Tom Kean

After about a year and a half in the Senate, Bob Menendez is struggling to become popular with New Jersey voters.

Voters disapprove of Menendez’s performance by a margin of 39 to 31 percent, according to a Quinnipiac poll released today – the lowest rating Menendez has received in that survey.

Legislation sponsored by Senator Thomas Kean, and co-sponsored by Assemblyman Eric Munoz and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, which would implement protocols to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases on global temperatures, was signed into law by Governor Corzine today.  The bill, S-2114/A3301, also known as the Global Warming Response Act, would adopt a multi-pronged approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels  no later than 2020 and to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions do not exceed more than 80 percent of 2006 levels by 2050.

            During your press availability Friday afternoon you stated that your plans for “an extraction of value from an existing asset” were closely modeled on a transportation system in United Kingdom or Canada.  As you are aware this issue is extremely important to New Jersey’s residents. The public would be very interested to know precisely what the model is for the sale or lease of New Jersey’s toll roads or other assets.

Already through the assembly, a bill banning dual office holding passed in the state senate on Thursday, 33-2.

Upset that the bill grandfathers legislators who currently hold two or more offices, the GOP was circling in the senate chamber, taking bites at the bill when an infuriated Sen. Ron Rice let them have it.

Middle Class Families Need Property Tax Relief 

            Senator Thomas Kean, (R-21), issued the following statement today regarding the absence of a new school funding formula in this years budget.

Thomas Kean, Jr. has enough votes to oust Leonard Lance as Senate Minority Leader after the November election, according to GOP sources with knowledge of Senate internal politics.  Kean has privately announced his candidacy for the leadership post to several of his colleagues, and if the composition of the next Senate remains as expected, the '06 U.S. Senate candidate has the votes to win the contest.

KEAN: CHARITY CARE SYSTEM MUST BE REFORMEDWaste, Fraud & Abuse Ruining New Jersey Hospital’s Financial Solvency 

            Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr., (R-21), a member of the Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee announced today that he is drafting legislation designed to end the abuses in the charity care system that are detailed in a State Committee of Investigation (SCI) report issued today.

Greg Stevens directed a strategy that helped Republican Gov. Tom Kean win 70% of the vote in 1985.
Greg Stevens, who served as Chief of Staff to Governor Thomas H. Kean and was the principal architect of his landslide re-election victory in 1985, passed away today. He was 58. A former newspaper reporter who later became a political consultant, Stevens was diagnosed with a brain tumor while serving as Douglas Forrester's strategist in 2005.

"Greg was a tremendous friend and advisor to our family," said State Sen. Thomas Kean, Jr. "He loved New Jersey very much and dedicated a significant portion of his career to making it a better state in which to live, work and raise a family."

Payne Condemns Kean Jr.'s Civil Rights Record

Says New Jersey Needs A Senator With A Demonstrated Commitment To Equal Rights

Trenton. Congressman Donald Payne, New Jersey's first African-American member of Congress and a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, criticized Tom Kean Jr.'s civil rights record on Wednesday, saying that New Jersey needs a senator with a demonstrated commitment to civil rights.

Congressman Payne said Kean Jr.'s legislative record on equal rights is a"bad report card for someone who should be protecting and advancing the rights of all the people of New Jersey.

FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Date: September 20, 2006
Contact: Annie Mayol/Dan Faraci
(973) 777-1352
(202) 445-8266 cell

Washington, DC – Tonight, Jose Sandoval, candidate for U.S. Congress in NJ-08, received strong backing from key Hispanic leaders in Washington, DC. U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (FL) and U.S. Congressman Luis Fortuño (PR) hosted a fundraising event for Sandoval at the Akerman Senterfitt law firm. Present at the event where leaders from Capitol Hill and the private sector eager to hear Sandoval’s message for change in New Jersey.

“Jose Sandoval is the best person to represent the 8th Congressional district of New Jersey, said U.S. Congressman Fortuño. “Jose is someone who has listened and worked with the community. He understands the needs of the people, particularly the Hispanic community who have been underrepresented.� said U.S. Congressman Fortuño. “The district needs a new voice in Washington and Jose is the best person for the job.�

“Much like me, Jose Sandoval came to this country with very little. However with hard work and dedication, he too has achieved the American dream and wants to help others achieve it as well,� said Senator Martinez. “As a successful urban real estate developer and family man, Jose understands that increasing education and economic opportunities are the keys for revitalization. I know Jose will not be afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the work it takes to achieve results for the people of New Jersey. That is exactly what the voters of the 8th district need from their representative in Washington.�

“I am honored to have received such strong support from important national leaders such as U.S. Senator Mel Martinez and U.S. Congressman Luis Fortuño,� said Sandoval. “People from all over the district have expressed their support for me. They tell me that they are desperate for a change and that are tired of the politics as usual that have only brought them higher taxes, failing schools, and less affordable housing. They say that we need better representation in Washington to once again make the American Dream attainable. I look forward to being that new voice to represent the people of Passaic and Essex counties in New Jersey.�

Jose Sandoval is running for New Jersey’s Eight Congressional District. Jose is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, and immigrated to the United States in the early 1970’s, where he has been a resident of New Jersey ever since. Jose has a BA in Economics and Finance from Rutgers University, and a law degree from Cleveland State University. He owns an urban real estate company in Paterson, New Jersey.

Jose is married to Amy and has four children.

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