Thomas Kean

Among the Republican State Senators that New Jersey Democrats would have a special interest in defeating after the 2011 legislative redistricting is Thomas Kean, Jr., the 2006 GOP candidate for United States Senate. And if Kean is successful in ousting Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance in November, Democrats may have an even greater incentive to force Kean to battle for his own re-election next time.

So, just for fun, PoliticsNJ.com has drawn eight new legislative districts that could, hypothetically, place the former Governor’s son -- a resident of Westfield -- in harms way after reapportionment. For the purposes of these maps, we used the U.S. Census Bureau’s

Kean: Meager Increase Means More Property Tax Pain
Token Aid Increase Unacceptable After A Five Year Freeze
Senator Tom Kean, R-21, today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Education release of school aid figures for the coming school year:

“The school aid figures are another example of how out of touch the Trenton Democrats have become. After a five-year freeze on aid to most school districts, which cost those districts $2.2 billion, most districts will get a token increase.
Governor Jon Corzine s budget proposal continues the erroneous policies of the past five years. His proposal calls for a 7 percent spending increase in state spending, but many districts will be getting increases of less than 4 percent. The five-year school aid freeze has helped fuel escalating property tax bills. These figure show that this budget will continue that unfortunate trend.
Many homeowners will pay a steep price this year for the persistent delays in adopting a new school aid formula that is fair to all students and property taxpayers. A new formula was supposedly the top priority for the Governor and the Special Legislative session. Instead of a new method for distributing school aid, we got a potentially unsustainable scheme designed to get them through an election year.�
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KEAN: LEGISLATURE SHOULD NOT OBSTRUCT U.S. ATTORNEY INVESTIGATION
Calls for Full Disclosure By Legislative Services Commission

Senator Thomas H. Kean (R-Essex/Morris/Union/Somerset) issued the following statement:

COMPTROLLER BILL WEAKENS CURRENT LAW
IG Powers Will Not Be Granted to Proposed State Comptroller

Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-21), sent a letter today asking Governor Corzine to conditionally veto the legislation authorizing the creation of a State Comptroller. The letter is attached.

KEAN CLEAN CAR LEGISLATION SHIFTS INTO HIGH GEAR
Tax Credit on Clean Cars Will Promote Energy Efficiency and Combat Global Warming

Legislation sponsored by Senator Thomas H. Kean (R-Essex/Morris/Somerset/Union) to promote the sale of fuel efficient cars was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment Committee today.

January 29, 2007
S-1938

Contact: Bill Murray
Senator Thomas H. Kean
(609) 292-5199

KEAN CLEAN CAR LEGISLATION SHIFTS INTO HIGH GEAR
Tax Credit on Clean Cars Will Promote Energy Efficiency and Combat Global Warming

Legislation sponsored by Senator Thomas H. Kean (R-Essex/Morris/Somerset/Union) to promote the sale of fuel efficient cars was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment Committee today.

The bill (S-1938) would provide a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of new cars based on federal fuel economy ratings. The exemption applies only to the sale of new cars with a highway per gallon efficiency of 35 or higher.

This is important legislation that will provide a substantial incentive for New Jersey motorists to purchase fuel efficient cars. By making the purchase of hybrids, electric and fuel efficient cars more attractive to the consumer, we can take a major step toward reducing our reliance on unstable foreign sources of oil, while reducing the production of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming,� said Kean, who is a co-sponsor of the bi-partisan Global Warming Response Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020.

Senator Kean was also the original Assembly sponsor of the Clean Air Act. This legislation (S-1938) is part of a package of bills sponsored by Senator Kean to promote energy independence, combat global warming, create new domestic sources of alternative fuels and encourage energy conservation in the public and private sector.

Senator Kean’s package of alternative fuel legislation also includes:

S-1937 -- Allows a gross income tax credit for the incremental cost of an alternative fuel vehicle.

S-1939 -- Allows credit against corporation business tax or gross income tax for 50% of cost of constructing facilities for sale of certain alternate fuel.

S-1940 -- Provides credit under corporation business tax and gross income tax for construction of buildings in accordance with certain energy and environmental performance standards.

S-1941 -- Requires DEP to commission study of use of cellulosic ethanol as fuel.

S-1942 -- Requires DOT to create map showing refueling facilities where alternative fuel is dispensed.

The sales tax exemption on fuel efficient cars will lower gasoline purchase costs for New Jersey drivers, help reduce our demand for fuel and take a major step toward reversing the damage done to the environment from the emission of greenhouse gases caused from the burning of fossil fuels. The bill also sends an encouraging message to automobile manufacturers to continue in their efforts to produce new cars with improved fuel efficiency, said Kean.

