature as 'garbage'.
"Legislation that ends the outrageous practice of paying employees for unused sick leave and preventing a repeat of the multi-million dollar terminal leave bills seen in Atlantic City and Jersey City this year is not 'garbage'," said Senator Kean. "That the Democrats oppose ending a costly perk that is virtually only seen in the public sector shows how out of touch the Majority has become after nearly a decade in power in Trenton."
Rather than passing a phase out of payments for unused sick leave and requiring current employees to draw down on time already accrued as had been proposed by the Governor, Senate Democrats instead passed a law that preserved the benefit.
"$7 million dollars in unused sick leave for Atlantic City and $9 million for Jersey City are, in fact, 'real stuff' to the taxpayers, especially when these municipalities are recipients of large amounts of state aid," Kean stated.
Kean renewed his call for the Majority to set a date certain for enactment of unfinished property tax relief bills pending before the Senate, some of which have not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing.
"It is telling that the Majority has placed a premium maintaining this perk, and shows that election year politics trump the will of the taxpayers. If the Majority were truly concerned about the plight of the most highly taxed people in America, it would set a date certain for the enactment of this, and other, property tax relief measures."

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Kean To Sweeney: Let's Resolve Major Problems

Calling the Senate’s April agenda a “moment of truth for the Majority’s commitment to reform”, New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) has requested Senate action on four pieces of property tax relief and public safety legislation.

“The Senate President is to be commended for holding an unusual April session,” said Kean, “but that session needs to get something accomplished for the taxpayers of this state rather than allow legislators to look busy. We’re up against the clock to provide property tax relief to the most highly taxed people in America, and to repeal a misguided early release program that has resulted in tragedy for two families.”

Senator Kean has asked for committee consideration and a vote by the full Senate on bills: ending the state’s early release program, phasing out unused sick leave payments for public workers, closing the state pension system to well-connected lobbyists, and enabling shared services among local governments.

Senate Committees will meet at the call of the Senate President on April 11th, with the full Senate scheduled to vote on a yet to be determined agenda on April 28th.

“The Majority has never provided reasoning to oppose or delay passage of these bills,” Kean stated. “These pieces of legislation are urgent and should be posted for a vote, as the months of May and June are likely to be consumed by budget negotiations. If it chooses not to add these bills to the agenda, the Majority needs to explain why, for example, well-connected lobbyists should be allowed to join our already troubled public pension system.”

The text of Senator Kean’s letter to the Senate President (sent 4/4/11) is as follows:

Honorable Stephen M. Sweeney, Senate President
New Jersey State Senate
935 Kings Highway, Suite 400
West Deptford, NJ 08086
 
Dear Senate President Sweeney, 
First, let me congratulate you for making the decision to break with tradition and call the Senate into session on April. The Senate cannot afford to take an entire month off given the amount of unfinished property tax relief and public safety legislation still pending before us- to say nothing of a looming budget deadline. 
In order to ensure that the April 28th voting session is productive, I’m writing to make several recommendations with regard to the Senate’s agenda.
Early Release Repeal: The conditional veto of this S-2803 contains language that will repeal New Jersey’s early release statute. Given that two homicides have been committed this year by individuals released from prison under this statute, this should be a priority for the Senate.
If for any reason you feel that posting the Governor’s veto for ratification cannot happen on that date, I would encourage you to instead call a meeting of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee to consider Senator Allen’s repeal legislation, S-2814, on April 11th, so that repeal may be considered by the full Senate at the April 28th Senate session.
Sick Leave Payout Prohibition: Whatever the justification for this practice in the past, it is a one that taxpayers can no longer afford and must be ended outright. That any community should have to issue bonds or lay off public safety personnel to pay other employees for unused leave time is outrageous. Governor Christie’s proposal to end payments for unused sick leave, contained in his conditional veto of S-2220, should be posted to the April 28th agenda in the interest of property taxpayers.
Non-public Employee Pension Ban: Given the current state of our troubled public employee retirement system, it is unimaginable that state law still allows certain, well-connected employees of private entities into the system. Given that your caucus has not, to date, provided a justification for allowing this practice to continue, I would assume your caucus to be in support of repeal. I respectfully request that S-2026 be posted for committee consideration on April 11th, as it has yet to be acted on since introduction in June of 2010.
Shared Services: Republicans are eager to join your long standing advocacy for the sharing of services among local governments by passing S-2024. As you are aware, this bill enables meaningful workforce consolidation between local governments without the counterproductive and arcane limitations imposed by the civil service system. Since it has not yet been heard in committee, it would make sense to hear this bill in committee on April 11th in preparation for an April 28th vote by the full Senate. 
I thank you for your consideration of these requests and eagerly await your response.
 
