Governor-Elect Chris Christie and Lt. Governor-Elect Kim Guadagno joined Tom Kean in the Senate Chambers for the swearing-in of Senator Mike Doherty on November 23, 2009.
Senator Tom Kean, a former volunteer fireman, inspecting new thermal imaging cameras with members of the Millburn Fire Department. Photo Credit: Millburn Fire Department
Senator Tom Kean speaking in opposition to Gov. Corzine’s 2010 budget which eliminates Homestead Rebates for 1.2 million New Jersey families and raises taxes by more than $2 billion.
Senator Tom Kean with veterans who came to Trenton on June 12, 2009 for a parade to welcome home New Jersey National Guard troops who returned from deployment to Iraq.
Senator Tom Kean speaking at the unveiling of “Oh Freedom! Blacks on the Battlefront and in the Aftermath of the American Revolutionary War in New Jersey” at the State Museum.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean talking about the New Jersey economy on September 23, 2008. Also pictured are Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) and Assemblyman Joe Malone (R-30).
Senator Tom Kean speaking to The Junior Statesmen Foundation at the New Jersey State House on August 13, 2008.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean moves ethics reform legislation during Senate session. Senate Democrats immediately tabled the motion blocking ethics reform once again.
Calls for Binding Arbitration to Settle Contract Dispute
New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) issued the following statement in response to ABC Disney’s decision to pull the WABC-TV (Channel 7) signal from Cablevision in the hours leading up to the Oscars in connection with its contract negotiations relating to the retransmission by Cablevision of the WABC-TV signal:
Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean today said the ability of the state to keep its promise of a secure retirement for career public employees would be jeopardized without a constitutional guarantee that future lawmakers and Governors could not shirk their annual pension obligations.
The Senate leaders jointly proposed a constitutional amendment (SCR-1) that would require the state to annually meet its obligation for each pension plan it operates. But they noted that even if the state had made its full payments over the past decade, the system would still be nearly 30 percent underfunded – highlighting the need for the reforms the Senate unanimously passed last week to secure the pension system’s foundation.
Concerned that New Jersey residents already receive the lowest rate of return of any state on tax dollars sent to Washington, Senators Tom Kean (R-21), Steven Oroho (R-24) and Joe Kyrillos (R-13) questioned the equity of a new plan by President Obama to levy a new tax on investment income that would be borne disproportionately by New Jersey residents.
To help fund his multi-trillion dollar healthcare proposal, the President’s new plan, released on February 22, calls for the addition of a 2.9% Medicare tax on certain income, including that derived from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties and rent. This new tax would apply to individuals earning more than $200,000 and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Kean’s Resolution to be Voted on in Key Committee as AZ Withdraws Bid to Host Biggest Game
The possibility that New Jersey will play host to Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 gained traction over the weekend. On Friday, Arizona announced that they would no longer be applying to host the Super Bowl that year, leaving New Jersey, South Florida and Tampa as the remaining three finalists.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean commented today on an initiative by Governor Christie that would adjust unemployment insurance fund benefits to ensure the stability of the fund. A constitutional amendment, sponsored by Senators Kean and Sweeney, banning future raids on the unemployment fund will be voted on by the voters in November.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean announced today that Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40) will be appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee to replace Senator Bill Baroni. Senator O’Toole will replace Senator Baroni beginning with the March 1, 2010 meeting.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean made the following statement today after it was announced that Senator Bill Baroni has been appointed to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey:
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement praising the Judiciary Committee’s approval of Andrew Eristoff’s nomination as New Jersey treasurer. The nomination now goes to the full Senate:
“Acting Treasurer Eristoff demonstrated astonishingly deep knowledge of state finances though he has been on the job for only a few weeks,” Senator Kean said. “He answered question after question from senators with graciousness and candor.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean made the following statement about the uncommonly courageous leadership shown by Governor Christie in dealing with a $2.3 billion budget gap left by the past administration:
“It’s been years since New Jersey has had a governor who will talk about our state’s fiscal problems with decisiveness, honesty and courage,” Senator Kean said. “After less than two months in office, the governor has come up with a plan to close a $2.3 billion budget gap without tax increases, furloughs or disruption of our state’s schools.
Measures Would Protect Retirements of Rank-and-File Public Employees, Require Government to Meet Its Obligations
Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Republican Leader Thomas Kean announced that bipartisan legislation to complete the unfinished business of reforming the state’s public employee pension and benefits system first begun nearly four years ago was formally introduced last night in the Senate.
The four bills would return the pension and benefits system to its original goal of ensuring the retirements of rank-and-file public employees and constitutionally require government to meet its annual pension obligations.
