Ruben Ramos

GREENSTEIN/HUTTLE/RAMOS BILL REQUIRING VICTIMS OF CRIMINALLY INSANE TO BE TOLD OF RELEASE OK’D

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Judiciary Committee today released legislation Assembly members Linda R. Greenstein ,Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. sponsored to require victims of the criminally insane to be notified when their tormentor is released.

“There is no circumstance under which a crime victim or their family should find out second-hand or by happenstance that the person responsible is back on the street,” said Greenstein (D- Mercer/Middlesex), the panel’s chairwoman. “We need to make it crystal clear that victims’ rights are paramount.”

DIEGNAN/BARNES/CONNERS/RAMOS BILL CREATING ‘TROOPS TO COLLEGE’ PROGRAM ADVANCES

Aims to Help Veterans Make Transition into Classroom

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Peter J. Barnes III, Jack Conners and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. to help veterans make the transition from the battlefield to the college classroom was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill would require the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Veterans’ and Military Affairs, to establish the Troops to College Program.

The program would assist New Jersey’s public institutions of higher education in coordinating a comprehensive array of services to help veterans make the transition into the college classroom.

“Our veterans deserve the best, and that includes access to higher education,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex).

ASSEMBLY PANEL ADVANCES BILL TO PROTECT SMALL CHILDREN FROM TIP-OVER ACCIDENTS

Measure Is Named After Two Young Girls Killed When Large Televisions Tipped

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano, Matthew W. Milam and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. to protect small children from tip-over accidents involving furniture and televisions was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill is named Chloe and Samantha’s Law after two young girls who were killed when large televisions tipped onto them.

“Each year thousands of people, primarily young children, are injured or even killed because of large furniture or televisions tipping over onto them,” said Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “This is smart and sensible legislation that would protect our young children from tragic accidents.”

ASSEMBLY PANEL ADVANCES BILL TO PROTECT SMALL CHILDREN FROM TIP-OVER ACCIDENTS

Measure Is Named After Two Young Girls Killed When Large Televisions Tipped

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano, Matthew W. Milam and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. to protect small children from tip-over accidents involving furniture and televisions was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill is named Chloe and Samantha’s Law after two young girls who were killed when large televisions tipped onto them.

“Each year thousands of people, primarily young children, are injured or even killed because of large furniture or televisions tipping over onto them,” said Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “This is smart and sensible legislation that would protect our young children from tragic accidents.”

WATSON COLEMAN/ GREEN/CAPUTO/JASEY/POU/RAMOS/VAS/SMITH ANTI-FORECLOSURE MEASURE NOW LAW

Bill Establishes Direct Lines of Help to Lenders, Borrowers

(TRENTON) – Legislation eight Assembly Democratic lawmakers sponsored to help homeowners facing impending foreclosure was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

“New Jersey’s deepening mortgage crisis makes it imperative that we provide direct assistance to ensure families can stay in their homes and out of foreclosure,” said a leading sponsor, Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer). “We need to open lines for borrowers and lenders to work together to preserve the dream of homeownership that is quickly becoming a nightmare for too many families.”

CRYAN/RAMOS/CRUZ-PEREZ/SCHAER BILL TO PERMANENTLY DESIGNATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Joseph Cryan, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr., Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Gary S. Schaer sponsored to designate each October as “Hispanic Heritage Month” in New Jersey has been signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

“New Jersey’s Hispanic and Hispanic-American communities deserve to be honored,” said Cryan (D-Union).

NEW BILL TARGETS JOB OUTSOURCING TO TRY TO PROTECT AMERICAN WORKERS

Measure Would Prohibit State from Doing Business with Firms that Send Work Overseas

(TRENTON) – Assemblymen. L. Harvey Smith, Ruben J. Ramos Jr. and Nelson Albano today announced they’ve introduced legislation that would prohibit the state from doing business with and investing in companies that outsource jobs overseas.

Smith (D-Hudson) said the measure (A-3516) sends a strong message as New Jersey workers and businesses grapple with the global economic meltdown.

CRYAN/RAMOS/CRUZ-PEREZ/SCHAER BILL TO PERMANENTLY DESIGNATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH PASSES ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly members Joseph Cryan, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr., Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Gary S. Schaer sponsored to designate each October as "Hispanic Heritage Month" in New Jersey today unanimously passed the General Assembly.

HOBOKEN - Councilwoman Beth Mason tabled her proposed salary Assemblyman/Councilman Ruben Ramos: Politicker file photoand benefits ordinances at tonight’s council meeting, a move that likely did nothing to diminish the prolonged stare-down from now until next year’s mayoral election between Mason and her opponents.

Broken into two reform pieces, the freshman councilwoman’s proposed ordinances would scrap benefits and limit to $1 the council salaries of council people who hold more than one public job.

She sent them to committee tonight, but not before rousing her opposition.

Mason’s antagonists see the prospective mayoral candidate’s measures (backed up by Councilman Peter Cunningham) as an attempt to bait At-Large Councilman Peter Cammarano and humiliate Assemblyman/At-Large Councilman Ruben Ramos, the governing body’s lone dual elected office holder.

Cammarano was out of town. Ramos fought back.

Hoboken Councilman Michael Russo: Politicker file photoHOBOKEN - Councilman Michael Russo won’t vote for Councilwoman Beth Mason’s salary ordinance at the Hoboken Council meeting tonight unless Mason amends the ordinance.

Patterned on Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop’s reform initiative, Mason’s ordinance would restrict to $1 the salary of any councilperson who already draws a public salary.

"I would vote for it if it only pertained to restricting elected officials from receiving two or more salaries, absolutely," said Russo. "But I would never say a person who’s a janitor or policeman shouldn’t receive an additional salary as a councilperson.

"Let’s take a janitor," Russo said. "Maybe he makes $25,000. You think I’m going to restrict him from making another $25,000 as a councilman? No, I’m sorry, I couldn’t do that."