TRENTON – Senator Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, who chairs the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, today released the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s signing of an executive order aimed at ensuring that women and minorities benefit from State and federal stimulus dollars.

            “The signing of this executive order sends a clear message that New Jersey is committed to expanding its efforts to ensure that minorities and women are given their fair share of State and federal funding.  For far too long, these groups have been allowed to fall by the wayside when it comes to business development, economic and educational aid, because there were only a handful of legislators willing to take up the cause.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Ronald L. Rice and Shirley K. Turner, which creates the Office of Law Enforcement Professional Standards within the Department of Law and Public Safety was signed into law today.

            “Through the creation of this new office, this law will enable us to keep a closer eye on the progress that is being made to curb racial profiling here in New Jersey,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex, a former Newark detective.  “There is still some work left to be done, but we are moving closer to ensuring that all motorists are treated fairly and with dignity when using our roadways.”

            “We count on police officers to protect our safety and well-being, but we also expect them to do so in a fair and unbiased fashion,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer.  “This legislation is about ensuring that law enforcement officers follow the proper procedures when conducting routine traffic stops and dealing with the public in general.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Ronald L. Rice and Shirley K. Turner, which would create an Office of Law Enforcement Professional Standards within the Department of Law and Public Safety was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “After hearing from the Advisory Council on Police Standards, as well as State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes, it is evident that strides have been made to help curb racial profiling by law enforcement here in New Jersey,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex, a former Newark detective.  “The creation of this new office is necessary to help this progress continue.”

            “This bill would help to make sure that law enforcement follows all of the proper procedures when conducting routine traffic stops,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer.  “This is about ensuring that old racial profiling practices are a thing of the past.  All motorists who choose to use New Jersey’s roadways should be treated fairly and with respect.”

SENATOR RICE CALLS FOR NATIONAL UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

TRENTON – Senator Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, and a member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, issued the following statement today regarding the Committee’s approval, by a vote of 6-2, with 2 abstentions, of a Senate Committee Substitute for SR-47 and SR-100, his resolution calling on Congress to enact universal health insurance coverage in the United States:

“As folks around New Jersey are struggling to make ends meet, the high cost of health care is leaving many people without options. Particularly in urban areas, where unemployment is rampant, people are foregoing regular doctor’s check-ups and basic preventive care until they become so sick that they need to go to the emergency room.

TRENTON – The New Jersey Legislative Black and Latino caucuses today held a joint news conference where they outlined recommendations that they have submitted to Governor Corzine to help ensure that women and minority-owned businesses receive equal opportunities and access to the billions of economic stimulus dollars that will be dispersed across the state through the New Jersey Economic Assistance Recovery Plan.

“Diversity is our greatest strength and asset, and now more than ever, New Jersey has an affirmative responsibility to develop and maintain equitable practices and policies in the public marketplace,” said Senator Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus. “Recently we met with Governor Corzine and his staff to present our recommendations for steps that can be taken to help correct some of the mistakes of the past by ensuring that New Jersey’s diversity is reflected in the awarding of government contracts. I believe our meeting was productive in that it provided the ground-work for a new beginning of long-overdue opportunities, and I am confident that these opportunities are soon to come.”

“New Jersey’s many women and minority-owned small-businesses must be given an equal opportunity to put our state back to work and pull New Jersey out of the depths of recession,” said Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, D-Passaic, who chairs the New Jersey Latino Caucus. “The impacts of this recession do not care about gender and they are color-blind. If New Jersey is to emerge from this crisis stronger, women and minority-owned businesses must have an equal change to compete for the billions of dollars that will be invested in the name of the economic stimulus.”

PREVIEW - SENATE COMMITTEES TO REVIEW COAH, UNDERAGE DRINKING MONDAY

Committees Will Also Look at ‘Silver Alert’ for Missing Persons; Public Reporting of Hospital Errors

TRENTON – On Monday, Senate Committees will meet to review current issues impacting affordable housing in New Jersey, including efforts to reform the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), and the Governor’s calls to delay a 2.5% commercial developer’s fee in light of the current national economic crisis.

HOSPITAL GOVERNANCE MEASURES ARE NOW LAW

New Laws Part of Rationalization in Health Care Resources Recommendations

TRENTON – A package of bills sponsored by members of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee which address hospital governance in an attempt to keep hospitals competitive in New Jersey was signed into law today by Governor Jon Corzine.

The first bill in the package, S-1794, requires each general hospital in New Jersey to annually conduct a public meeting for the community it serves. The meetings will focus on the delivery of care to the community, and give local residents a chance to form a dialogue with hospitals’ executives to discuss how better to serve the community.

“Our local hospitals serve as safe havens for the residents who live nearby, and they play a vital role in the communities they serve,” said Senator Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester, who is a prime sponsor of S-1794. “Hospitals can only continue to provide this necessary care if they are in tune with the needs of residents, so it is imperative that the lines of communication are open between hospital administration and the public.”

Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Newark): Politicker photo 

Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Newark) officially opened her district office on Hawthorne Avenue in the South Ward on Friday in a well-attended event.

U.S. Rep. William Payne (D-Newark), Essex county Party chairman Phil Thigpen, Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex), Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair), Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), and local elected officials were among the 150 people who joined Spencer for the kick-off.

"I plan to have a larger event in September," said Spencer.

The office opening comes in the wake of a suggestion by former Assemblyman William Payne (D-Newark) that he wouldn't rule out a primary run against Spencer. Although he bucked the system last year and ran off the line, Payne remains in a powerful inner sanctum. He serves as deputy chief of staff to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, a job title shared by Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, who in 2007 topped the ticket with Spencer. 

HOSPITAL GOVERNANCE MEASURES APPROVED BY HEALTH COMMITTEE

Bills Part of Rationalization in Health Care Resources Recommendations

TRENTON – A package of bills sponsored by members of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee which would address hospital governance in an attempt to keep hospitals competitive in New Jersey was unanimously approved by the Health Committee today.

“These bills are part of the recommendations set forth by the Reinhardt Commission to Rationalize Health Care Resources in New Jersey,” said Senate Health Committee Chair, Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex. “We spend billions every year to support health care around the State, and we must ensure that we’re spending our health care dollars wisely and efficiently. We need to make sure we’re getting the biggest bang for our buck, and I applaud my Committee members for stepping up to work to fix the problems many hospitals are facing around the Garden State.”

TRENTON – The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus recently held its reorganization meeting to discuss new business and elect officers.  Caucus Chairman Senator Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, released the following statement regarding the meeting:

            “On behalf of the leadership of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, I want to thank the members for their votes of confidence and support.  During this session, as with the last legislative session, we are vowing to maintain our commitment to our members and to the residents of New Jersey.