Kean: NJ Vote Mess 'Stunning And Unacceptable!'

 

NJ Governors I've Loved -- And Loathed!

The recent death of former New Jersey Governor Dick Codey and this year's dramatic governor's race in the Garden State bring to mind the governors I've lived through and those I have known.

Growing up in a political family, I was aware of the politics of my home state from an early age and knew the name of the first governor I could identify, Alfred E. Driscoll. Governor Driscoll was the first governor to serve a four-year term under the 1947 constitution. Consequently, he served a total of seven years (three in his first term and four in his second) from 1947 to 1954. Prior to this New Jersey's governors were only eligible to serve one three-year term. Governor Driscoll was the man who envisioned and oversaw the building of the New Jersey Turnpike. It's because of him that we now know which exit of the state (I'm exit four) that we are from. Dirscoll was from my home county (Camden) and he would be the last governor from South Jersey until 1970.

As a youngster, the governor who made the greatest impression on me was Governor Robert B. Meyner. Bob Meyner looked, acted and spoke like a governor. He was a distinguished man who harbored national ambitions. But he seemed to squander his opportunity in 1960 when he insisted on being New Jersey's favorite son choice at the Democratic National Convention even as the JFK train was leaving the station. He garnered a mere 41 delegate votes at the convention. Meyner served two terms but attempted a comeback in 1969 when he was the Democrat nominee for governor once again. I supported him and remember greeting him at a rally at the old, iconic Hawaiian Cottage in Cherry Hill where we wore leis and campaign buttons that declared: "I'm A Meyner Bird". It was not to be. Collingswod's Bill Cahill was elected governor.

Back to 1961. As Meyner approached the end of his second term, it was widely expected that New Jersey would end eight years of Democrat rule and turn to a Republican. The GOP candidate was former US Labor Secretary James Mitchell. Mitchell was far better known and more highly thought of than the Democrat's choice, Richard J. Hughes, an obscure superior court judge who seemed to come out of
nowhere to garner his party's nomination. In an exceptionally close race, Hughes won the general election with less than 50.4 percent of the vote. Nobody expected much of the guy. But Dick Hughes turned out to be a shrewd politician with extraordinary people skills. A modest, highly-approachable man, he had no affectations whatsoever. He wore thick horned-rim glasses, always appeared a bit rumpled and knew (and remembered) thousands of New Jerseyans on a first-name basis. Hughes was a close friend of President Lyndon B. Johnson and was one of three final candidates considered by Vice President (and presidential nominee) Hubert Humphrey to be the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1968. Later when he was Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court and I worked for the state bar association I got to know Hughes quite well and interviewed him for the state bar newspaper. He was always fair-minded, personable and scrupulously honest. He remains one of my favorite governors and a beloved New Jersey figure.

Back to Cahill. Call it the luck of the Irish. Cahill had the good fortune of being the GOP nominee after 16 years of Democrat governors. Though he was from South Jersey, I didn't know Bill Cahill. He was our congressman and seemed to be a likable person but this was 1969 and how could I possibly support somebody who was part of the same party that embraced Richard Nixon? Disenchanted with LBJ in 1968, I was a liberal, anti-war Democrat who supported Gene McCarthy for president. Yes, I was young and idealistic and Bill Cahill (even though he was a moderate-to-liberal Republican) seemed to be too much a part of the old order. When Cahill was unexpectedly defeated for a second term in his own party primary, he became the first of three New Jersey governors in my lifetime to be rejected by the voters after only one term.

After the GOP dumped Governor Cahill and nominated conservative Jersey shore Congressman Charlie Sandman in 1973, it seemed inevitable that the Democrats would step back into power. Though many sought the Democrat nomination, party bosses settled on a seasoned former prosecutor, Brendan Byrne. Byrne's trajectory closely followed that of Dick Hughes. A superior court judge, Byrne had never held elected office. In the era of Watergate, the Democrats marketed Byrne as a squeaky clean champion of integrity. But Byrne was an insider from the get-go. He was a tactician who operated with a wry (and sometimes sly) sense of humor. Now, here's my Brendan Byrne story: At a bar association convention I presented the governor with the first copy of the association's new newspaper, The Advocate. The publication was my baby. I labored over it for months, almost single-handedly brought it into being and was very proud of The Advocate.  As I handed the first edition to Governor Byrne he said: "Thank you, Dan. I'm going to read this tonight at bedtime when I have my milk and cookies." That was Brendan Byrne!

Though they called him "one term Byrne" (especially after he oversaw enactment of the state income tax) Byrne managed to be re-elected and served through 1981. But by then Ronald Reagan was president, the GOP was resurgent and the Republicans saw an opportunity. That's where Tom Kean came in. Though he lost in a bid to be the GOP gubernatorial nominee four years earlier, this time Kean was ready. But it was very tricky. This was New Jersey, after all. So Kean had to run to the left of most of the Reagan-ignited GOP but to the right of his liberal opponent, Democrat Congressman Jim Florio. It turned out to be the closest New Jersey gubernatorial election ever with Kean besting Florio by 1,797 votes. Kean became such an accomplished governor (so charming, so adept, so polished, so appealing) that he was re-elcted by the largest margin ever. I'm proud to say that I attended both Kean victory celebrations and counted myself among Governor Kean's earliest and most loyal supporters. He remains a personal favorite.

And now we see a pattern here. Kean tries once and fails but later becomes governor. And then Jim Florio tries once and fails (by the skin of his teeth) and later goes on to succeed Kean in 1989. Since Florio represented Camden and became a huge success in South Jersey, I knew him fairly well -- not that anyone knew Jim Florio very well, because he always remained somewhat distant and inscrutable. But I did some work for him when he first ran for the State Assembly and later when he sought and won a seat in Congress. Florio was a cautious, centrist Democrat who moved a bit too far, too fast after he was elected governor. During the election campaign, Florio reportedly said: "You can write this statement down: 'Florio feels there is no need for new taxes.'" But after assuming office he faced a three billion dollar budget deficit and attempted to enact the largest, across-the-board tax increase in state history. That triggered a mammoth taxpayer revolt fueled by an emerging statewide talk radio station. This all proved to be the undoing of this promising politico who suddenly seemed to be in way over his head. It was a sad thing to watch. But, then again: Why in hell did he ever propose a tax on toilet paper, among other things?

This opened the door for the first woman governor, the GOP's Christine Todd Whitman. Like Tom Kean (but unlike Hughes, Cahill or Florio) Whitman arrived with a genuine pedigree. Both her father and her mother came from prominent, well-heeled political families and both were active in Republican politics. Even though he was battered by the tax revolt, Christie Whitman faced a tough battle against Jim Florio in 1993. She had to prove she could endure the rough and tumble of New Jersey street politics and relate to real, everyday Jersey taxpayers. It was onetime Reagan advisor and noted political guru Lyn Nofzinger who turned Whitman's campaign around and put her on the right track. He packaged a more accessible Whitman by putting her on a bus and having her visit New Jersey diners, transit stations, roadside markets and workplaces. The more people got to know her, the more they liked her. I liked her a lot and I felt a special pride as my daughter and I cheered her on throughout two campaigns and on two long, raucous election nights which resulted in a slim victories both in 1993 and 1997.

After Governor Whitman left office near the end of her second term to become the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President George W. Bush, four "fill-in" acting governors served out the remaining year of her second term. This was before New Jersey had a Lieutenant Governor and since these acting governors were never actually elected to that office, we'll skip over them.

And now we come to a somewhat sordid chapter in New Jersey's history -- the brief reign of a central Jersey wunderkind, Jim McGreevey. Like Florio and Kean, McGreevey ran for governor before (taking on Governor Whitman) and failed. I didn't know McGreevey but I knew people who did know him very well. They greatly admired him. He was a driven, highly-charged guy who seemed groomed for politics his whole life. And, he could be quite a charmer. McGreevey followed an all-too-typical liberal Democrat pattern. He came into office whining about a massive budget deficit and quickly raised taxes on the heels of that. What's the point of going over McGreevey's fall from grace? Everybody knows the story. It made national, even international, news. But actually, his coming out appeared to be a sort of ruse, hiding something far worse -- an alleged pattern of bribes and corruption. Democrats knew they had a real problem on their hands with this guy, so Dem bosses quietly pressured him to leave -- and leave promptly. He was succeeded by a likable chap, Senate President Dick Codey who served as Governor for about a year. Codey had a folksy appeal and might have made a very good governor had he actually sought election in his own right, but that was not to be. Senator Jon Corzine decided that he wanted to be governor instead. And Corzine had the money to make it happen.

