Trenton NJ, Senator Kristin Corrado is calling for a special legislative committee to be formed to investigate the findings of a recent report by the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation (SCI) that revealed shocking failures at the veterans homes in Menlo Park and Paramus.
Trenton NJ, leading economists have been warning for decades that a shrinking population spells significant turmoil for our economy and broader society. This is not a problem exclusive to the United States either – for example, South Korea, a country with one of the lowest fertility rates, is offering new parents cheaper mortgage rates to encourage them to have children (at 1-3% lower than commercial banks), as well as several other initiatives.
Trenton NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon announced today that he is reintroducing legislation from 2008 that would revoke public pensions for government officials and employees who are convicted of any crime while in office. Senator Edward Durr (R-3) will sign on as a co-prime sponsor of the bill.
Trenton NJ, New Jersey’s gas tax will once again increase, though by less than a penny today Sunday, Oct. 1, thanks to a 2016 law meant to support transportation projects around the state.
Trenton NJ, Statement of Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on the Federal Indictment of Robert Menendez : The Office of the Attorney General is aware of the details included in today’s indictment of Democrat Robert Menendez, a sitting United States Senator for this State. The allegations are deeply disturbing to me and my Office, and we are already in the process of reviewing the concerns raised by the indictment.
Trenton NJ, Senate Judiciary Committee member, Michael Testa, called on the Legislature to return to Trenton immediately to authorize subpoena power for the Senate Judiciary Committee and retain special counsel to facilitate a thorough investigation of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office handling of a 2019 prosecution involving a businessman with ties to U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy this evening issued the following statement about indicted U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez:
“The allegations in the indictment against Senator Menendez and four other defendants are deeply disturbing. These are serious charges that implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system. Under our legal system, Senator Menendez and the other defendants have not been found guilty and will have the ability to present evidence disputing these charges, and we must respect the process. However, the alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation.”
Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today signed the ‘Uniform Public Expression Protection Act’ to protect people from meritless lawsuits intended to intimidate them for exercising their free speech rights. Powerful entities and individuals often use lawsuits and litigation threats to punish and silence those who might speak unfavorably about them. The bipartisan legislation will enable defendants to seek the expedited dismissal of such lawsuits, commonly referred to as ‘Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation’ (SLAPP), which have historically been used against journalists, academics, advocates, and whistleblowers – among others.
Trenton NJ, on Friday afternoon, more than two months after the law required legislators’ requests for budget funding to be released to the public, Democrats released requests that all have this disclaimer stamped at the top: “The Budget Bill includes this Resolution, either as submitted or in a modified form.” It’s not clear how original budget requests were sanitized, but they have almost all been modified to remove required explanations about how the money will be spent.
Trenton NJ, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association launched a campaign to stop the Murphy administration’s proposed ban of the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.
Hamilton NJ, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, announced today the launch of its “See Something, Say Something” public safety campaign in addition to Variable Message Signs around the state to remind drivers along the state’s major interstates to remain vigilant and report potential threats and suspicious activity related to terrorism or other criminal activity.
Edgewater Park NJ, the Office of the Attorney General today announced a state grand jury has voted to file criminal charges against a college student who allegedly deceived children he contacted online into providing him sexually explicit videos of themselves, then used the internet connection of his Essex County-based university to upload the videos online.
Trenton NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon called the administration at Rutgers an embarrassment and said that the University’s President and leadership cabinet should resign after doubling down on their COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
New Brunswick NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon sharply criticized Rutgers ongoing COVID vaccine mandate as being out of step with science and logic following news that Rutgers University is continuing to require students to provide proof of immunization from COVID-19 or face possible dis-enrollment from the school.