*** MONDAY’S ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ***

BILLS TO HELP ADULTS WITH AUTISM, COMBAT RECIDIVISM & ENCOURAGE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SHARE SERVICES & CONSOLIDATE TOP ASSEMBLY AGENDAS

Panels to Also Confront E-Cigarettes, Consider Do-Not-Solicit Credit Card List

(TRENTON) – Assembly committees on Monday will consider legislation to help adults with autism, combat recidivism and revise a state commission to encourage more local governments to share services and consolidate.

PREVIEW - SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONSIDER DUI BILLS, SCHOOL CHOICE MEASURE

Will Also Review Reporting of Abuse Against Vulnerable Adults Bill, and Property Tax Reassessment Streamlining

TRENTON – On Monday, six Senate Committees will meet to discuss issues ranging from strengthening New Jersey’s driving while under the influence (DUI) laws, to school choice, to streamlining the property tax reassessment process in New Jersey, to posting nutritional information of food available in chain restaurants.

CRYAN STATEMENT ON GOV.-ELECT CHRISTIE SPEECH

(TRENTON) – Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) released the following statement Thursday following Gov.-elect Chris Christie’s speech in Atlantic City:

“Gov.-elect Christie may be saying not to expect miracles, but New Jerseyans do expect him to stick to his few specific promises, such as cutting income taxes for all taxpayers and reinstating property tax rebates.”

LAUTENBERG HAILS HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL AS A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR NEW JERSEY

*** MONDAY ADVISORY ***

ASSEMBLY LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING ON ANTI-RECIDIVISM BILLS

(TRENTON) – The Assembly’s Law and Public Safety Committee will hold a Monday hearing on a legislative package to combat recidivism in New Jersey.

TRENTON – Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), prime sponsor of the same-sex marriage bill (S1967), today issued the following statement:

“As the prime sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act, I am urging our current Majority Leader to honor the commitment he made to me to move this important civil rights bill forward. We have the ability in the legislature to talk about this bill and address the economic crisis at the same time. I received commitments from the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as from Majority Leader Sweeney that they would allow this bill to move forward. It will be a disappointment to so many in the grassroots of our party as well as to me personally if this commitment is not honored.”

LAUTENBERG OUTRAGED BY TOBACCO COMPANIES' EXPLOITATION OF TAX LOOPHOLE

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR LAUTENBERG "TERROR GAP" BILL

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

QUIGLEY ON CREATING AN ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM

Bill Would Allow NJ Residents to Register to Vote, Change Voting Address via Computer

(TRENTON) - Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley (D-Hudson) today issued a multimedia package on her legislation to allow New Jersey residents to register to vote online.

New Jersey school districts save at least $38.8 million annually by subcontracting non-instructional services such as maintenance, cafeteria operations and transportation, according to preliminary results of an NJSBA survey conducted this fall.

SPEAKER ROBERTS TO INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO HELP N.J. COMBAT NATION’S HIGHEST AUTISM RATE

Two New Bills Meant to Help Adults with Autism, Developmental Disabilities

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. on Tuesday announced he will introduce additional legislation to further help New Jersey combat its highest-in-the-nation autism prevalence.

One bill would permit adults with autism to voluntarily place their names on a new state registry that will help New Jersey improve its planning and services for those with autism.

The other would revise the state’s Law Against Discrimination to specifically prohibit discriminatory acts against people with autism.

Singer Encourages Governor-Elect Christie to Choose A Medical Professional to Lead the Department Of Health

Senator Robert Singer, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee issued the following statement regarding Governor-Elect Chris Christie’s choice for the next Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services.

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CRYAN: TIME TO HEAR REAL SOLUTIONS

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) released the following statement on Monday following Gov.-elect Chris Christie's news conference:

"Gov.-elect Christie gave few specifics in his campaign, and we're still getting the same political speak."

Bill Authorizes Gold Star License Plates for Parents of Soldiers Killed Overseas

Senator Sean Kean stood with Gold Star families and representatives from military organizations at a press conference to highlight legislation he has sponsored in honor of New Jersey military families that would authorize a special Gold Star Family license plate for families of servicemen and women who have lost their lives while on active duty for the United States.

According to the Washington Post, nearly 4,400 servicemen and women have died while serving in Iraq and more than 900 in Afghanistan. 93 have come from New Jersey.

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CASAGRANDE AND HANDLIN COMMEND ELEC INITIATIVE TO BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY TO MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGNS

New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission announced today that public will now be able to track municipal contributions more easily

      Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande and Amy H. Handlin, advocates for anti-pay-to-play laws, commended the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, or ELEC, for a proactive initiative that will make it easier for the public to track campaign contributions at the municipal level.

TRENTON – The Firearms Task Force created in concert with New Jersey’s so-called “one-handgun-a-month” law has issued its first report, which includes recommendations to address concerns of firearms collectors and competitive and recreational firearms users.

The task force is recommending changes that include clarifying the intent of the law with regard to multiple handgun transfers involving retail dealers, identifying a limited number of exemptions to the one handgun limitation and strengthening criminal laws to deter potential “straw purchasers” who fraudulently seek to qualify for an exemption by making false statements in the application process.

WOODBRIDGE—Convincing signs of continued growth in Middlesex County’s Republican base are revealed in preliminary analysis of the November 3 election statistics, according to County Republican chairman Joseph P. Leo.

Leo summed up the Election Day returns in a report to the county’s GOP leadership this week, stressing that final data is forthcoming from county officials.

Republican Chris Christie carried Middlesex County convincingly in his quest for governor and went on to carry the state, ousting incumbent Democrat Gov. Jon Corzine November 3, the first time a Republican has carried the county in a state-wide election in decades, Leo noted.

 “The win here was a reflection not only of Christie’s strong appeal to voters in Central Jersey but also the intense organizational effort by county and local GOP leaders and candidates."

BURZICHELLI PRAISES PROPOSED CHANGES TO 1-GUN-PER-MONTH LAW AS ‘COMMON SENSE COMPROMISE’

(PAULSBORO) – Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli on Thursday hailed recommendations from a special task force that reviewed New Jersey’s one-gun-per-month law and proposed improvements to protect law-abiding citizens and businesses.

OUT OF TOUCH HOLT CONTINUES TO DEFEND ACORNHalfacre:”172 Democratic Congressman voted for something that was unconstitutional??” 

Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre today took Representative Rush Holt to task for his continued support of controversial community-action group ACORN, calling the Congressman’s comments at a townhall meeting in West Windsor Thursday night part of a continued pattern of siding with the extreme left wing of his party and against the wishes of his constituents.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton) cheered the American Medical Association’s (AMA) decision to change its long held policy regarding the classification of marijuana as a drug with no accepted medical use. The AMA recently adopted a resolution that recommends the federal government review the status of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance.