Michael Panter

COHEN/PANTER ANTI-CORRUPTION BILL BECOMES LAW

(MARLBORO) - Legislation Assemblymen Neil M. Cohen and Michael Panter sponsored to curb corruption by government officials and politically connected individuals was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

Imagine this: it’s 2010, and Chris Christie has just been inaugurated as New Jersey’s new Republican Governor after defeating Jon Corzine in his reelection bid. Meanwhile in Washington, the United States Senate remains in Democrats’ tenuous grasp, with a one-seat majority.

Suddenly, one of New Jersey’s two Democratic Senators falls ill and steps down -- control of the Senate hangs in the balance. Should Governor Christie be required to appoint a Democrat as the Senator’s interim replacement, or should he be able to appoint anyone he wants, regardless of party affiliation?

Currently, state law would allow the Governor to appoint a Senator of his or her choice.

While few people want to speculate on a Senator’s illness or death, it’s a question that New Jersey Democrats may want to look into if they’re going to re-elect 83 1/2-year-old Frank Lautenberg -- who, according to an actuarial timetable from the Social Security Administration, can be expected to live just 5.29 years after he turns 85 during the first month of his next term.

LANDMARK 'STEM CELL RESEARCH BOND ACT'
SIGNED INTO LAW
Measure Authorizes Ballot Question for $450 Million Bond Initiative
To Fund Stem Cell Research Over 10 Years

(WEST ORANGE) - Legislation Assembly members Neil M. Cohen, John F. McKeon, Joan Voss, and Mike Panter sponsored to allow voters to authorize the sale of $450 million in general obligation bonds for the purpose of supporting stem cell research in New Jersey was signed into law by Governor Jon S. Corzine today at the Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation (KMRREC) - one of the state's leading stem cell research and treatment centers.

Jennifer Beck and her 12th district running mates continue to try to chip away at State Sen. Ellen Karcher’s reputation on ethics reform, but the efforts have led Karcher’s campaign to ask one question: what has Beck done lately?

The 12th district Republican candidates issued a press release today criticizing Karcher and Assemblyman Panter’s pension forfeiture bills, which do not apply retroactively, allowing politicians like Wayne Bryant and Sharpe James to keep their pensions even if convicted. Beck, a first-term Assemblywoman, had introduced an alternative bill that would have applied retroactively.

The 12th district Republican candidates really would prefer to be in a “Clean Elections” district.

That’s because, had the 12th district been chosen, the Republican and Democratic candidates would almost certainly have gotten equal funds. But since it wasn’t, the Republicans are trailing in fundraising – badly.

Three districts were chosen to participate in the Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Program for the 2007 election: one Republican dominated, one Democrat dominated and one competitive. The 12th was a prime candidate for the “split” district, but it lost out to the 14th in a decision made by a panel headed by former Governor Jim Florio.

“There is absolutely no question that if we spend the same amount of money as our opponents, we will unquestionably beat them,” said Assembly candidate Declan O’Scanlon, who lost his bid for an assembly seat two years ago by under 100 votes. “If this were a fair election from a financial perspective, we’d clean their clocks. It’s only by ensuring that the financial playing field is grossly skewed do they have a shot.”

The most hotly contested district in the state this fall is the 12th, once solidly-Republican but now represented by Democrats in both houses after an ethics scandal toppled Co-Senate President John Bennett four years ago.  If Democrat Ellen Karcher wins re-election to the Senate, watch Democrats on the '11 Redistricting Commission to look at strengthening the D's hold on the seat.  And if Republican Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck unseats Karcher, watch for GOP mapmakers to look at unloading some Democratic parts of the district next time around.

PANTER/GREENSTEIN DUAL OFFICE HOLDING BAN RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL
Measure Would Prohibit Individuals from Simultaneously Holding
More Than One Elective Office

(TRENTON) - The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Assembly members Mike Panter and Linda R. Greenstein that would enable New Jersey to join the vanguard of states that limit or completely prohibit dual office holding.

PANTER MEASURE URGING EPA TO CONTINUE OFFSHORE WATER TESTING PASSES ASSEMBLY
Resolution Would Support Reinstatement of the 30-Year-Old Program

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Michael J. Panter that would urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reinstate the 30-year-old offshore ocean water sampling program that the agency cancelled in May.

COHEN/PANTER IRAN DIVESTITURE LEGISLATION
RELEASED BY ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen Neil M. Cohen and Mike Panter sponsored to prohibit the investment and facilitate the divestiture of New Jersey's public funds in any foreign company that has ties to the government of Iran was released today by the Assembly Budget Committee.

Rival dual office holders Assemblyman (and West New York Mayor) Silverio "Sal" Vega, left, and Assemblyman (and Union City Mayor

A bill banning dual office holding sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Panter doesn’t hit hard enough, according to Republican critics, most of whom voted for the measure anyway Monday, saying something’s better than nothing and acknowledging it would be tough to face constituents if they voted against any bill that takes a crack at the practice.

The final vote tally for Panter’s bill, which bans dual office holding for those elected after Feb. 1, 2008, and grandfathers the 21 legislators who currently hold more than one elected post at the same time, was 69-3-8. Republican Assemblymen David W. Wolfe and Peter Biondi voted against it, as did Democratic Assemblyman (and West New York Mayor) Silverio Vega, who’s explained in the past that at least he’s honest in his belief that holding more than one elected office at once isn’t a crime.