Of all the New Jersey governors in my lifetime, no one appeared to be more ill-suited to the job than Jon Corzine. Born in Illinois and groomed as a bond-trader and bank executive, his career didn't really start to take off till he arrived at Goldman Sachs in 1976. By the time Corzine left the legendary Wall Street firm he had cashed in to the tune of $400 million. He could have done anything he wanted but, curiously, he decided to enter politics. Being elected to the United States Senate was not enough, however. So, Corzine repackaged himself as a super-executive and financial whiz who, as governor. could finally -- finally! -- solve the Garden State's financial problems and save us all a ton of dough. Well, it didn't work. We ran out of money again and Corzine stubbornly forced a government shutdown to win a one-percent increase in the state sales tax from six to seven percent. And of course property taxes simply continued to rise. Corzine proved to be an awkward leader who simply lacked people skills. His controversial toll hike plan (dubbed monetization) was the final straw. Corzine became the third Democrat governor in 20 years to serve just one term (or less) when he was defeated in 2009.

I knew the minute I met Chris Christie in early 2009 that he had the makings of a great leader. It was obvious to me that he had the political skills and know how of Dick Hughes and the insight of Tom Kean or Brendan Byrne. He was a person who could actually get things done -- and not just day-to-day things but big, meaningful things. Christie combined a common touch with a super-sharp intellect and dogged determination. On top of that, he proved to be a compelling speaker, a formidable debater and a shrewd political infighter. But sometimes he seemed to lack the discipline of Byrne, Hughes and Whitman or the charm of Kean. He could be (and has been) impatient, abrupt, dismissive and maddeningly unpredictable. Which are just some of the reasons why he's never, ever dull. What a contrast to his predecessor! I've written so much about Christie (here and elsewhere) that there's not much else to say. He's was an immensely consequential governor. That fact stands, no matter what you make think of him or his time in office. I look upon him as the most vivid New Jersey political personalities in my lifetime and someone who I'm proud to know and proud to have avidly supported from the very beginning. 

Now, the term of Phil Murphy, the 56th Governor of New Jersey is coming to an end. He's 13th governor in my lifetime (not counting the merry-go-round of "governors" after Whitman resigned) and Murphy will be followed by yet another out-of-state transplant, Mikie Sherrill. Murphy is the most liberal governor I've lived through -- someone who has quite consistently towed the lefty line. He's also one of the most political and confrontational, even boasting about making New Jersey the California of the east coast. And he's been wildly ambitious on the national level -- to no avail! Well, what did you expect from someone who came to us from the People's Republic of Taxachusetts? And Murphy's about to be followed by someone who will probably veer even further to the left, if that's possible. At the rate things are going, Murphy and Sherrill may give New Jersey its first back-to-back two term Democrat governors in more than half a century. God help us!

And here's a quick summary:

Most fascinating: Christie
Most genuine: Hughes
Most welll-bred: Whitman
Most charming: Kean
Most distinguished: Meyner
Most witty: Byrne

Most exasperating: Murphy

Most enigmatic: Corzine
Squandered opportunity: Corzine, McGreevey, Cahill

Most polarizing: Murphy

Intriguing might-have-been: Codey

My personal favorites: Christie, Kean, Hughes

A Special Mesage From Governor Tom Kean

A Special Message From Governor Tom Kean . . .

 

Christie And Kean To Murphy: Keep This Non-Partisan NJ Tradition!

 

Now THIS Is The Way A Real Leader Responds . . .

 

Will Biden Add Union. Morris For Aid?

New Jersey state Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean urged President Joseph Biden to add Union and Morris counties to the list of New Jersey counties that have been declared major disaster areas following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ida:

Sen. Tom Kean urged President Biden to add Union and Morris counties to the list of New Jersey counties that have been declared major disaster areas following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ida. (SenateNJ.com)

“I’ve been touring Morris and Union counties and meeting with homeowners and business owners who suffered devastating flood damage as a result of Ida,” said Kean (R-Union/Morris/Somerset). “It’s clear they have the same urgent need for federal support as the six New Jersey counties that have already been declared major disaster areas. I urge President Biden to extend the major disaster declaration to Union and Morris counties to ensure that all of our communities gets the help they will need for a full and successful recovery.”

Hospitals, Nursing Homes To Get Top Priority!

In a power outage, utility companies must prioritize the restoration of electricity to hospitals and nursing homes under legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and signed into law today.

