ASSEMBLY BILL AUTHORIZING GOV'T ENTITIES TO APPLY ENERGY SAVINGS NOW LAW
Act Authorizes Public Entities to Implement Energy Savings Improvement Programs

(TRENTON) -Legislation Assembly members Sheila Oliver, Pamela Lampitt, Upendra Chivukula, Wayne DeAngelo, Joseph Vas and John McKeon sponsored to authorize state, county and municipal governments and school boards to more easily implement energy savings-improvement programs was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

COMMITTEE OK'S McKEON/COUTINHO/JOHNSON BILL
TO PROMOTE CIVIC INVOLVEMENT ON LOCAL BOARDS
Measure Would Give Towns Leeway to Set Strict Attendance Policies,
Make It Easier for Interested Residents to Put Names Up for Consideration

(TRENTON) - An Assembly committee today released legislation Assemblymen John McKeon, Al Coutinho and Gordon Johnson sponsored to ensure members of local authorities live up to their public responsibilities while also making it easier for residents to put their names forward for appointment to a local board.

McKEON LAUDS DEDICATION OF NEW JERSEY’S NEW WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

(TRENTON) – Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex) today released the following statement on New Jersey’s World War II Memorial in Trenton:

“Today is a fitting day to honor the men and woman of The Greatest Generation who fought so bravely and sacrificed so much for the freedom of our nation and indeed – that of the world..."

McKEON LAUDS ENERGY PLAN'S TWIN GOALS OF CLEAN POWER AND CONSERVATION

(WEST ORANGE) - Following Governor Jon S. Corzine's unveiling this morning of the state's long-range Energy Master Plan, Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman John McKeon said the proposal not only passes muster for its focus on renewable, clean energy but for its spotlight on conservation.

STRENGTHENING NEW JERSEY’S ECONOMY

TODAY’S ASSEMBLY STEPS ARE LATEST SIGNIFICANT MEASURES TAKEN TO BOLSTER STATE’S BUSINESS CLIMATE

(TRENTON) –Today’s Assembly efforts to help middle-class New Jerseyans and the small businesses that employ them emerge strong from the national economic crisis are the latest significant measures taken to strengthen New Jersey’s economy.

Bills advanced today would promote new jobs and retain existing ones by revamping small business taxes and enhancing grants and incentives for small businesses.

GREENSTEIN/McKEON/VOSS LAW TO ENSURE NOTIFICATION OF PLANS TO CLEAN POLLUTED SITES TAKES EFFECT

(TRENTON) – A law sponsored by Assembly members Linda Greenstein, John McKeon and Joan Voss to ensure local officials and residents are properly notified when polluted buildings and properties are cleaned up has taken effect.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Mark Meyerowitz had a brief glimmer of hope last year.

He was the only Republican legislative candidate in District 27, running for Assembly against a ticket headed up by Senate President Dick Codey – the most popular elected official in the state. But then Codey’s running mate, Mims Hackett, was arrested on corruption charges. And for the brief period that Hackett remained on the ticket, it looked possible that Meyerowitz could actually win.

That didn’t last, of course. Hackett resigned, and the party settled on Mila Jasey to replace him. She beat Meyerowitz by more than a 2-1 margin.

MEDIA ADVISORY - SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT PANELS TO HOLD HEARING ON SHORE ISSUES THURSDAY

Hearing Will Cover Off-Shore LNG Facilities, Public Access to Beaches

TOMS RIVER – The New Jersey Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee will hold a joint hearing on Thursday, August 7 in the LMH Room at the Toms River Township Municipal Building to discuss issues important to the vitality of the Jersey Shore.

“It’s essential that the people living at the Jersey Shore have a voice in their government,” said Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate panel. “Too often, decisions that affect the economic and environmental vitality of the Jersey Shore are made on the other side of the State in a Trenton committee room. We need to give Shore residents a forum to raise their concerns, and bring their ideas back with us as we go through the legislative process.”

Assemblyman Neil Cohen, who is expected to resign his seat in the Legislature amidst an investigation of child pornography on his office computer, will also give up one of the most powerful committee chairmanships in the Assembly: Financial Institutions and Insurance.  Speaker Joseph Roberts will decide who succeeds Cohen; possible candidates include Jack Conners, a Camden County Democrat (like Roberts) and a retired banker; and John Wisniewski, who now heads the also powerful Assembly Transportation Committee. Lower down on the list are John McKeon, who is a close political ally of Senate President Richard Codey; and current Vice Chair Grace Spencer, a freshman from Newark who served as Mayor Cory Booker’s Deputy Campaign Manager.

SUPREME COURT'S SECOND AMENDMENT RULING A JUDICIAL MISFIRE

(WEST ORANGE) - Assemblyman John F. McKeon, a longtime proponent of handgun control laws, today blasted a United States Supreme Court ruling creating a blanket right to gun ownership and limiting the ability of state and local lawmakers to enact sensible gun control measures.