Senate Republicans Call on Gov. Murphy & Democrat Legislative Leaders to Pass Structural Reforms as Alternative to Tax Increases
Senate Republicans delivered a letter to Governor Phil Murphy and Democratic legislative leadership today calling for a commitment to passing structural reforms as an alternative to tax increases in the upcoming State Budget.
Senate Republicans delivered a letter to Gov. Murphy and Democratic legislative leadership calling for a commitment to passing structural reforms as an alternative to tax increases in the upcoming State Budget. (SenateNJ.com)
Included below is the text of the letter from Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Sen. Bob Singer, Sen. Anthony Bucco, and Sen. Steven Oroho was delivered to Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.
Singer’s ‘Meals on Wheels in New Jersey Fund’ Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer that would allow New Jersey residents to set aside part of their tax refund to benefit Meals on Wheels has passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Sen. Bob Singer’s bill would help seniors in need by allowing NJ residents to set aside part of their tax refund to benefit Meals on Wheels. (©iStock)
“8 in 10 food-insecure seniors are not receiving the meals they need. Many more are coping with isolation, or a myriad of serious health issues. Meals on Wheels is a tremendous resource for these folks, but the organization needs much more help,” Senator Singer said. “As our elderly population continues to grow, nonprofits like Meals on Wheels will be instrumental in our outreach efforts to ensure more seniors can stay healthy and happy in their own homes. This is a great way for more people to stand up and show their support.”
Editorial: Why Amazon Didn’t Choose NJ
The following editorial by Senator Robert Singer (R-30) on Amazon’s rejection of New Jersey’s proposal to host a new headquarters was published on Feb. 25, 2019 in the Asbury Park Press:
The following editorial by Sen. Robert Singer on Amazon’s rejection of NJ’s proposal to host a new headquarters was published on Feb. 25, 2019 in the Asbury Park Press. (WikiMedia).
A whopping 238 cities across the United States sought to be the home of Amazon’s second headquarters, dubbed “HQ2.” Of all city applicants, Newark, New Jersey offered Amazon the largest tax benefits in the country. Regardless of being one of twenty cities to make the final cut, Newark was passed over by Amazon not once, but twice. It speaks volumes that a package of tax incentives totaling $7 billion could not entice Amazon to choose New Jersey.
Our state’s prime geographic location, diverse workforce, state-of-the-art infrastructure, convenient transportation, and best-in-the-nation schools should have made the Garden State an easy sell. The New Jersey Legislature’s successful bipartisan effort to top all other competing tax incentive offers nationwide should have made the Garden State an easy choice. The competition was fierce to court HQ2, and New Jersey was in play.
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Singer, Gopal Congratulate Award-Winning Monmouth County
Joint Resolution Recognizes Prestigious ‘Teddy Award’ Granted for Workers Compensation Program reform
The New Jersey Senate passed a joint legislative resolution sponsored by Senators Robert Singer and Vin Gopal applauding Monmouth County’s Division of Benefits for receiving the “Teddy Award,” in recognition of their efforts to diligently improve the county’s workers compensation program.
The Senate passed Sens. Singer and Gopal’s joint resolution congratulating Monmouth County for receiving the ‘Teddy Award.’ (SenateNJ.com)
Monmouth County’s reforms have been nationally recognized and awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Award, also known as the ‘Teddy Award’ by Risk & Insurance.
“What does this award really stand for?” Senator Singer (R-Monmouth and Ocean) opined. “Ensuring your employees are kept healthy, secure, and can get back to work quickly and safely after an injury. It’s a wonderful achievement that puts Monmouth County and New Jersey in the national spotlight. I am proud to represent a county that truly cares about the quality of life for their 4,100 employees.”
Singer Bill Package to Improve Maternity Care Advances
Legislation to make Pregnancy, Delivery, and the Postpartum Period Safer
A trio of bipartisan bills sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth) that aims to improve the health and well-being of mothers before, during, and after pregnancy unanimously passed the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. The bills’ passage comes in the wake of a state and national health emergency: African American mothers are dying both during and after childbirth at disproportionately higher rates than white mothers, with some of the most staggering rates occurring right here in New Jersey.
A trio of bipartisan bills sponsored by Sen. Robert Singer that aims to improve the health and well-being of mothers before, during, and after pregnancy passed the Senate Health Committee. (©iStock)
“New Jersey’s high maternal illness and death toll are disturbing, particularly for African American mothers,” Singer said. “We must take action to fix this deadly crisis. This requires a comprehensive approach of prioritizing maternal health during pregnancy, childbirth, and throughout the postpartum period. Enacting this legislation package will reduce preventable deaths and ensure more New Jersey mothers and babies leave the hospital happy and healthy.”