Sincerely,
Tom Kean, Jr.
Senate Minority Leader

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Kean: Cap Sick Days, Provide Tax Relief

New Jersey State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) has written to Senate President Stephen Sweeney formally requesting that the Governor’s revisions to S-2220, legislation capping unused sick leave payouts to public employees, be posted for a vote at the March 21, 2011 voting session. The legislation provides property tax relief by immediately closing a loophole in state law that allows current public employees to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments for unused sick and vacation time upon retirement. From Senator Kean:

“Legislation passed by the Majority purporting to end jackpot sick leave payouts actually allowed the practice to continue for current public employees.” 

“There is no excuse for anyone to receive these payments, which drives up property taxes and costs state, county, and local government millions each year. Sick leave exists to take time off when you are sick, not to serve as a supplemental source of income.” 
“The Governor’s revisions to the bill would end the practice for all employees, current and future, as Republican Senators have proposed.” 

“The Majority should post these revisions for an immediate vote and allow each member to register his or her opinion on providing property tax relief for New Jersey residents, the most highly taxed people in America.”

The text of Senator Kean’s letter follows:

Dear Senate President Sweeney,

This letter serves to respectfully request on behalf of the sixteen members of the Senate Republican caucus that the Governor’s conditional veto of S-2220/A-3392, capping payouts of unused sick leave and vacation carry forward to public employees, be posted at the March 21, 2011 Senate session.

The Governor’s veto message addresses glaring loopholes in this bill that, unless rectified, renders the legislation virtually meaningless as an immediate cost saving measure for local government.

I would hope everyone in the Senate can agree that a single Atlantic City employee cashing out nearly $300,000 is a gross abuse of taxpayer dollars- akin to hitting the jackpot on the taxpayer’s dime.  Public employees routinely cash out tens of thousands of dollars in unused leave time upon retirement, a substantial yearly strain on local budgets.  The Majority’s bill, S-2220, will not end that practice immediately, but the Governor’s veto closes the bill’s loopholes and would put an end today to jackpot payouts.

We are cognizant of the fact that there is some opposition within the Democratic caucus to the changes proposed in the Governor’s veto message.  The Majority voted three times against Republican motions to immediately end jackpot sick leave payouts on 9/30/10 and 3/3/11.

However, the Majority has used the full Senate’s time to consider veto overrides of unbudgeted expenses that had no hope of passage.  Since it appears that likelihood of success is no longer a criteria for posting an item to the board, we respectfully request that the each Senator be given an opportunity to register their vote on this important property tax relief measure.

Sincerely.

Tom Kean, Jr.

