Joe Kyrillos

U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie identified corruption as the top issue facing the state during a town meeting with three Republican legislators in Monmouth County last night and called on people to join him in the fight for better government by attending government meetings and voting in elections.

But the former Morris County Freeholder and fundraiser for President George W. Bush's 2000 campaign says that his town meeting tour -- he held another one recently with State Senator Peter Inverso and Assemblyman Bill Baroni -- is unrelated to speculation that he might seek the Republican nomination for Governor in 2009.

"It's a fair question," Christie said when asked if he's running. "The answer is 'no.'"

U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie will join Republican legislators in the 13th district for a Town Meeting on April 26 in Middletown.  The non-political event will allow the federal prosecutor to "discuss the actions his office has taken to protect our children and neighborhoods from drugs and gang violence; to combat terrorism and ensure homeland security; to fight white collar crime; and to once and for all show that the people of New Jersey will no longer stand for public corruption," according to a press release issued by State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos' office. 

Assemblyman Samuel Thompson and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin will join Christie and Kyrillos at the forum, to be held at 7:30 PM at Middletown High School North.

The open slot on the Democratic Assembly slate in the thirteenth district was not intentional: Old Bridge resident Bob Brown had about 169 signatures on the wrong petition, leaving Patricia Walsh as the lone challenger to GOP incumbents Amy Handlin and Samuel Thompson.  Democrats are pledging a write-in campaign to nominate a second Assembly candidate -- and a Senate candidate against Minority Leader Leonard Lance in the 23rd district.

One indication that the Democrats don't intend to mount much of a challenge to five-term State Senator Joseph Kyrillos: their candidate is Leonard Inzerillo, who had a very public fight with party leaders last summer. 

SMITH CONSOLIDATION COMMISSION MEASURE APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would establish a municipal consolidation commission to recommend mergers and shared services in order to cut the cost of government in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 35 -2.

"In New Jersey, we have more government than we can afford, and tiny fiefdoms serving minimal people only drive up our property taxes higher and higher," said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of a panel to review regionalization and shared services during the Legislature's Special Session. "We need a panel of planning experts, who will be able to light the path towards cost savings from shared services and municipal consolidation. This bill will ensure that New Jersey adapts to the changing needs of our people, and operates at the highest level of efficiency."

BRAC STYLE COMMISSION NEEDS CHANGES

Senator Joe Kyrillos, (R-Monmouth/Middlesex), a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services issued the following statement regarding changes to a bill that would mandate municipal consolidation.

"Somewhere along the way, the recommendations of this Committee went from ground-breaking to watered down, particularly in the case of my proposed Municipal Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission.

My original proposal was that this authority would be styled after the successful military base-closing commissions created by the federal government and would present their consolidation plan to the Legislature for an up-or-down vote to compel and enforce mergers. Now, the bill no longer resembles that initial plan.

In order to enact the changes needed to deliver sustainable reform, this legislation should be changed so that it broadens the criteria for member selection; allows the Governor to nominate all members; eliminates the secondary review by the Legislature; puts the recommendations out to a regional vote, rather than giving each affected town a veto; reevaluates the amount of money appropriated for staff resources; and addresses school consolidation.

Additionally, this bill now provides carrots for municipalities that enact shared service agreements. If this bill is going to allow for carrots, it should also allow for sticks for those who reject a positive shared services attitude.

No one should confuse activity with accomplishment. "

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NJBIA SURVEY SHOWS BUSINESS CLIMATE NEAR RECESSION LEVELS
Kyrillos Reacts to NJBIA's Grim Findings

Senator Joe Kyrillos, (R-Monmouth/Middlesex), issued the following statement regarding the New Jersey Business & Industry Association 2007 Business Outlook Survey that reported business confidence in the State economy and the State's business climate has fallen to the lowest levels since the early 1990s.

"Not only do we rank last in the nation for our small business climate while large corporations look to relocate outside of New Jersey, but the NJBIA report has revealed that most members believe it will only get worse in the first half of 2007.

How many more reports like this does it take before we enact policies that will inspire confidence and change attitudes and the business climate?

The Governor must overhaul the state's economic strategy. He must support tax and regulatory relief and aggressive incentives for businesses, and he must initiate one-on-one communication with key CEOs and the state's business leaders.

This is the most downbeat assessment since the early nineties, and at that time we were in a recession. The stakes are very high. We are not only competing with other states, but with countries throughout the world. This race is one New Jersey can not afford to lose. Our quality of life is threatened if the business climate in New Jersey continues its decline."

For more information, please call Courtney Fagan at 732-671-3206

November 13, 2006
Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R-13)

Contact: Michelle Peal
(609) 292-5199

New Jersey Must Change Worst in Nation Business Climate

Senator Joe Kyrillos, (R-Monmouth/Middlesex), issued the following statement regarding a report by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council ranking New Jersey as the worst state in the nation to operate a small business. The state ranked 50th in the council’s Small Business Survival Index.

We don’t need another study to point out what everyone already knows. Our business climate is among the worst in the country, but this newest ranking solidifies the fact that we need revolutionary reform now.

It is imperative we reinvigorate our dangerous business climate by enacting business tax cuts, incentives, regulatory relief, and key one-on-one communication between the Governor and CEOs. There needs to be a complete overhaul in the state’s economic strategy if we are to attract businesses, create jobs, and sustain our quality of life.

It is not enough for the governor to talk about a new economic policy. There must be real action. The stakes could not be higher. We are not only competing with other states to bring jobs to New Jersey, but with the global economy there is now international competition for jobs. This is a race New Jersey cannot afford to lose.

New Jersey is at a tipping point. Now is the time for the Governor and Legislature to make tough, smart decisions to encourage business growth, or our state will continue to fall.

REPEAL PUNISHING TAXES ON MEMBERSHIPS/PARKING
Legislation To Undo Democratic Tax Extensions Rushed Through in July

Senator Joe Kyrillos, (R-Monmouth/Middlesex), announced today he will introduce two measures tomorrow which would repeal extending the sales tax to club memberships and parking fees.

"It's ridiculous that New Jersey would punish residents that are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle or commute to work to support their families," said Kyrillos. "These tax increases are a slap in the face to residents already suffering from one of the highest state and local tax burdens in the nation."

Senator Joe Kyrillos, (R-13), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following statement after hearing testimony from Stuart Rabner the nominee for Attorney General.

During his testimony today Stuart Rabner confirmed my earlier statement that the Governor got it right this time. This is the nomination that should have been made last January.

For the past five years New Jersey has been plagued by scandal, corruption, bad economic numbers, and a government shutdown. It is a rare moment in time and is heartening that we can feel good about someone in a bipartisan – almost non partisan way - as is the case with this nominee.

I will continue to urge him to recruit and retain top talent to get the job done.

KYRILLOS SAYS SHRINKING GOVERNMENT KEY TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM

Senator Joe Kyrillos, (R-Monmouth/Middlesex), a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Shared and Consolidated Services made the following remarks during today's opening session.

New Jersey has been a great place to live with a strong economoy that offered plenty of good jobs, fine public schools, and easy access to New York, Philadelphia and the shore. Whether it reamins a great place to live hangs in the balance.

Unfortunately, we can no longer ignore the fact that our state has become a bureaucratic nightmare.

Government has become the growth industry in New Jersey. State spending has increased 37 percent in the past five years and spending at the local level has almost matched that pace. During the past five years government payrolls have swelled, adding nearly 50,000 people, while New Jersey businesses shed nearly 120,000 high-paying business services and manufacturing jobs.