Now Law: Singer Bill to Draw Nursing Aides to NJ
Legislation Allows Out-Of-State License Use
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-30) to allow nursing aides who were certified out-of-state to use their license to care for people in New Jersey was signed into law on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 by Governor Phil Murphy.
Senator Robert Singer’s legislation allow nursing aides who were certified out-of-state to use their license to care for people in New Jersey was signed into law. (Flickr)
“Prior to my bill being signed into law, many highly-qualified and experienced nursing aides couldn’t work in New Jersey simply because they live out of state,” Singer said. “The number of job openings for certified nursing assistants is staggering. There are more than 1,800 vacant positions in nursing homes throughout New Jersey.
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Singer Explores Ways to Fund NJ Transit Without Fare Hikes
The New Jersey State Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer to prevent NJ Transit customers from being forced to cope with additional fare hikes. The legislation, SJR-54, would establish a task force charged with finding alternative ways to fund climbing expenses at the troubled agency.
Sen. Robert Singer’s bill would prevent NJ Transit customers from being forced to cope with additional fare hikes, by establishing a task force to find alternative ways to fund climbing expenses at the troubled agency. (SenateNJ.com)
“Asking commuters to pay more for this service is wrong,” Senator Singer said. “This is not the time for fare hikes. We have made good progress enacting reforms that will fix our broken transit system, but we need to dig deeper, particularity when it comes to exploring alternative revenue sources. This task force may be the key to discovering how we can finally get NJ Transit back on track.”
Singer’s ‘Charlie’s Law’ Unanimously Passes Senate
Bill Named in Memory of NJ Man Who Passed Away After Battle with Addiction
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth and Ocean) that would require pharmacists to instruct their patients on how to safely dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Charlies Law, S-3240, would also ensure pharmacists’ patients can access drug deactivation products.
Senator Robert Singer’s bill requiring pharmacists to educate their patients on how to safely discard unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles passed the New Jersey Senate. (WikiMedia)
Charlie’s Law is named in memory of Charlie Van Tassel, a beloved son and brother who battled addiction for many years before his passing at the age of 33. Charlie’s family remembers him as an athlete and family prankster who loved music and dancing.
“Prescription drug abuse has reached crisis levels in New Jersey,” Singer said. “All too often, this is a disease that begins in the home, because so many people don’t think twice about the medication that’s left unattended in a bathroom cabinet. Unused or expired medication, especially opioids and needles, can be poisonous, addictive, or even deadly if they fall into the wrong hands. To help prevent tragedies such as Charlie’s untimely passing, we have to educate patients on how to best dispose of unused drugs.”
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Singer & Kean Fight to Change Code Blue Law to Save Lives During Winter Weather
New Bill Drafted in Response to Concerns that NJ’s Homeless Need More Protection from Severe Cold
In response to concerns that local officials in Toms River and throughout New Jersey are struggling to authorize shelter for the homeless during winter weather events, Senator Robert Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean will introduce legislation to change New Jersey’s Code Blue standards to ensure no one pays the price for language in the law.
In response to local concerns, Sens. Robert Singer and Tom Kean will introduce legislation to change New Jersey’s Code Blue standards. (©iStock)
Currently, a Code Blue is triggered when temperatures reach 25 degrees Fahrenheit or colder without precipitation or 32 degree or colder with precipitation. The new bill 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.
The bill will be formally introduced during the next Senate quorum on Thursday, Jan. 31.
“I was devastated to hear that the homeless are being turned away from shelters in Ocean County this winter,” 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. Code Blue was designed to save lives. No one should be forced to suffer because of problematic language in a law that was meant to help people.”
Singer’s ‘Charlie’s Law’ Requiring Pharmacists to Educate Patients on Safe Drug Disposal Passes Committee
Bill Named for NJ Man Who Lost His Life to Addiction
Senator Robert Singer’s (R-Monmouth and Ocean) bill requiring pharmacists to educate their patients on how to safely discard unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles passed the Senate Health Committee. S-3240 would also require pharmacists to ensure patients can access drug deactivation products.
Senator Robert Singer’s (R-30) bill requiring pharmacists to educate their patients on how to safely discard unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and needles passed the Senate Health Committee. (WikiMedia)
This legislation, “Charlie’s Law,” is named in memory of Charlie Van Tassel, a beloved son and brother who struggled and succumbed to his addiction at the age of 33. Charlie’s family remembers him as an athlete and family prankster who enjoyed music and dancing. He battled addiction for many years before his passing.
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