Senate Republican Leader

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Kean Presents NJ Tax Cut Bills; Dares Dems To Act

Senator Tom Kean, Jr. has announced that Republicans will submit today four tax cut proposals outlined by Governor Christie in last month's budget address.
"Republicans are committed to reducing the tax burden on New Jersey employers, but we will not do it recklessly or outside the context of a balanced budget," said Senator Kean. "The Governor has proposed several tax relief measures as part of his FY 2012 budget that we are eager to support, and are submitting these pieces of legislation to the Senate today. Senate Democrats appear to have recently become concerned about the tax climate for businesses in New Jersey after voting to raise taxes 115 times in the last decade. Senate Republicans hope their conversion is out of sincere concern for job creation rather than political opportunity. If their belief that tax cuts create jobs in genuine, they'll join us in passing these bills."
The following four tax cut bills, outlined in the Governor's budget, have been submitted to the Senate today:
Reduce S-Corporation Minimum Tax 25% (Sponsors: Senators Jennifer Beck, Tom Kean, Jr.)
Increase R&D Tax Credit to 100% (Sponsors: Senators Steve Oroho, Sean Kean)
Raise Estate Tax Exemption to $1 Million (Sponsors: Senators Joe Kyrillos, Gerald Cardinale)
Business Software Installation/Support Tax Exemption (Sponsors: Senators Tony Bucco, Diane Allen)
"New Jersey has lost jobs because fiscal recklessness- living beyond our means to pay for government's actions- has made our state an unaffordable place to do business," Kean continued. "Fiscal responsibility means paying for only what you can afford in order to assure job creators they will not be asked in the future to foot the bill for unaffordable spending. The tax cuts we have proposed can be paid for and are part and parcel of the Governor's balanced budget. There is no reason for our colleagues not to support these tax cuts."

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Sen. Kean: Christie Budget 'Restores Sanity, Boosts Jobs'

New Jersey State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) issued the following statement on the Governor’s budget:

“Governor Christie presented New Jersey with a budget that creates permanent, private sector jobs by forcing the state to live within its means and not balance wasteful spending on the backs of businesses. Restoring sanity to our state budget is the most powerful action we can take to put people back to work- far more effective than any cleverly named, haphazard package of one-shot legislation.”
“I am exceptionally pleased the Governor has made Senate Republicans’ priority of increasing school aid his own this year. School budgets are the single largest part of New Jersey’s property tax burden, and the Governor’s proposed $250 million increase in aid is welcome relief- particularly in long-shortchanged suburban districts.”
“This must be the year of meaningful reform for state pensions and benefits- key unfinished elements of the Governor’s toolkit that will give near immediate relief to property tax payers. Overly generous promises of the past have put the system on the fast track to insolvency, and put the retirement security of hundreds of thousands of state workers in jeopardy.”
“New Jersey’s economy was pushed to the brink in the last ten years- our state’s ‘Lost Decade’ of 115 tax increases, $11 billion in new spending, a doubling of state debt, and one of the highest unemployment rates in the region under Democrat leadership. The damage can not be undone overnight, but this budget is part of the road to recovery on which Senate Republicans will join the Governor.”

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Kean: Let's Vote On Civil Service Reform

New Jersey State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) today called on Senate leadership to schedule a vote on Governor Chris Christie's conditional veto of civil service reform. His call comes on the heels of Democrat admission that their changes to the civil service system will not result in savings for property tax payers:
"The civil service reform bill proposed by Senator Bateman and endorsed by the Governor would have resulted in immediate property tax savings," said Senator Kean. "Unfortunately, the Democrats chose to pass a watered down version of reform that one of their own colleagues now admits will not save taxpayers a dime in the short term. Now that we are all able to agree that the Democrats' civil service bill falls short, it is imperative that the Senate schedule consideration of the Governor's conditional veto to fix this legislation."
Senator Kean said that civil service reform must allow municipalities to "opt out" of the system and allow involuntary furloughs of employees to deal with budget constraints. "Without the opt-out provision and involuntary furloughs, there is no appreciable savings for local government," he said. "Taxpayers cannot afford to wait any longer. It is time to act on meaningful civil service reform, as well as the rest of the Governor's toolkit left unfinished by the Majority."

