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

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

McKEON /  

McKEON / CRYAN / BARNES / COUTINHO / POU BILL TO SPEED CLEANUP OF CONTAMINATED SITES NOW LAW

New Law Aims to Expedite Clean-Up Of More Than 20,000 Toxic Sites

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members John F. McKeon, Joseph Cryan, Peter J. Barnes III, Albert Coutinho and Nellie Pou sponsored to expedite the clean-up of contaminated sites through improved licensing and oversight of remediation professionals was signed today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

McKEON/CRYAN LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH ‘LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FUND’ ADVANCES

Measure Would Provide For Voluntary Contribution On Gross Income Tax Form

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen John McKeon and Joseph Cryan sponsored to establish the New Jersey Lung Cancer Research Fund and allow voluntary contributions to the fund by taxpayers on state gross income tax returns was released today by an Assembly panel.

“In 2008, an estimated 215,000 individuals nationwide were diagnosed with lung cancer,” said McKeon (D-Essex.) “More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Making it an option for a voluntary contribution to donate to this cause could save countless lives”

SMITH STATEMENT ON JOINT HEARING ON OPEN SPACE

TRENTON – Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, and Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the joint hearing between his panel and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the state of open space preservation efforts in New Jersey:

“Today, we heard from advocates from every corner of the State who had a common message – that, even in these tough economic times, New Jersey cannot shirk its responsibility to preserve pristine open space.

CHIAPPONE / WISNIEWSKI / LAMPITT / BARNES / McKEON PACKAGE TO IMPROVE TEEN DRIVER SAFETY NOW LAW

(TRENTON) – Measures sponsored by Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, John S. Wisniewski, Pamela R. Lampitt, Peter J. Barnes III and John F. McKeon to improve teen driver safety in New Jersey was signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

The bills implement top recommendations of the state’s Teen Driver Study Commission.

ASSEMBLY OK’S DeANGELO/SCHAER/WISNIEWSKI/McKEON BILL TO REFORM LENDING ACTIVITIES

Bill Would Revise Mortgage & Consumer Loan Practices

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by sponsored by Assemblymen Wayne P. DeAngelo (DMercer/ Middlesex), Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic), John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and John F. McKeon (D-Essex) to reform mortgage and consumer loan lending activities was approved 79-0 Monday by the Assembly.

“The ongoing mortgage foreclosure crisis has showed our oversight laws desperately need reform,” DeAngelo said. “The current system isn’t working and change is needed. This bill will strengthen our ability to ensure mortgage lenders are accountable and help keep people in their homes.”

MILAM/ALBANO/McKEON BILL TO TOUGHEN PENALTIES FOR BEACH-DUMPING APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

Lawmakers Aim to Toughen Decade-Old Penalties; Spurred to Action by Illegal Dumping that Closed Beaches Over Labor Day Weekend

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Matt Milam, Nelson Albano and John F. McKeon sponsored to toughen the financial penalties against illegal ocean dumping today passed the Assembly.

The measure was crafted after several South Jersey beaches were forced to close around Labor Day weekend after illegally dumped medical waste washed ashore. As many as 225 syringes and other medical waste were found in Avalon – leading borough officials to close beaches four times. Syringes also washed ashore in Berkeley, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Brigantine and Upper Township.  

Unless you're Speaker or Majority Leader, serving in the Assembly Democratic leadership is really nothing special. Just last week, 25 of the 49 Democrats in the Assembly held a leadership post.  Still, Joseph Roberts' decision today to strip indicted Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Vas of his leadership post means someone gets to move up - assuming Roberts believes in the importance of having six Deputy Majority Leaders, rather than just five. 

For Roberts, the easy decision would be to move John McKeon (D-West Orange) up from Minority Whip to Deputy Majority Leader, even though Minority Whip actually sounds more meaningful since there is just one.  Then he could promote Deputy Majority Whip Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus), and pick one of the mere mortal legislators with no leadership post or committee chair to take his spot.

PANEL OK'S SCALERA/McKEON/GREENWALD BILL FOR
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO COLLEGE FUND
Measure Would Exempt First $5,000 in Annual Contributions To NJ BEST
College Savings Plan from State Income Taxes

(TRENTON) -- An Assembly panel has released legislation Assemblymen Fred Scalera, John McKeon and Louis Greenwald sponsored to provide a state income tax deduction to residents who save for their children's higher education through a state-administered college savings plan.

BILL TO PROMOTE SOLAR, WIND AND BIOMASS ENERGY GENERATION IN NEW JERSEY ADVANCES

Measure Would Allow Solar, Wind, Biomass Energy Facilities and Equipment on Farms

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Upendra Chivukula, Connie Wagner, Douglas H. Fisher and John F. McKeon to promote solar, biomass and wind energy generation on New Jersey farms was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill (A-2859) would allow a person who owns preserved farmland to build, install and operate solar, biomass and wind energy facilities and equipment on the farm, provided it doesn’t interfere with use of the land for farming.

“This is yet another way for New Jersey to promote the production of clean, alternative energy that can boost our economy in this time of crisis,” said Chivukula (D-Somerset).