Kean on Passing of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Father
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement on the passing of Edward Brown Snyder, the father of New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy:
Statement from Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean on the passing of the father of New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy. (CC0 Public Domain)
“First Lady Tammy Murphy, Governor Murphy, and their family are in my thoughts today. I hope that their time in the holy land, as they honor Edward’s Jewish faith, will also provide them both with comfort and peace during this difficult time.”
Kean Moves to Support Jersey-Based Creators & National Funding for the Arts
Legislation Would Create Artist District Designations; Support the National Endowment for the Arts
The Senate State Government Committee has passed two pieces of legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to support artists in New Jersey and across the country.
NJ Senate Committee passes Sen. Tom Kean’s legislation to support artists in New Jersey and across the country. (Pixabay)
The first bill, S-521, would establish a special designation that municipalities can use to promote Jersey-based artists living and working in that community.
“The Garden State is blessed with a number of vibrant downtowns where local artists thrive,” Senator Kean (R-21) said. “Jersey-based artists generate local jobs. Nurturing and promoting active artist districts will stimulate economic growth, create educational opportunities, and help our local tourist destinations become even more widely-known.”
Kean Bill to Combat Human Trafficking Passes Committee
Legislation Follows Reports that Thousands Have Been Impacted by Human Trafficking in NJ in Recent Years
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean that would bolster the efforts of the New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking has passed the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Senator Tom Kean listening to local residents at the NJ Human Trafficking Forum in 2013. (SenateNJ.com)
“Human trafficking is truly a form of modern-day enslavement. It routinely and disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable residents – and it’s happening right here in New Jersey,” Kean said. “Our state is situated between two major cities. You can get here in a flash by taking an airplane, arriving at a seaport, or speeding down an interstate. These are all factors that have made New Jersey a target for human trafficking.
Kean Commends Creation of Senate Select Committee on Investigation
Following his calls for the Legislature to conduct a bipartisan investigation into the Governor’s hiring practices and a review of New Jersey’s criminal and civil statutes regarding sexual assault, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean commended the creation of a special Senate Select Committee on Investigation to address these matters:
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean commended the creation of a special Senate Select Committee on Investigation. (©iStock)
“The Senate is taking the right step in forming a select committee to investigate government hiring practices, review the handling of the allegations raised by Ms. Brennan, and examine how our criminal justice system handles cases like hers,” said Kean. “I sincerely hope our colleagues in the General Assembly will demonstrate their understanding of the importance of this effort and make this a joint effort by the full Legislature.”
Kean & Corrado: Sexual Assault Detailed in WSJ Story Should Serve As a Call to Action for the NJ Legislature
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Kristin Corrado said new details of an alleged sexual assault by a former campaign worker of Governor Phil Murphy reinforce the need for legislative hearings into the administration’s hiring practices, and said the difficulties experienced by the victim in seeking justice should prompt a review of New Jersey’s criminal and civil statutes regarding sexual assault.
Sen. Tom Kean and Sen. Kristin Corrado said new details of an alleged sexual assault by a former campaign worker of Gov. Phil Murphy reinforce the need for legislative hearings, and called for a review of New Jersey’s criminal and civil statutes regarding sexual assault. (©iStock)
“The sexual assault alleged by Ms. Brennan was just the beginning of a story that is both heartbreaking and all too common among the victims of sex crimes,” said Kean. “Despite taking every reasonable step that a person subject to such a traumatic assault could be expected to take, Ms. Brennan was unable to find justice in either a court of law or with her employer. This should serve as a call to action for the Legislature to address these issues immediately.”
Kean Supports Call for Investigation of Murphy Administration’s Hiring Practices
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, who also serves as a member of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee, expressed support for a call by Republican women legislators for an investigation into the hiring practices of the Murphy Administration:
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean expressed support for a call by Republican women legislators for an investigation into the hiring practices of the Murphy Administration. (SenateNJ.com)
“We’ve seen a number of recent instances where it’s clear that the Murphy Administration hasn’t properly vetted candidates for employment in important positions in our New Jersey government, including an individual convicted of corruption and another who was under investigation for criminal sexual misconduct.
Kean: Audit Demonstrates Need for Reform of New Jersey Transit
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement after joining Governor Phil Murphy at an event this morning to discuss the results of a comprehensive independent audit of the finances and operations of New Jersey Transit:
Sen. Tom Kean said an independent audit of NJ Transit’s finances and operations left no doubt that legislative reforms are needed to ensure reliable, affordable service for commuters. (SenateNJ.com)
“It’s imperative that commuters who rely on New Jersey Transit get the reliable, affordable service they deserve. When buses run late or trains are canceled, there is a real impact on the lives, jobs, and families of millions of New Jerseyans.
“This audit has left zero doubt that legislative reforms are needed to help New Jersey Transit improve service and increase responsiveness to customer concerns.
Kean: NJ’s Microbrewery Success Story Needs to Continue
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said that legislative efforts are needed to ensure that New Jersey’s microbrewery success story can continue following new rules imposed by the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control that would stifle the burgeoning industry:
Sen. Tom Kean touring the Cape May Brewing Company’s facilities in 2015 while promoting three bills to support NJ’s rapidly-growing craft brewing industry. (SenateNJ.com)
“I’ve worked closely with our microbreweries for the past decade to eliminate Prohibition-era laws that prevented this innovative industry from growing in New Jersey as it has in so many other states.
“Our efforts to modernize the state’s brewery laws have been successful beyond belief, leading to an economic success story that few could have imagined when we started. We shouldn’t allow a State regulatory body to turn back the clock after everything we’ve accomplished.
Joint Resolution to Adopt Harassment and Discrimination Policy for the Legislature Approved By Both Houses
Resolution Sponsored by Speaker Coughlin, Senator Weinberg, Senate President Sweeney, Assemblywoman Lampitt, Senator Kean and Minority Leader Bramnick
Strengthening protections for legislative employees, a concurrent resolution sponsored by the Legislature to adopt a more extensive policy preventing and responding to acts of discrimination and harassment in the Legislature was unanimously approved by both houses Thursday.
The New Jersey State Legislature adopted a more extensive policy preventing and responding to acts of discrimination and harassment in the Legislature (SenateNJ.com)
An increased focus nationally on sexual harassment in the workplace as evidenced by the #MeToo social media movement has prompted many states to reevaluate harassment and training policy. In 2018 alone, 32 states have introduced over 125 pieces of legislation.
“After reviewing the previous policy, we knew immediately that more had to be done to encourage a welcoming workplace for all those work for and with the legislature,” said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “Mandated training and a more inclusive protected class list makes this a more rigorous policy than we’ve had in the past. This policy is as important now as it was in 2009 when the current policy was put in place, but today’s policy is stronger.”
Kean Statement on Governor’s Free Community College Announcement
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement in response to an announcement on a free community college pilot program announced by Governor Murphy today:
Sen. Tom Kean said Gov. Murphy’s free community college plan merely shifts the expense of tuition to New Jersey taxpayers. (Wikipedia)
“Free community college sounds great, but nothing is free. Governor Murphy’s plan merely shifts the expense of tuition to New Jersey taxpayers at an estimated cost of $200 million to $400 million when the program is fully implemented. As an alternative, I would like to work with the Governor on controlling costs at all of the state’s colleges and universities to keep tuition bills affordable.”
