Oroho Responds to Appointment to Senate Select Committee on Investigation
Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) issued the following statement in response to his appointment to a newly formed Senate Select Committee on Investigation:
Sen. Steven Oroho responded to his appointment to a newly formed Senate Select Committee on Investigation, saying it’s a great responsibility that he takes very seriously. (SenateNJ.com)
“The important matters that will be investigated by the select committee will help us to protect our institutions of government and improve the ability of our state to provide justice to the victims of sexual assault.
“I thank the Senate President for the confidence he has expressed in me through this appointment. It’s a great responsibility that I take very seriously.”
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.”
Corrado Applauds Formation of Bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Investigation
Senator Kristin Corrado praised the formation of a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Investigation to investigate the handling of the sexual assault allegations against a former high-level state official, examine government hiring practices and background checks, and conduct a review of the criminal justice system’s procedures for responding to allegations of sexual assault, abuse and harassment.
Sen. Kristin Corrado praised the formation of a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Investigation. (©iStock)
“I commend Senate President Sweeney for making the decision to convene this special legislative committee and call upon Speaker Coughlin to join us to create a bipartisan joint legislative committee,” said Corrado. “As a co-equal branch of government, the Legislature plays a critical role in protecting the integrity of our government.”
Corrado had previously called for a legislative investigation into these matters.
Corrado Introduces Resolution to Create Special Legislative Committee to Investigate Governor’s Hiring Practices
In response to numerous concerns that have been raised regarding current and former employees of the Murphy Administration, Senator Kristin Corrado has introduced a resolution to constitute a special legislative committee to conduct a broad investigation into the hiring practices of Governor Phil Murphy.
Sen. Kristin Corrado has introduced a resolution to constitute a special legislative committee to conduct a broad investigation into the hiring practices of Gov. Phil Murphy. (SenateNJ.com)
Click here to view a PDF of the resolution.
“The floodgates have opened with numerous reports of questionable hires by the Murphy Administration, including a corrupt official convicted on federal bribery charges, one with multiple allegations of sexual assault, and another who was involved in a major campaign finance scandal,” said Corrado. “We must investigate why the governor thought it was appropriate to hire these individuals into positions of public trust. We must examine the safeguards that exist in the hiring process, and learn how they failed or were sidestepped to allow Governor Murphy to reward his campaign workers with highly paid positions at taxpayer expense.”
O’Scanlon & DiMaso Introduce Victim Compensation Awareness Bill
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, both R-Monmouth, have introduced legislation designed to increase awareness about the state victims compensation fund. Their legislation was introduced in response to an investigation by NJ.com late this summer highlighting issues with the fund.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso have introduced legislation to increase awareness about the state victims compensation fund, following an NJ.com investigation highlighting issues with the fund. (Pixabay)
“What happens to the families left behind is devastating. They are truly victims as well. The money the state has from federal grants and matching funds is clearly being underutilized,” O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) stated. “Many of these families are totally unaware of the services and compensation that they may be eligible for.”
The new bill would require all hospitals and satellite emergency departments in New Jersey to display signs detailing information about the compensation and services the Victims of Crime Compensation Office can provide.
“Reading the NJ.com article was heartbreaking,” DiMaso (R-Monmouth) said. “Our residents send so much money to the federal government with little return. No parent should have to bury their child. Sending back over $380,000 of unspent federal victim assistance grant funding when it is so clear there are families struggling is something we need to correct.”
O’Scanlon Continues to Lead Municipal Justice Reform Efforts
As part of his aggressive push to reform the municipal justice system, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) introduced legislation today that would require municipalities to be more transparent in reporting penalties imposed at the local level.
As part of his aggressive push to reform the municipal justice system, Sen. Declan O’Scanlon has introduced legislation that would require municipalities to be more transparent in reporting penalties imposed at the local level. (©iStock)
“You can’t improve what you can’t measure,” said O’Scanlon. “When towns use the justice system as a means of raising revenue, they erode the public’s trust in government. Our local police and courts should not be used as ATM’s by misguided municipal officials. I’ve been vocal about my attempts to reform our municipal court system. This is another step of many that the Legislature must undertake to address the critical issues here.”
Two weeks ago, O’Scanlon introduced a package of three bills aimed at reforming several of the problems highlighted in a municipal court report issued by the State Supreme Court this summer. This bill is another piece of the package.
Oroho Bill to Modernize Public Contracting Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) that would enable local entities to acquire goods and services using electronic bidding passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Sen Steven Oroho’s legislation would enable local entities to acquire goods and services using electronic bidding. (SenateNJ.com)
“In this day and age, electronic procurement is a must in helping local governments conduct bidding in the most efficient manner possible, thereby saving money and valuable resources,” said Oroho. “This is an idea that’s really past due.”
Corrado Repeats Call for Legislative Investigation of Murphy Administration’s Hiring Practices
In a new letter sent today to Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senator Kristin Corrado repeated her call for a bipartisan legislative investigation into the hiring practices of the Murphy Administration.
With concerns mounting, Sen. Kristin Corrado repeated her call for a bipartisan legislative investigation into the hiring practices of the Murphy Administration. (©iStock)
Click here to view a PDF of the letter.
The full text of the letter is included below:
Bucco Bill Designating NJ State Dog Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony Bucco (R-Morris, Somerset) that would designate the Seeing Eye® dog as the official New Jersey State Dog has passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
The Seeing Eye® headquarters is located in Morristown. The organization has trained and matched more than 17,000 visually-impaired individuals with service animals.
Senator Anthony Bucco’s bill would designate the Seeing Eye® dog as the official New Jersey State Dog. (SenateNJ.com)
“For decades now, Seeing Eye has been placing loving service dogs into homes all around the country,” Bucco said. “It is an honor to be able to sponsor a bill that pays tribute to this organization’s legacy of uplifting our visually-impaired residents, by allowing them to live as independently as possible. These dogs are miracle-workers, plain and simple, and we are so grateful to have a group like Seeing Eye making a difference in our community, day in and day out.”
Bucco Bill to Improve Access to Emergency Prescriptions Passes Committee
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25) that would provide a pharmacist the ability to dispense medication in an emergency without a prescription.
Senator Anthony Bucco’s bill would provide a pharmacist the ability to dispense medication in an emergency without a prescription. (WikiMedia)
“In the time it takes to refill a prescription, people with serious medical conditions, such as allergies, can lose their lives,” Senator Bucco said. “Current law legally bars pharmacies from dispensing 30-day supplies of certain lifesaving drugs.
“When a woman reached out to my office to share how her son almost died because of this dangerous over regulation, I knew we had to push for this bill. By easing access to emergency medications, we can ensure that no mother ever has to go through the fear of losing her child like that ever again.”
