John F. McKeon

AS ASSEMBLYMAN CARABALLO MIGHT SAY, "WILL THE REAL DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP PLEASE STAND UP?"

McKEON/BURZICHELLI WELCOME AG's OPINION DEBUNKING GOP's LEGAL THREAT TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
Sponsors of Credits & Caps Bill Say Republicans Should Stop Campaign of Fear

(TRENTON) -- Assemblymen John F. McKeon and John Burzichelli today said the Assembly Republican fringe that sought to scuttle the delivery of a 20 percent property tax cut to New Jersey residents should abandon their campaign of fearmongering in light of Attorney General Stuart Rabner's legal opinion upholding the constitutionality of the property tax relief plan.

McKEON: CREDITS/CAPS BILL ON FIRM LEGAL GROUND
Sponsor of Property Tax Relief Measure Accuses Republicans Of Mounting Desperate Scorched-Earth Publicity Stunt

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman John McKeon, a lawyer who worked in crafting and sponsoring the legislation (A-1) to deliver a 20 percent property tax cut to a majority of New Jersey residents, today said the measure will stand up to any and all legal challenges brought by Assembly Republicans or their surrogates.

Under the current proposal to ban dual officeholding after the 2007 legislative elections, John McKeon might someday have to choose between serving in the State Senate and continuing as Mayor of West Orange. The only way for McKeon to do both would be for his friend and ally, Richard Codey, to retire this year.

ASSEMBLY PASSES ROBERTS/McKEON/BURZICHELLI BILL
FOR 20 PERCENT PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION, LEVY CAPS
Measure Gains Overwhelming Bipartisan Support;
2.8 Million Households to Share in $2.1 Billion of Relief; Renters Relief to Double

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly today gave overwhelming support to legislation Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Jr., and Assemblymen John McKeon and John Burzichelli sponsored to provide a 20 percent average property tax reduction to a majority of New Jersey households and establish a new system of caps to hold down spending by municipalities and school districts.

ROBERTS, McKEON, BURZICHELLI SPONSORING 20 PERCENT PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION, LEVY CAPS BILL
Measure to Complete Legislature's Landmark Special Session on Property Tax Reform; 1.8 Million Households to Share in $2 Billion of Relief; Renters Relief to Double

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Jr., and Assemblymen John McKeon and John Burzichelli today announced that they will sponsor the legislation to provide a 20 percent average property tax reduction to a majority of New Jersey households and establish a new system of caps to hold down spending by municipalities and school districts.

Senate President Richard Codey's support of a ban on dual officeholding -- he said last week that he expects future curbs on legislators holding local office -- could be put to a test within the next few months as West Orange Mayor John McKeon and Orange Mayor Mims Hackett prepare to seek re-election to fourth terms in the State Assembly from Codey's own legislative district.

There has been some talk among Essex Democrats that Hackett's career in Trenton could be nearing an end. He faces a possible recall movement in Orange, and there is a long list of possible replacements: Phil Alagia, the Chief of Staff to the Essex County Executive and one of North Jersey's best campaign operatives; Caldwell Mayor Susan Gartland; mental health advocate Bob Davidson; Maplewood Mayor Fred Profetta; and Stacey Jennings and Terriann Moore-Abrams, both South Orange Village Trustees. Jennings and Moore-Abrams are African-American women.

McKeon is completely safe; he is among Codey's closest political allies, and will almost surely move up to the Senate when Codey decides to retire. (A top Codey aide says Codey will definitely seek re-election to a ninth term, despite a hot rumor last week that he would announce his retirement next week at a statehouse ceremony dedicating his gubernatorial portrait.)

PLASTIC CONTAINER RECYCLING ENHANCEMENT ACT RELEASED BY ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
Measure Would Reduce Plastic Packaging by Requiring Minimum of Recycled Content

(TRENTON) -- An Assembly committee today released legislation Assemblymen John F. McKeon and Robert M. Gordon sponsored to significantly reduce the use of new plastic packaging by requiring all plastic packaging manufactured and sold in New Jersey to be one-fourth of reused materials.

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ADVANCES McKEON MEASURE MAKING 'TEEN NIGHTS' AT CLUBS SAFER

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman John F. McKeon sponsored to make "teen nights" safer for patrons was released by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee today by a vote of 6 to 0.

McKEON, BURZICHELLI: PROPERTY TAX CAPS BILL MUST BE EFFECTIVE TOOL
Assemblymen Committed to Working with Governor, Legislative Leaders to Craft Meaningful Property Tax Caps with Narrow Exemptions

(TRENTON) - While recognizing that the crafting of a new system of spending caps for municipalities and schools poses enormous challenges, Assemblymen John McKeon (D-Essex) and John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) today said they are committed to creating effective caps with exemptions centered around costs that are outside a locality's ability to control.