The Governor signed legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean that requires power companies to prioritize the restoration of power to hospitals and nursing homes after an outage. (Pixabay)

The Governor endorsed the bill, A-1226/S-265, requiring the Board of Public Utilities to adopt regulations obliging electric companies to give preference to restoring electric service to critical facilities, including chronic or acute renal dialysis centers, and research labs or clinics that store human blood, tissue, or DNA.

“When a storm or grid failure interrupts power, it is a significant inconvenience for all of us, but when it impacts facilities that rely on medical machinery and technology to sustain critical functions, blackouts put lives at risk,” said Senator Kean (R-21). “It’s an emergency any time a health care facility is without electricity. This new law signed today mandates power companies to place an emphasis on getting the lights back on for high-need users and protecting patients.”

The legislation was first introduced after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The priorities established under the new law take effect any time an outage lasts for more than 24 hours. The restorations must consider the requirements of facilities and the geographic area. The restoration efforts to the facilities cannot interfere with efforts to restore power needed to maintain overall public safety.

The loss of power contributed to the death of eight residents of a Florida nursing home in 2017, led to the loss of more than 4,000 frozen human embryos at a facility in Ohio, and can jeopardize the well-being of dialysis patients who require regular, lengthy treatments.

Kean Will Not Seek Re-Election, But What's Next?

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. has announced that he will not seek re-election to the State Senate. Kean will serve out his term in the 21st legislative district as Leader of the Senate Republican caucus.

“Public service will always be a part of who I am and how I live my life, but after thoughtful discussion with my family, I have decided not to seek re-election for the State Senate in the 21st legislative district,” said Kean. “It has been an honor to serve these communities and I will always cherish the countless friendships and memories we have made together. I am committed to continuing a bipartisan approach as a leader throughout the remainder of this term and will work every day to deliver solutions for my constituents.”

In 2001, Kean was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, where he quickly developed a reputation as a leader in ethics reform. Two years later, Kean was named to the upper house of the state legislature.

Senator Kean was nominated and selected for the inaugural class of the Rodel Fellowship program by The Aspen Institute, where he finished a fellowship program for young public officials focused on ethics and responsibilities of public leadership.  Kean was named one of only 40 state leaders from the entire nation to be recognized as a Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments for high achievement and service to state government.

In 2008, his peers unanimously elected him Senate Republican Leader. During his time in the state legislature, Kean has focused on long-term strategies for an affordable state and growing our way to a better future. He has been a champion of job creation, finding innovative solutions to grow our economy, protecting animals and clean air, and providing support for the disabled community.

Note: It is widely expected that Senator Kean will once again seek election to Congress, contesting a deat he lost by only a slim margin last year.

Kean: Time For NJ To 'Get Back To Work'

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said helping New Jerseyans get back to work would give a major boost to the Garden State’s economy and further improve the State’s finances. He pointed to other nearby states where small businesses have demonstrated that it’s possible to operate safely with fewer restrictions.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (center), Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho (left), and Sen. Sam Thompson (right) waiting for the start of Gov. Phil Murphy’s FY 2021 Budget Message at SHI Stadium at Rutgers University on August 25, 2020. (SenateNJ.com)

“The State’s revenue picture is rapidly improving, even while our New Jersey economy still has one arm tied behind its back,” said Kean (R-21). “We have watched as other states, including New York and Pennsylvania, have allowed more of their small businesses, including restaurants, to resume operations safely. Governor Murphy should follow their proven model and allow our New Jersey economy to begin growing again. That would further improve the State’s finances and support the State budget in a fiscally responsible manner without the unnecessary taxes or debt the governor has proposed.”

“The undeniable fact is that people want to get back to work safely,” Kean added. “I encourage the governor to consider how lifting unnecessary restrictions enacted by executive order could be the fastest, most efficient, and least costly way to help employees and the small businesses they work for, who have faced some of the toughest challenges in recent months.”

Kean: Allow Outdoor Graduation For NJ HS Grads

NewJersey State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean is calling on Governor Phil Murphy to allow New Jersey’s high schools to host in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies.

Sen. Republican Leader Tom Kean is calling on Gov. Murphy to allow New Jersey’s high schools to host in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies. (Pixabay)

“The Class of 2020 has worked hard throughout more than a dozen years of schooling, and they deserve the opportunity to be recognized and celebrate their achievements,” said Kean (R-21). “Holding ceremonies outside with social distancing polities in place will ensure seniors are not deprived of this important memory. I am calling for school districts and health officials to work together to ensure New Jersey’s graduates can commemorate their accomplishments as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.”