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Kean: Bond Grading Downgrade Demands Action

Responding to news that Standard and Poor's has downgraded the State of New Jersey's bond rating, New Jersey Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) issued the following statement on the Senate Majority's failure to address needed financial reforms in last year's legislative session:

"Standard and Poor's sent a clear message to Legislative leadership today- get serious about reform," said Senator Kean. "Pension reform, employee benefits reform, and other measures integral to fixing our state's finances were put on the table last year by Governor Christie, but were left untouched by Trenton Democrats. This is an ambitious agenda, but one necessitated due to eight years of spending, borrowing, and dishonest budgeting by the very same legislators dragging their feet on reform today. The taxpayers are once again the victims, as more of their tax dollars will now be spent on interest and debt service instead of improving their communities."

S&P announced today that the state's bond rating has been dropped from AA to AA-.

"The markets have run out of patience for cleverly packaged half measures- such as the Democrats' civil service reform bill- that preserve the status quo under the guise of change and do nothing to actually save money," Kean said. "It's now or never to tackle the unfinished business and make the big decisions that will put state government on a financially sustainable course. Either we act now or we continue to lose the confidence not only of the lenders who make it possible to build new roads and bridges and schools, but of the people we have been elected to serve."

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Kean: NJ Corporate Tax Reduction Will Create Jobs

New Jersey State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) said today that all legislators concerned about job creation should support a broad based reduction in the corporate tax rate as recently proposed by Governor Christie. Kean stated that New Jersey's large corporate tax burden is the chief impediment to sustainable, permanent job creation:
"A corporate tax rate of 9% practically shows the door to employers and the jobs they sustain and create," said Senator Kean. "One need only look to the closing of Sony's Pitman plant to understand the consequences our state faces should we fail to act. 300 people in South Jersey employed by that facility are set to lose their livelihoods because it is cheaper to do the work in Indiana. A fact of life in this challenging economy is that job creators will move to the lowest cost environment. If New Jersey chooses not to compete, we will continue to lose jobs and talented citizens to other states."
Governor Christie said he will propose a reduction in the corporate tax rate as part of his annual budget address during a recent interview with CNBC.
Sony announced earlier this month that it will close, rather than reduce its workforce at, its South Jersey manufacturing plant. The Pitman factory's operations will be transferred to a facility in Terra Haute, Indiana- citing cost concerns. Indiana's corporate tax rate is 8.5%.
Kean said that small, targeted tax incentives do not go far enough in spurring job creation at a time of record unemployment. "With all due respect to the Majority, we cannot afford to think small any longer," Kean continued. "When over nine percent of New Jersey workers cannot find a job, the problem is greater than what can be solved by tinkering around the edges with half measures. The business tax levy is the most significant factor for employers in determining whether they will stay here or go elsewhere. It is time New Jersey get in the game, make our tax rate more business friendly, and compete for those jobs."

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Christie Acts To Improve NJ Higher Ed

Today, Governor Chris Christie received the recommendations of the Higher Education Task Force chaired by former Governor Tom Kean and signed two new Executive Orders focused on implementing and further pursuing the Task Force's recommendations to strengthen New Jersey higher education.  Executive Order 52 will create the Governor’s Higher Education Council and Executive Order 51 forms an advisory committee to develop specific recommendations for graduate medical education.  The report, delivered to the Governor in accordance with Executive Order 26 signed in May 2010, provides a critical review and assessment designed to improve infrastructure, increase accessibility and promote excellence in New Jersey’s institutions of higher learning.
 
Governor Kean was joined on the Task Force by Dr. George Pruitt, President of Thomas Edison State College; John McGoldrick, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Association of State Colleges and Universities; Peggi Howard, Vice President of Administration, Drew University and Robert E. Campbell, former Vice Chairman, Johnson & Johnson.
 
Governor Chris Christie thanked Governor Kean and the Task Force for their work, while calling for improvements to the current higher education system. 
 
“I want to thank Governor Kean and all the members of the task force for their hard work and insightful recommendations.  In many ways, this report confirms what we all know - New Jersey’s higher education system is in need of focused improvement if it is truly going to serve our students and prepare our state for the future.   After twenty years of declining State funding and increasing tuition, it is time to put in place a short and long term strategy that recognizes our current fiscal challenges while taking achievable steps to strengthen higher education in New Jersey.
 
