Kean Mourns Passing of Sen. Tony Bucco
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean mourned the passing this evening of Senate Republican Conference Leader Anthony R. Bucco (R-25):
Sen. Anthony Bucco holding an 8-week-old yellow Labrador retriever named “NJ” after presenting a resolution to The Seeing Eye for helping to pass Dusty’s Law which enacts criminal penalties for harming or interfering with a service animal or guide dog. (The Seeing Eye)
“I am unbelievably saddened by the passing of my good friend Tony Bucco. He was a leading voice in Morris County politics for more than 40 years and in Trenton for more than two decades. He was a gentleman who earned trust on both sides of the aisle by being a man of his word. Most importantly, he was a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather. On behalf of the entire Senate Republican caucus, I extend our condolences to all who knew and loved Tony Bucco. He was a great man and a great friend who will be sorely missed.”
Kean Bill to Expand Prenatal Care Signed Into Law
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to improve maternal healthcare in New Jersey by expanding Medicaid coverage to include group prenatal care services has been signed into law.
Sen. Tom Kean’s legislation to improve maternal healthcare in New Jersey has been signed into law. (Flickr)
“Right now, moms and babies across the country are dying at disturbing rates from preventable complications,” said Kean (R-21). “Here in New Jersey, the statistics are particularly alarming, especially among women of color. Our state’s most vulnerable mothers and newborns deserve greater access to quality healthcare throughout pregnancy. The enactment of this law will help close the racial disparity gap, create stronger families, and save lives.”
Kean/Beach Bill Creating “Blockchain Task Force” is Now Law
Bipartisan Law Will Modernize State Govt. Systems
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator James Beach to create the “NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force” has been signed into law. The task force is charged with exploring the merits of using Blockchain technology to modernize government systems and safeguard personal data.
Sens. Tom Kean and James Beach’s legislation to create the “NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force” has been signed into law. (©iStock)
“Blockchain technology is the new generation of currency and a new standard of secure exchange,” said Kean (R-21). “In this Internet age, local governments should be able to take advantage of blockchain’s capability to facilitate safe, paperless transactions that are impervious to cyber-attacks. The task force established by this law will seek out practical ways to implement this technology in a way that will benefit New Jersey’s taxpayers.”
Now Law: Kean Bill Creating ‘Gateway Development Corporation’ to Build New Rail Tunnels to Manhattan
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean’s bipartisan legislation to establish the ‘Gateway Development Corporation’ has been signed into law. The commission will oversee planning, funding and construction of new rail tunnels and other projects that will double trans-Hudson rail capacity and provide one-seat rides to Manhattan on all NJ Transit lines.
Sen. Tom Kean’s legislation to establish the ‘Gateway Development Corporation’ has been signed into law. (SenateNJ.com)
“Constructing the Gateway Tunnel is critical to serving the growing number of New Jersey commuters, as well as creating jobs and securing long-term economic growth,” said Kean (R-21). “The Gateway Program will increase NJ Transit rail capacity to and from New York Penn Station by 70,000 riders a day and enable NJ Transit to provide direct one-seat rides to Manhattan, including on the Raritan Valley Line. I will continue to be a vocal advocate to ensure New Jerseyans have a dependable, affordable, and safe mass-transit service.”
Kean Statement on Proposed Legislative Redistricting Reforms
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean released the following statement on a report from leading academics on “Improving New Jersey’s Legislative Apportionment Process.”
Sen. Tom Kean’s statement on a report from leading academics on “Improving New Jersey’s Legislative Apportionment Process.” (SenateNJ.com)
“Last year, we raised the alarm when Democrats attempted to fast-track a constitutional amendment that would have made legislative elections less competitive while cementing permanent Democratic majorities in the New Jersey Legislature,” said Kean (R-21). “With broad bipartisan support from outside groups and respected academics, we defeated their attempt to rig our elections. Any changes to improve how we reapportion legislative districts should focus on making the process fairer and more transparent.”
Singer/Kean Bill to Change Code Blue to Better Protect NJ’s Homeless Passes Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean expanding Code Blue protections to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has passed the State Senate.
Sens. Robert Singer and Tom Kean’s bill that would expand Code Blue to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has passed the Senate. (©iStock)
Currently, a Code Blue is triggered when temperatures drop to 32 degrees with precipitation, or 25 degrees with no precipitation. The bill advanced by the Senate, S-3422, would eliminate the 25 degree standard, so that a Code Blue would be triggered as soon as the temperature falls to 32 degrees, regardless of whether or not there is precipitation at the time.