January 29, 2007
S-2482

Contact: Michelle Peal
Senator Thomas Kean Jr.
(908) 232-3673

Kean Bill Will Honor New Jersey's First African American State Legislators

A bill (S-2482) sponsored by Senator Tom Kean, (R-21), that will honor New Jersey’s first African American Legislators was approved by the Senate State Government Committee today. The bill provides for a display of two plaques in the State House for Senator Hutchins F. Inge, New Jersey’s first African American State Senator, and one in honor of Assemblyman Walter Gilbert Alexander, New Jersey’s first African-American Assemblyman.

Both of these men were trailblazers because they achieved their positions during a time when it was nearly impossible for African Americans to be elected to office in state government, said Kean. Yet in spite of the difficulties, Senator Inge and Assemblyman Alexander persevered, breaking down barriers for future generations of state Legislators.

Senator Inge, a physician from Newark, served from 1966 until 1968 and was the chairman of the Senate Federal and Interstate Relations Committee.

Senator Inge was a director of the Essex Urban League and the New Jersey Association for Retarded Children, and a staff physician for the Newark Board of Health’s Division of Child Hygiene.

Assemblyman Walter Gilbert Alexander was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on December 3, 1880 and was the son of former slaves. He became a member of the General Assembly in 1921.

During Assemblyman Alexander’s tenure in the Assembly, he served on committees concerning epileptics, public health, and sponsored legislation addressing civil rights and health care.

Senator Inge and Assemblyman Alexander should be recognized for their perseverance and commitment to public service, Kean added.

I look forward to seeing these two plaques adorn the walls of the State House along with the other displays of recognition for significant leaders in state government.

COMPTROLLER BILL WEAKENS CURRENT LAW
OLS Memo Shows IG Powers Will Not Be Granted to Proposed State Comptroller

Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-Essex/Morris/Union/Somerset), issued the following statement regarding the bill authorizing the creation of an appointed State Comptroller that will voted on by the full Senate today.

O'TOOLE: TIME FOR DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP TO SHOW THEY'RE SERIOUS ON PAY-TO-PLAY REFORM

URGES GOVERNOR CORZINE TO HEED LANCE, INVERSO AND KEAN'S CALL FOR ACTION ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM MEASURE

Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole today praised efforts by Senators Leonard Lance, Peter Inverso and Thomas Kean to finally move the ball forward on comprehensive pay-to-play reform and joined in their call on Governor Jon Corzine to demonstrate his commitment to the comprehensive campaign finance reform proposal.

January 18, 2007
Senators Leonard Lance, Peter Inverso and Tom Kean

Contact: Michelle Peal
(609) 292-5199

Republican Leaders Push Again For Ethics Reform

Republican leaders Senators Leonard Lance, (R-23), Peter Inverso, (R-14), and Tom Kean, (R-21), today called upon Governor Corzine and the Democrats in the Legislature to stop talking about comprehensive ethics reform and act now to clean up government at all levels in New Jersey.

Inverso announced that on Monday he will make a motion to bring his pay-to-play reform bill (S-737) out of committee to the Senate floor for a full vote.

There is a huge need for reform of the current campaign finance laws, said Inverso. Too often contracts are awarded based on who gave the most money to a campaign instead of what is in the taxpayers’ best interest.

Lance said all 18 Republican Senators will back Inverso’s move to break four years of Legislative gridlock that has prevented comprehensive reform from being enacted.

It is time for the Governor and the other Democratic leaders to round-up the votes needed to prevent Senator Inverso’s motion from being tabled once again, said Lance. The Senate approved this legislation 36 to 4 three years ago. Now, many of the Senators who voted for it in 2003 are blocking it from getting an up or down vote.

Kean noted that during the recent State of the State address Governor Corzine again called for a ban on wheeling and pay-to-play at all levels of government.

Through two administrations, New Jersey governors have given lip service to government ethics reform, said Kean. If this legislation fails to pass on Monday it will mean that either the Governor’s support for ethics reform is purely rhetorical or that he cannot lead his party.

Lance and Kean said ethics reform is property tax reform.

Ethics reform will also go a long way toward helping to provide property tax relief, said Lance. Some estimates put the costs of pay-to-play and wheeling at $1 billion in unnecessary spending, which helps fuel the property tax spiral.

It is time to close the campaign contribution loopholes that are costing New Jersey tax payers year after year, added Kean.

Inverso stated that Pay-to-Play reform should not be a partisan issue.

This should not be a partisan issue, said Inverso. Good government should always rise above partisanship.