“I am prepared to take these recommendations into consideration as we determine what change to the system can happen now, considering the serious fiscal constraints facing our State, while also looking toward the future.”
 
Governor Tom Kean said, “There is no doubt that New Jersey must have a competitive system of higher education that is affordable and also equips our students with the tools they need to thrive in today’s workplace. Our findings show that there is a way forward that takes into consideration the fiscal challenges our state is facing and can make New Jersey a leader in higher education.”
 
The Task Force has outlined ambitious goals for New Jersey’s system of public higher education, which includes exploring private partnerships, updating regulations and improving governance.  At the same time the Task Force acknowledges throughout the report and recommendations that New Jersey faces significant fiscal challenges, and that the state does not currently have the resources necessary to fund some of the recommendations. 
 
Governor Christie emphasized that there are critical reform measures which can be implemented right now and called on the Legislature to pass the remaining higher education tool kit bills.  “One thing that can be done immediately and without further delay is passing the remaining higher education tool kit bills. This package of reforms was delivered to the Legislature 239 days ago and there is no reason these bills shouldn’t have been acted upon already.”

 Governor Christie’s Higher Education Tool Kit Proposals include the following:

 
·         Making Collective Bargaining Reform at State Colleges and Universities Consistent.  Under current law, the Governor (through the Office of Employee Relations) conducts negotiations on behalf of the nine state colleges and universities with the state employee’s bargaining units.  This legislation designates each state college and university as the employer of record of its employees and would make the collective-bargaining laws for public higher education consistent. (S-2626/A-2963 and S-2337/A-3219)
 
·         Removing Bureaucracies by Exempting State College and University Employees from Civil Service.  Between 25% and 45% of the state college and university employees are in Civil Service and each institution’s board of trustees must assign duties, determine salaries and prescribe qualifications for all employees in accordance with New Jersey’s Civil Service law.  Having different rules for difference employees creates administrative and managerial concerns and creates a system that is difficult to apply to state college or university environment.  Rutgers, NJIT, UMDNJ and the county colleges do not have employees classified under Civil Service titles.  This legislation would remove classified employees of the state colleges and universities from Civil Service status. (S-2026/A-2963 and S-2338/A-3220)
 
·         Bringing Tenure Qualifications at State Colleges and Universities in Line with National and Private Standards.  The proposal would authorize the boards of trustees of the state colleges and universities to establish a probationary period for tenure that is consistent with the needs of the institution and with national practices. The current probationary period is five years, with tenure achieved in the sixth year, which means review for tenure is only based on four years of work. (S-2172/A-2964/A-3357)
 
·         Requiring Fact-Finding on Impact on Students, Tuition Rates and State/Local Finances During State College Collective Bargaining Process.  The Governor’s proposal would require individuals retained by the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) to institute impasse procedures for collective negotiations involving public institutions of higher education to consider several factors when formulating their opinions and recommendations for settlement.  This would include the impact of any reductions in State or county funding, likely impact of a recommended settlement on tuition rates and the cost of benefits provided to affected state employees. This proposal mirrors the Governor’s “tool kit” proposal regarding municipal arbitrations. (S-2027/A-2962)
 

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Kean: Dems Should Support Pay To Play Ban

New Jersey State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Westfield) issued the following statement in response to comments made by Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono and Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan regarding pay to play reform:

"Any calls for pay to play reform cannot be considered serious or credible unless they include Republicans' repeated proposals to establish a blanket pay to play ban that extends to everyone- including labor unions. Public employee unions receive among the largest state and local government contracts in existence, yet are allowed to spend freely on political campaigns and activities. I stand ready and willing to work with anyone who is serious about enacting reform that treats everyone equally under the law."

