John H. Adler

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators John Girgenti and John H. Adler, which would allow certain people who qualify as veterans under Federal law, but not under New Jersey State law to receive additional hiring points on a civil service exam was unanimously approved today by the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee.

            “New Jersey has one of the most stringent definitions of the word ‘veteran,’ in that, in order to qualify, a person must have served during a time of conflict,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Passaic and Bergen, who chairs the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans Affairs panel.  “Injury, disability and time served in conflict should not be the basis for providing veterans’ preference on civil service exams. Instead, our men and women in uniform should be rewarded for acting in the best interest of the people they made an oath to protect.”

PRINCETON – A measure sponsored by Senator John H. Adler which would provide consumers with the tools necessary to protect themselves from deceptive practices by dishonest insurance brokers and financial planners was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.  The public bill signing took place at AARP’s New Jersey State Office in Princeton.

            "'Get-rich-quick’ schemes have been around since the beginning of time, but this law will send a clear message that we will not allow the much-needed finances of our seniors to be compromised," said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “The idea for this legislation came to me one morning while I was sitting in my kitchen, reading the paper. As legislators, we have to be able to anticipate problems like these before they become crises - I wish officials in Washington would do the same thing."

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Nicholas Sacco and John Adler that will allow New Jersey residents living overseas, including those in the military, to vote by absentee ballot in all State and local elections was signed into law today by the Governor.

            “For too long, New Jersey’s election laws have lagged far behind the state of current technology,” said Senator Sacco, D-Hudson and Bergen.  “With the prevalence of e-mail and other forms of electronic transmission, State election regulators can easily and cheaply communicate with potential voters, wherever they are in the world.  Thanks to this new law, we can increase participation in the democratic process in New Jersey, particularly for those in our military serving overseas.”

TOMS RIVER – Senator John H. Adler, a member of the Senate Environment Committee, issued the following statement regarding off-shore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals off the Jersey Shore after a joint hearing between the Senate and Assembly environmental panels on proposed terminal projects:           

 “New Jersey needs to look at increasing domestic production of natural gas to bring down energy costs for consumers in the Garden State. But the LNG proposals that are currently on the table would cause us to become more, not less, dependent on foreign energy production, while leaving us open to terrorist attack or environmental disaster.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Nia H. Gill and John H. Adler which would amend New Jersey’s counterfeiting laws to make them consistent with those of the International Trademark Association was approved today by the full Senate by a vote of 37 to 1.

            “We are sending a strong, clear message: counterfeiting will not be tolerated in New Jersey,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic.  “We cannot continue believing counterfeit products are harmless.  They have infiltrated markets for every consumer good imaginable and they threaten our economy, health, and safety.”

            "The stiffer penalties in this bill will discourage people from selling knock-offs of popular items," said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. "These products not only hurt legitimate businesses, but threaten consumers’ health and safety. Just a few months ago, there was a product recall because counterfeit tubes of toothpaste were being sold that contained a possibly toxic chemical.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Shirley K. Turner which would amend the laws that created the NJ STARS  and NJ STARS II programs to provide a military services exemption for NJ STARS scholarship recipients who are called to active duty received unanimous final legislative approval today by the full Senate.

“We should do everything we can to show our veterans how highly we regard them and the work they do to protect our country and our freedom,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill.  “This is one of the many ways that government can and should embrace our veterans.”

 “This legislation is about helping to ensure that we honor our service members who are called into active duty while working to obtain a college degree,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer, who chairs the Senate Education Committee.  “As they risk their lives helping to protect us, we must also work to ensure that their educational opportunities are protected here at home.”

** PREVIEW**

CHERRY HILL – Senator John Adler will be joined by Governor Jon S. Corzine and Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez tomorrow as they call on all of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation to vote to override President Bush’s veto of the SCHIP Reauthorization Act.

adler: legislators charged with corruption should resign

            TRENTON –  Senator John H. Adler, D-Cherry Hill, today said Assemblymen Mims Hackett Jr. and Alfred E. Steele should resign from office after being arrested on federal corruption charges.

            “They (Steele and Hackett) have to make the public interest their first priority,” said Senator Adler, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Restoring public trust in the Legislature requires that they resign now.”