Governor Murphy has prohibited all gatherings, including high school graduations. In response, seniors across the Garden State have created numerous petitions pleading for in-person ceremonies.

Kean noted that the U.S. Air Force Academy recently hosted an in-person commencement ceremony for more than 900 graduating cadets who were safely seated eight feet apart.

“A virtual commencement ceremony just isn’t the same as wearing a cap and gown with friends and classmates,” added Kean. “We know graduation ceremonies can be held safely. The governor should relent on this prohibition. It’s the least we can do for our graduating seniors.”

Wife Of NJ's Former Governor Passes Away

Mrs. Deborah (Debby) Bye Kean, beloved wife of former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean, passed away on the evening of April 23, 2020. She would have turned 77 years of age on May 15. Mrs. Kean died peacefully at home.

Mrs. Deborah (Debby) Bye Kean, beloved wife of former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean, passed away on the evening of April 23, 2020. Click here for full size image. (Photo courtesy of Kean family)

Debby Kean was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1943, the only child of the late Elizabeth Griffenberg Bye and Robert Bye, a corporate executive. Mrs. Kean was a graduate of the Tower Hill School in Wilmington and of Bennett College in Millbrook, New York. She married Thomas H. Kean on June 3, 1967.

As first lady, Mrs. Kean was noted for the renovation of the Governor’s mansion at Drumthwacket. When Kean was elected, New Jersey did not have a Governor’s mansion, as their previous site Morven was given to the New Jersey Historical Society to use as their headquarters. The new site, Drumthwacket, was filled with old and tired furniture. Debby knew that New Jersey’s Governor’s mansion should be second-to-none. Therefore Debby formed a foundation, encouraged donations and soon bought wonderful antique furniture which is still admired today. She said New Jersey deserves as good of a Governor’s mansion as any other state, and she made that happen.

When she saw a wrong, she tried to right it. She found that many state employees were struggling because of a lack of day care available for their children. She lobbied various people until she received the funds, and with those funds established a number of day care centers for the children of state employees. The largest still bears her name, The Deborah B. Kean Childcare Center.

Mrs. Kean was known to family and friends for her warm disposition and quick wit. An avid reader, she was a lifetime enthusiast of the performing and visual arts, avocations she shared with her husband.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Kean is survived by her sons, NJ state Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr., of Westfield, Reed Kean, of Chatham, a business executive, a daughter, Alexandra Kean Strong, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, an educator; and seven grandchildren.

Above all she loved her children and seven grandchildren and was deeply loved in return.

WOW! An Exciting New Voice On The Horizon!

Here's a very important message from the Kate Gibbs campaign: What a week it's been!  Our momentum continues to grow each day, and it's thanks to supporters like YOU that we are able to accomplish that. Have you heard about our latest endorsements? Thursday morning, GOP Senate Leader Tom Kean, Jr. announced his endorsement of Kate. "Kate is a rising star in our party and will be a great Congresswoman for South Jersey. I endorse her and look forward to serving with her in the majority next year." — GOP Senate Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-21)

Just this morning, Sussex County Freeholders announced their support for Kate's campaign for Congress. "As President Trump reminds us, America’s infrastructure is in need of repair. Kate Gibbs understands infrastructure – not only how to get it done, but how to get it done by creating American jobs, with American workers. As tax-paying citizens, the elected Sussex County Freeholders wholeheartedly support Kate Gibbs for Congress." — Elected Sussex County Freeholders: Freeholder Director Sylvia Petillo, Deputy Freeholder Director Dawn Fantasia, Freeholder Anthony Fasano, Freeholder Joshua L. Hertzberg, and Freeholder Herbert Yardley

Now more than ever before, it's imperative that we take back Republican control of the House — and seats like District 3 are so important in this fight. Ocean and Burlington counties need a voice in the House who will stand up and fight for REAL results for our families and our future. Kate is still the best candidate to take on Andy Kim this November. Check out Kate's recent interview on News 12 ⬇️⬇️ to learn more about the state of the race.

The fight is far from over, but every day brings us one step closer to victory.  Help us keep the momentum going by following Kate on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word to your family and friends! Let's keep on fighting! Sincerely, Team Kate

That 'Inconvenient Truth' About Jersey Democrats!