Kean Bill to Protect New and Expectant Moms Passes Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) to improve maternal healthcare in New Jersey has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to improve maternal healthcare has passed the New Jersey Senate. (Flickr)
“Mothers and babies are dying at alarming rates from preventable complications nationwide – and in New Jersey, the rates are especially shocking, particularly among women of color,” Kean said. “We need to take a proactive approach to improving the care and support we provide for women throughout pregnancy, as well as during childbirth and the postpartum period. By expanding access to quality group prenatal care, we can ensure that every baby born in New Jersey gets a healthy start.”
Kean’s Legislative Efforts to Aid NJ Transit Commuters Pass Senate
The New Jersey Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to help NJ Transit customers. The pro-commuter efforts, SR-144 and S-3574, both aim to improve the safety and reliability of New Jersey’s public rail lines.
NJ Senate passes Sen. Tom Kean’s legislation to help NJ Transit commuters by improving the safety and reliability of public rail lines. (SenateNJ.com)
The first piece of legislation, SR-144, respectfully urges Congress to permanently extend the federal tax credit for railroad track maintenance.
“NJ Transit commuters have suffered through years of unnecessary delays that have negatively-impacted their quality of life, their jobs, and in some cases – even their safety,” Senator Kean (R-21) said. “Urging Congress to permanently extend a tax credit for track maintenance is a critical component of our multifaceted plan to shore up the reliability of our rail infrastructure for years to come. We need to work with the Federal Government on this issue. I hope they heed our call for action. The safety and security of millions of commuters depends on our cooperative efforts.”
Kean, Weinberg, Diegnan Introduce Legislation Establishing Agency to Oversee Gateway Project
Bill mirrors measure approved by NY Assembly committee; goal is to enact critical legislation this month in both states
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Transportation Committee Chair Patrick Diegnan have introduced legislation to establish a Gateway Development Commission to oversee planning, funding and construction of new rail tunnels and other projects that will double trans-Hudson rail capacity and provide one-seat rides to Manhattan on all NJ Transit lines.
Sens. Tom Kean, Loretta Weinberg, and Patrick Diegnan have introduced legislation to establish a Gateway Development Commission to oversee planning, funding and construction of new rail tunnels and other projects that will double trans-Hudson rail capacity and provide one-seat rides to Manhattan on all NJ Transit lines. (SenateNJ.com)
The bipartisan bill, S-3918, is identical to legislation introduced in New York by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, chair of the New York State Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. Assemblywoman Paulin’s bill was approved by her committee this morning by a 19-6 vote.
“We have been working cooperatively for years on a bipartisan basis to advance the Gateway project,” said Senator Kean (R-Union). “We are in a race against time to build new tunnels before the century-old tunnels ravaged by Sandy are forced to close for repairs, which would cut NJ Transit trans-Hudson rail capacity by 75 percent and cripple our region’s economy. But just as important is the long-term increase in capacity that new tunnels would create, which will finally provide a one-seat ride to Manhattan for all New Jersey rail riders, including those on the Raritan Valley Line.”
Singer/Kean Bill to Change Code Blue to Better Protect NJ’s Homeless Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to expand Code Blue protections to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has cleared the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Sens. Robert Singer and Tom Kean’s bill would expand Code Blue to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events. (©iStock)
Currently, a Code Blue is triggered when temperatures drop to 32 degrees with precipitation, or 25 degrees with no precipitation. The bill advanced by the committee today, S-3422, would eliminate the 25 degree standard, so that a Code Blue would be triggered as soon as the temperature falls to 32 degrees, regardless of whether or not there is precipitation at the time.
S-3422 was introduced in January in response to concerns raised by local officials in Ocean County, who expressed that the current Code Blue standard has limited their ability to protect the homeless during dangerously cold weather.
“I was devastated to hear that some of the most vulnerable people in our community were turned away from warming shelters in Ocean County this winter, due to limitations in a law that was designed to protect them,” Senator Singer (R-30) said. “Snow or no snow, when the temperature reaches 32 degrees, it’s time to get inside. I cannot even begin to imagine the terror someone must feel when it’s freezing and you have nowhere to go. I have no doubt that our commonsense efforts to strengthen Code Blue will save lives.”
More than a dozen people who spent the night in a Toms River warming Center on Christmas Eve were unable to access shelter the next day because the temperature had risen to 27 degrees, which given the lack of precipitation, exceeded the current Code Blue standard, according to an Asbury Park Press report.
