Kean To Sweeney: Let's Resolve Major Problems

Calling the Senate’s April agenda a “moment of truth for the Majority’s commitment to reform”, New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) has requested Senate action on four pieces of property tax relief and public safety legislation.

“The Senate President is to be commended for holding an unusual April session,” said Kean, “but that session needs to get something accomplished for the taxpayers of this state rather than allow legislators to look busy. We’re up against the clock to provide property tax relief to the most highly taxed people in America, and to repeal a misguided early release program that has resulted in tragedy for two families.”

Senator Kean has asked for committee consideration and a vote by the full Senate on bills: ending the state’s early release program, phasing out unused sick leave payments for public workers, closing the state pension system to well-connected lobbyists, and enabling shared services among local governments.

Senate Committees will meet at the call of the Senate President on April 11th, with the full Senate scheduled to vote on a yet to be determined agenda on April 28th.

“The Majority has never provided reasoning to oppose or delay passage of these bills,” Kean stated. “These pieces of legislation are urgent and should be posted for a vote, as the months of May and June are likely to be consumed by budget negotiations. If it chooses not to add these bills to the agenda, the Majority needs to explain why, for example, well-connected lobbyists should be allowed to join our already troubled public pension system.”

The text of Senator Kean’s letter to the Senate President (sent 4/4/11) is as follows:

Honorable Stephen M. Sweeney, Senate President
New Jersey State Senate
935 Kings Highway, Suite 400
West Deptford, NJ 08086
 
Dear Senate President Sweeney, 
First, let me congratulate you for making the decision to break with tradition and call the Senate into session on April. The Senate cannot afford to take an entire month off given the amount of unfinished property tax relief and public safety legislation still pending before us- to say nothing of a looming budget deadline. 
In order to ensure that the April 28th voting session is productive, I’m writing to make several recommendations with regard to the Senate’s agenda.
Early Release Repeal: The conditional veto of this S-2803 contains language that will repeal New Jersey’s early release statute. Given that two homicides have been committed this year by individuals released from prison under this statute, this should be a priority for the Senate.
If for any reason you feel that posting the Governor’s veto for ratification cannot happen on that date, I would encourage you to instead call a meeting of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee to consider Senator Allen’s repeal legislation, S-2814, on April 11th, so that repeal may be considered by the full Senate at the April 28th Senate session.
Sick Leave Payout Prohibition: Whatever the justification for this practice in the past, it is a one that taxpayers can no longer afford and must be ended outright. That any community should have to issue bonds or lay off public safety personnel to pay other employees for unused leave time is outrageous. Governor Christie’s proposal to end payments for unused sick leave, contained in his conditional veto of S-2220, should be posted to the April 28th agenda in the interest of property taxpayers.
Non-public Employee Pension Ban: Given the current state of our troubled public employee retirement system, it is unimaginable that state law still allows certain, well-connected employees of private entities into the system. Given that your caucus has not, to date, provided a justification for allowing this practice to continue, I would assume your caucus to be in support of repeal. I respectfully request that S-2026 be posted for committee consideration on April 11th, as it has yet to be acted on since introduction in June of 2010.
Shared Services: Republicans are eager to join your long standing advocacy for the sharing of services among local governments by passing S-2024. As you are aware, this bill enables meaningful workforce consolidation between local governments without the counterproductive and arcane limitations imposed by the civil service system. Since it has not yet been heard in committee, it would make sense to hear this bill in committee on April 11th in preparation for an April 28th vote by the full Senate. 
I thank you for your consideration of these requests and eagerly await your response.
 
Sincerely,
Tom Kean, Jr.
Senate Minority Leader