DEMOCRATS VOICE SUPPORT FOR WORKER RIGHTS & COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

(TRENTON) – Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) and Assembly members Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic./Cape May/Cumberland), Daniel Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Thomas Giblin (D-Essex/Passaic), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), John McKeon (D-Essex), Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) released the following statement Friday after attending the organized labor rally at the State House:

“Today’s rally was a great display of unity among the many labor organizations that have made New Jersey a great place to live and work.

“It was also a reminder that collective bargaining and worker rights have helped build this state and nation but are now at risk.

“We cannot let the anti-worker sentiment that has pervaded Wisconsin infect New Jersey.

“We attended this rally to show our support for union rights and protect them for generations to come.

“We support union rights, which, after all, are human rights.

“We support collective bargaining and negotiation, not dictation.

“And we call on the governor to immediately begin negotiations with the labor unions and commit to fair discussions.”

McKEON, LAMPITT, GUSCIORA, BARNES & MAINOR BILL TO HELP CONTROL PROPERTY TAXES BY EASING MASTER PLAN MANDATE ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats John F. McKeon, Pamela R. Lampitt, Reed Gusciora, Peter J. Barnes III and Charles Mainor sponsored to help local governments save money and control property taxes by revising master plan review laws was advanced Thursday by a Senate committee.

The bill (A-3272) was approved 75-0 by the Assembly in September and released 3-0 Thursday by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. The bill modifies the Municipal Land Use Law to provide that municipalities need to complete the reexamination of the municipal master plan only every ten years. The legislation would also provide a procedure for built-out municipalities to waive the general reexamination process.

"A comprehensive master plan review has a shelf life beyond the current mandate of six years,” said McKeon (D-Essex). “If a municipality feels it’s important to review its master plan at the current pace, it can continue to do so, but if you happen to be a municipality that’s built out and you are in your fifth year, this measure is a respite."

MULTI-BILL PACKAGE TO TURN THE TIDE ON DEGRADATION OF BARNEGAT BAY SIGNED INTO LAW

McKeon: Enactment of Measures to Save the Bay a Monumental Victory for the Environment, Underscores Importance of Continuing Efforts to Protect & Preserve Our Natural Resources

(TRENTON) Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Chairman John F. McKeon hailed today's signing into law of a muti-bill package to reduce contamination in Barnegat Bay while announcing that New Jersey must continue efforts to protect and preserve its natural resources.

QUIJANO, BURZICHELLI, GUSCIORA & RILEY BILL WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUY LOTTERY TICKETS ELECTRONICALLY

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Annette Quijano, John Burzichelli, Reed Gusciora and Celeste Riley would allow people to buy New Jersey lottery tickets through the Internet, e-mail and other electronic means.

The bill (A-2676) directs the State Lottery Commission to implement a program that would allow residents to purchase lottery tickets directly from the Division of the State Lottery using the Internet, electronic mail, text messaging or other electronic methods.

“Most consumer-oriented businesses started taking advantage of modern technology a long time ago, but our lottery rules remain stuck in the past,” said Quijano (D-Union). “In such a commuter-heavy state, where people simply do not have time in their day to stop and purchase tickets, this program will allow the New Jersey Lottery to expand its clientele base and increase access to its games, bringing in much needed revenue for vital programs that help senior citizens, veterans and educational programs.”

MULTI-BILL PACKAGE TO TURN THE TIDE ON DEGRADATION OF BARNEGAT BAY RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

McKeon: Passage of Measures to Save the Bay in Both Houses Marks Monumental Victory for the Environment

(TRENTON) Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Chairman John F. McKeon hailed Monday's approval by the full Senate of the multi-bill package to reduce contamination in Barnegat Bay as a monumental victory for the environment.

ASSEMBLY APPROVES MULTI-BILL PACKAGE TO TURN THE TIDE ON DEGRADATION OF BARNEGAT BAY

McKEON: ASSEMBLY VOTE A MONUMENTAL VICTORY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

(TRENTON) Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Chairman John F. McKeon hailed Monday's approval by the full Assembly of the multi-bill package to reduce contamination in Barnegat Bay as a monumental victory for the environment.

*** MONDAY ADVISORY ***

ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER McKEON\GUSCIORA\VAINIERI HUTTLE FERTILIZER BILL & CHIVUKULA\McKEON SOIL RESTORATION MEASURE TO TURN THE TIDE ON DEGRADATION OF BARNEGAT BAY

(TRENTON) - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Chairman John F. McKeon announced that the fertilizer bill which is up for a vote in Monday's Assembly session is the most critical in a multi-bill package to reduce nutrient pollution in Barnegat Bay.

Nutrient pollution, the central threat to the 660-square mile watershed, has resulted in the deterioration of water quality and the destruction of vast quantities of diverse plant and sea life native to the bay. Some 1.4 million pounds of nitrogen, enough to fill 70,000 twenty pound bags of fertilizer, reportedly flow into the bay every year.

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

GUSCIORA ON LEGISLATION INVALIDATING GOV. CHRISTIE'S MEDICINAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS

Measure Attempts to Put 'Compassion' Back into State's Compassionate Use Act

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), a prime sponsor and one of the most vocal advocates for the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, on Monday issued a multimedia package on his legislation contesting Gov. Christie's draft regulations for implementing the Compassionate Use Act.

GUSCIORA BILL TO INVALIDATE CHRISTIE MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora that would declare the Christie administration’s draft regulations for New Jersey’s medicinal marijuana law as inconsistent with the law’s intent was approved 48-22-7 Monday by the Assembly.

The bill (ACR-151) now goes to the Senate later Monday for more consideration.

As a legislative resolution, it does not require the governor’s signature. Rather, it would give the state health and senior services commissioner 30 days to revise the proposed medical marijuana rules for the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

"The name of the law includes the word compassion," said Gusciora (D-Mercer). "I do not believe that these regulations exemplify that word. We are looking at regulations with fewer distribution centers, fewer ways for the patient to ingest marijuana and an ever longer wait time. Quite simply, they’re unacceptable and must be changed.”

GUSCIORA BILL TO COMBAT INCONSISTENT CHRISTIE MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS ADVANCED BY PANEL

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora that would declare the Christie administration’s draft regulations for New Jersey’s medicinal marijuana law as inconsistent with the law's intent was advanced Monday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (ACR-151) would give the state health and senior services commissioner 30 days to revise the proposed medical marijuana rules. It was released unanimously by the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee.

"The name of the law includes the word compassion," said Gusciora (D-Mercer). "I do not believe that these regulations exemplify that word. We are looking at regulations with fewer distribution centers, fewer ways for the patient to ingest marijuana and an ever longer wait time. Quite simply, they’re unacceptable and must be changed.”