MEDIA ADVISORY - SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT PANELS TO HOLD JOINT HEARING ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF BARNEGAT BAY

LACEY TOWNSHIP – The Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee will conduct a joint hearing Thursday, July 30 at the Lacey Township Municipal Building to discuss environmental concerns regarding pollution in the Barnegat Bay.

One of the most searing memories of the June West Orange Town Council meeting was Mayor/Assemblyman John McKeon lacking the courage to talk to the citizens who came to ask legitimate questions about his latest scheme to squander more of our hard earned tax dollars.

McKEON / CHIVUKULA / COUTINHO / GREENSTEIN PROMOTE CLEAN ENERGY

Measure To Deem Wind, Solar as ‘Inherently Beneficial’ Gets Final Legislative OK

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen John McKeon, Upendra Chivukula, Albert Coutinho and Linda Greenstein sponsored to promote alternative energy systems by deeming the technology as “inherently beneficial” when considered by local planning and zoning boards has received final legislative approval.

LIVINGSTON, NJ – Barry Funt, candidate for 27th District Assembly, joined with community activists and leaders in education reform on July 2 on the steps of the Essex Courthouse in Newark to demand parental choice in education. Joining Rev. Reginald Jackson, South Carolina State Senator Robert Ford, Assembly Candidate Herb Glenn and other leaders on the dais, Funt called for an end to the government monopoly on education and a renewed public discussion of allowing parents to choose where to send their children to school.

Two politicians with new jobs: former Assemblyman Anthony "Skip" Cimino is the new CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton and West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta is the new East Hanover Township Administrator.

Cimino takes the helm of the hospital even though he has never run a health care company.  He operated a small flooring business before becoming running for the Legislature, and after he lost in 1991, he became Gov. Jim Florio's Commissioner of Personnel.  Later he worked for Schoor DePalma, the politically active engineering firm, and ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate.  His son is now a Mercer County Freeholder.

Tempesta, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for State Assembly in 2001 against John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Mims Hackett (D-Orange), spent less than two years as the administrator in Mountain Lakes before getting the East Hanover job this week.  He told The Star-Ledger that he will "waive his health insurance benefits in East Hanover," an act of tremendous sacrifice, since the taxpayers of West Caldwell give him full health benefits.

Again in an act of personal sacrifice, Tempesta supports Republican Christopher Christie for Governor despite Christie's pledge to end dual public office holding and health benefits for part-timers.

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS ON BILL TO INCREASE PUBLIC INPUT ON HEALTH INSURER CONVERSIONS

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Gary S. Schaer, John F. McKeon, John S. Wisniewski, L. Grace Spencer and Jack Conners - the Democratic members of the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee - today issued a multimedia package on legislation that would require increased public participation and independent analysis of any health insurer wishing to convert to a for-profit company.

The measure (A-3729) would provide more transparency in any potential conversion of a health insurer to a for-profit company by requiring the state to complete an independent health impact study, analyzing the impact of the conversion on the health status of New Jersey residents, increasing the number of public hearings to at least three and granting the Office of the Public Advocate access to all the material included in the conversion process.

DIEGNAN/McKEON BILL TO HELP CHARITIES
BATTLE GLOBAL RECESSION NOW LAW
 
(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. and John F. McKeon sponsored to help charitable organizations weather the global economic recession was today signed into law by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

LAMPITT / GREENWALD / McKEON MEASURE COMBATING SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES CLEARS PANEL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt, Louis D. Greenwald and John F. McKeon sponsored to protect children from and help communities deal with sexually oriented business has been advanced by an Assembly panel.

“Adult sexually oriented businesses may have First Amendment rights, but that doesn’t give them carte blanche to exploit children or erode the property values of nearby homeowners,” said Lampitt (D-Camden). “We need to provide property owners and communities with all possible tools to keep porn shops and other adult-oriented businesses in check.”

MCKEON BILL TO ENSURE LOCAL SPENDING PROTECTS TAXPAYERS’ DOLLARS PASSES BOTH HOUSES

(WEST ORANGE) – Legislation Assemblyman John F. McKeon sponsored to improve local government spending oversight has been passed by the Legislature.

The legislation (A-1645/S-770) would require most units of local government to employ at least one qualified purchasing agent in their contracting unit. This would not require the hiring of a new employee; rather, it mandates that one employee have the training, state certification and authority to perform the duties of a qualified purchasing agent.

“Taxpayers at every level are demanding greater accountability,” said McKeon (D-Essex). “Ensuring that purchasing agents meet certain standards can protect money from being wasted. In this global recession we have a responsibility to make sure that every taxpayer dollar is being spent efficiently.”

DIEGNAN/McKEON BILL TO HELP CHARITIES BATTLE GLOBAL RECESSION CLEARS ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. and John F. McKeon sponsored to help charitable organizations weather the global economic recession was approved 76-0 today by the Assembly.

The bill (A-3871) would give charitable organizations that have been hit hard by the recent economic troubles more discretion to spend and invest endowment money.

“Many charities are struggling right now not only to meet the needs of the people and groups they serve, but to survive the global economic recession,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “Many endowments have been hit hard by the sagging stock market, leaving charities scrambling to make ends meet. This bill will help these all-important groups that make New Jersey better for everyone persevere through tough times.”