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Senators Kean, Allen Praise Christie Choice

New Jersey State Senators Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Westfield) and Diane Allen (R- Burlington/Camden), Republican members of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statements on Governor Christie's nomination of Christopher Cerf for Education Commissioner:

Senator Tom Kean, Jr.:
Christopher Cerf's highly successful record transforming New York City's public schools speaks for itself. Mr. Cerf brings with him a focus on accountability for teachers and administrators, as well as increasing charter school options that allow parents to extricate their children from chronically underperforming schools. Improving public education is the new civil rights struggle of our time, and I look forward to hearing more from the nominee during the confirmation process about his ideas for providing every child in New Jersey with a quality education.
Senator Diane Allen:
Reforming the education system to ensure every child is prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing world requires creativity and strong leadership. I believe Christopher Cerf will bring both of these attributes to the Department of Education if confirmed. He brings an impressive track record not only of getting results, but of building much needed consensus among all players, as a Deputy Chancellor in our nation's largest public school system.

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Kean Legislation Will Provide Business Tax Credits

Legislation sponsored by New Jersey State Senator Tom Kean, Jr. expanding a tax credit program for businesses located near commuter rail stations has cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. S-1020 expands eligibility for transit hub tax credits to employers located in any municipality with a public railroad station.
"This legislation will help address two of New Jersey's major challenges: job creation and traffic congestion," said Senator Kean. "This bill serves as a catalyst to economic development by making more businesses located near public commuter rail stations eligible for tax credits, meaning more jobs created by current employers and more incentives for businesses to choose New Jersey as their base of operations. Furthermore, encouraging development in areas with access to our public transportation infrastructure takes cars off the road and will unclog New Jersey's congested highways. I am encouraged that the Budget and Appropriations Committee unanimously approved this measure, and hope that it meets with similar bi-partisan support when it reaches the floor of the Senate."
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Senator Kean said he is "hopeful that this, and other job creation proposals offered by Republicans since the beginning of the legislative year" will be considered by the Legislature before the year's end.

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Sen. Diane Allen On Military Affairs Panel

New Jersey State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Westfield) is pleased to announce that Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington) has been appointed to the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. She will fill the Republican vacancy on the committee left by Phil Haines, who has taken a seat on the New Jersey Superior Court.
"Senator Allen has demonstrated enormous compassion and concern for veterans and their families throughout her career," said Senator Kean. "Time and again she has led the charge to ensure those who have served our country, as well as their families, receive the benefits, care, and assistance they deserve. Diane will be an outstanding addition to the committee and will work hard in her trademark, bipartisan spirit for the sake of New Jersey's veterans."
Senator Allen's advocacy on behalf of military service members predates her service in elected office. As a television news reporter in Philadelphia, Senator Allen worked to draw attention to the plight of homeless veterans. She has continued this advocacy while in office through participation in many of the Fort Dix Stand Down for Homeless Veterans events, and was the first legislator to ever visit the Veterans' Haven transitional housing facility in Winslow Township. She is a legislative member of the Council on Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs.
"As a representative of Burlington County, home to Fort Dix and thousands of current and retired service members, I am honored to receive this appointment," said Senator Allen. "Assisting those who have served our country is a charge I take very seriously as an elected official. The Military and Veterans Affairs Committee is a body that has always put politics aside to address the needs of active service members, military veterans, and their families. I look forward to working with the other members of the committee and continue my advocacy for housing, healthcare, and job opportunities for those who have selflessly answered our nation's call of duty."
This year, Senator Allen is the prime sponsor of legislation giving retired service members preference in the civil service system, as well as legislation expanding eligibility for the state's veterans' property tax deduction. She has written and passed legislation, now law, establishing the Commission on Women Veterans (P.L.2007, c.319), reserving a portion of New Jersey's rental assistance grants for veterans emerging from transitional housing (P.L.2007, c.208), and establishing minimum per diem pay for National Guard members called into active duty (P.L.2003, c.141).
With this appointment, Senator Allen will now serve on three Senate committees.

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