“This is a validation of the work we have done to get to the bottom of what really happened to Tara,” said Senator Jennifer Beck. “Tara’s Law is the first step in working to increase the protections of our most vulnerable citizens, and as this court case continues, we will find out what other changes need to be made in the system. Tara’s death is an unspeakable tragedy, and we will continue to make sure it never happens again.”

Read the rest of 17-Count Indictment Handed Up in the Case of the Death of Tara O’Leary (272 words)

“Despite the fact that demand is down, prices continue to rise and impact the consumer,” said O’Scanlon. “The only thing more enigmatic than the price of gas is Governor Corzine’s ongoing support to raise the tax on it. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he reshuffles the deck and deals the toll increase card again.”

Read the rest of O’Scanlon Asks How Corzine Can Support Gas Tax Increase as Fuel Prices Continue to Rise (262 words)

Corzine revealed the details to the Star-Ledger’s editorial board in Trenton yesterday, saying he would make a smaller contribution to the state pension fund, continue the income tax surcharge and not fully fund state aid to local school districts.

Read the rest of Assembly Republican Budget Committee Says Corzine’s “New” Budget Solutions More of the Same (498 words)

Read the rest of 12th District Legislators Invite State And Federal Officials To Attend NOPE Rally October 27th (414 words)

The State Health Benefits Review Commission recommended two pieces of legislation for approval that would end the practice of giving publicly-funded pensions to part-time employees and appointees to county tax boards.

“This is one step toward restoring sanity for taxpayers who cannot afford to pay overly generous benefits to part-time employee as a reward for being politically-connected, ” said Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, who sponsors A-3959, a bill that would require members of the state pension system to be full-time employees.

Read the rest of Panel Endorses Reform Aimed at Ending Public Pensions for Part-Timers and Political Appointees (307 words)

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) called on the Corzine Administration to acknowledge that recent grants awarded through the State’s Extraordinary Aid Program are random and unfair and to immediately reform the program. The stated purpose of the Extraordinary Aid Program, run by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), is to allow municipalities experiencing extraordinary financial problems, not of their own making, to compete for approximately $25 million in discretionary grants to mitigate property tax increases.

Read the rest of Beck: Property Tax Relief Program Needs Overhaul (213 words)

To make an appointment to donate blood, please call JoAnn Denton at 732-866-1695. If you have a question about donor eligibility, please call the donor health line at 1-866-236-3276.

Read the rest of 12th District Legislators Pleased to Announce that Funding for Branchport Creek Clean-up Is in Place (387 words)

Read the rest of Bill to Rename Route 9 Bridge for Korean War Veteran Signed into Law (484 words)

Read the rest of Cardinale and Beck Want More Time and Information When Questioning Judges (230 words)

To make an appointment to donate blood, please call JoAnn Denton at 732-866-1695. If you have a question about donor eligibility, please call the donor health line at 1-866-236-3276.

Read the rest of Beck, O’Scanlon & Casagrande Say Coniglio Sentencing Is Another Reminder that Reform Is Needed (449 words)

The bill would make it clear that no legislator can use his position to direct money to his employer, for any reason. Current law requires prosecutors to show during a lengthy trial that a legislator received a bribe or extorted money in return for securing grants for their employers.

Read the rest of Beck: Coniglio Sentencing Shows Corzine Should Stop Stalling on Vital Ethics Bills (165 words)

Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (all R-Monmouth) today noted that the most recent census data available indicates that even before New Jersey’s unemployment rate more than doubled from 4.6% to 9.3% since the end of 2007, the number of people in New Jersey without health insurance had already climbed from 1,076,000 in 2001 to 1,348,000 in 2007.

Read the rest of Beck, Casagrande & O’Scanlon Urge Corzine to Address Worst-in-Region Record of Uninsured Families (486 words)

New York has the second highest with 8.6 percent and Pennsylvania reported a rate of 8.5 percent for last month.

Read the rest of Beck, O’Scanlon & Casagrande: July’s Unemployment Numbers Do Not Bode Well for New Jersey’s Current Direction (318 words)

In response to Governor Corzine trying to spin good news out of today’s announcement that New Jersey’s unemployment rate increased from 9.2% to 9.3%, Senator Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth Mercer), issued the following statement:

Read the rest of Beck on Corzine’s Response to Rising New Jersey Unemployment (854 words)

It cannot be denied that New Jersey’s Council on Affordable Housing was created with the admirable intention of helping resolve our State’s affordable housing problem.

However, the most recent regulations allow COAH to use faulty data to assign municipalities unwieldy affordable housing obligations and include new obligations of affordable housing based on on-going commercial development, and requiring a new affordable housing unit for every 16 jobs (deemed to be created whenever a commercial building is built or expanded), regardless of whether there actually has been any job growth.

Read the rest of RCAs: A Useful Tool for an Affordable New Jersey (1,016 words)

New Jersey owes its current and retired workers $55.9 billion worth of health benefits – a figure that increased by $5.3 billion in fiscal year 2008 because of Governor Corzine’s decision to neglect the state’s pension and health benefit obligations, according to a Bloomberg report.

Read the rest of Casagrande & O’Scanlon Want Voters to Say Whether State Should Stop Ignoring Its Bills (298 words)

Read the rest of Casagrande and O’Scanlon: Now Is the Time to Address How to Handle Officials Who Are Under Indictment (287 words)

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