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.”
Kean Bill to Establish Taskforce to Modernize Govt. Systems & Protect Electronic Data Passes Committee
The Senate State Government Committee has passed legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean that would establish the “NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force.”
The task force established under Sen. Kean’s bipartisan bill would be charged with developing new strategies to increase the efficiency of electronic communication.
Sen. Tom Kean’s bipartisan bill would be charged with developing new strategies to increase the efficiency of electronic communication. (SenateNJ.com)
“The primary goal of this legislation is to find a cost-effective way to build a tamper-proof system, so we can protect and improve electronic communication at a wide range of agencies,” Senator Kean added. “Imagine being able to submit your tax return or business application to the state quickly and efficiently, all while keeping your personal data secure. That is what Blockchain can offer. I hope to see our bill become law as soon as possible.”
Kean: Democrats’ Tax Increases Cement NJ’s Last Place Business Ranking
NJ Ranked 50th in Tax Foundation’s 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said that $1.5 billion in tax increases imposed by New Jersey Democrats this year have cemented the Garden State’s last-place ranking in the Tax Foundation’s newly released 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index.
Sen. Tom Kean said that $1.5 billion in tax increases imposed by Democrats have cemented N.J.’s last-place ranking in the Tax Foundation’s 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index. (Tax Foundation)
“Nobody should be shocked that raising business and income taxes by more than $1 billion would hurt New Jersey’s competitiveness,” said Kean. “What’s shocking, however, is that New Jersey Democrats fail to see how their destructive policies hurt middle-class families who may lose jobs, raises, and an opportunity to build financial security.”
Kean Warns of Harm from New Tax Bills
Repeats Call for Constitutional Amendment to Cap State Spending Increases
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said a pair of tax bills advanced by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee today will hurt New Jersey families, employers, and tourism efforts.
Sen. Tom Kean said a pair of tax bills advanced by the Senate Budget Committee will hurt New Jersey families, employers, and tourism efforts. (Pixabay)
The first bill, S-2892, would increase taxes on jet fuel by eliminating certain aviation fuel tax exemptions.
“If New Jersey makes it more expensive for airlines to refuel here, every plane ticket from our state will become more expensive,” said Kean. “This will raise the cost of family vacations, hurt Atlantic City’s efforts to draw tourists from farther away, and raise the price of business travel for employers who already struggle to justify staying in New Jersey.”