Here's a fact that the media conveniently overlook:
Since Brendan Byrne left office nearly 40 years ago no Democrat Governor of New Jersey has succeeded himself. None have managed to be re-elected.
Yes, I know we have been hearing over and over again that Joisey is solidly Democrat -- the bluest of blue states -- but facts are funny things.
And these are the facts: Democrat Jim Florio was turned out of office by the voters. Democrat Governor Jim McGreevey resigned from office in disgrace. Democrat Acting Governor Dick Codey was forced to step aside for zillionaire Jon Corzine. And Democrat Governor Jon Corzine was turned out of office by the voters.
This is not a pretty picture.
On the other hand, over the same period of time Republican Governors Tom Kean, Chrsitine Todd Whitman and Chris Christie were all re-elected.
So, don't let anyone ever tell you that Jersey is a slam dunk for the Democrats.
It isn't
Not then, not now and hopefully, not ever!

And The Next Governor Of NJ Will Be . . .

As Phony Phil continues to Phlounder, many New Jerseyans are already looking past the in-debt, incompetent, scandal-ridden Murphy administration to 2021 and New Jersey's next governor.
What qualities should characterize the next Governor of New Jersey?
Well, it almost goes without saying that he or she should be a Republican.
After all, in more than 40 years, no Democrat governor has been elected to a second term in New Jersey. None. Zero. Nada.
But that doesn't mean that it will be easy for a Democrat to win. And while Tom Kean, Christie Whitman and Chris Christie all ended Democrat rule in the state, none of them were initially elected by huge margins. They all had to fight tooth and nail to win.
At the New Jersey GOP Leadership Summit this past weekend, Governor Christie laid out the four characteristics that the 2021 Republican gubernatorial candidate must process:

1) Fearless
To Christie, this means the candidate must be willing to take chances. He or she needs to move boldly, right from the start, to win. When you take chances you can throw your opponent off guard and reset the race in your favor.

2) Tireless
The candidate must literally be indefatigable. "You've got to be willing to do three fund-raising events a night and it's more than just showing up," Christie explains. "You've got t be smiling and cheerful for the last event just as you were for the first. That's what people expect. That's what they deserve."

3) Interesting
"New Jerseyans don't like cooking-cutter candidates." Christie says. "They don't like someone who's boring. They don't like someone who's tactical. They want someone who connects with them on an emotional level." So, you've got to be interesting.

4) A Fighter
You've got to be willing to fight ad fight hard. Christie believes in fighting not just for the things you believe in but in fighting back when you're attacked. Better yet, come out fighting and go on the attack right from the start. As the Governor has often said: "Politics ain't bean bag."

Who will fit this bill?
Who will be the best GOP candidate for governor?
Stay tuned!

This Really IS 'A Tragedy Waiting To Happen'

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said the crumbling trans-Hudson rail tunnels are a tragedy waiting to happen after a piece of metal pierced the roof of a New Jersey Transit train this weekend.

Sen. Tom Kean said the crumbling trans-Hudson rail tunnels are a tragedy waiting to happen after a piece of metal pierced the roof of a NJ Transit train this weekend. (SenateNJ.com)

“It was pure luck that this didn’t happen during rush hour when commuters would have been standing where the damage occurred,” said Kean. “Looking at the pictures, it’s clear that somebody could have been killed. The poor state of the Hudson tunnels and our rail infrastructure in general is a tragedy waiting to happen.”

As a member of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee, Kean has pushed New Jersey Transit to address maintenance and staffing issues that impact the safety and reliability of the region’s rail service.

He said the exact point of failure in this recent incident must be identified to guarantee passenger safety going forward.

“We need to know if this was a failure of equipment on the New Jersey Transit train or of the infrastructure of the tunnel which is operated by Amtrak,” said Kean. “It’s imperative that such a determination be made quickly and properly addressed to ensure that passengers are safe when they pass through the tunnels.”

Kean said that while immediate repairs are important, the construction of new tunnels to replace the century old tubes is the only real long-term solution.

“We have a combination of age-related wear and tear and damage from Sandy that’s causing more and more problems for commuters,” Kean added. “We’re at the point that a single stalled train can impact the entire system and disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. When that happens, there’s no Plan B. The federal government must recognize the national importance of building new tunnels and step up with the funding that’s needed to move the Gateway Project along.”

Badly Needed Change Gains Cross-Party Support

New Jersey State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean released the following statement on today’s NJ Transit Legislative hearing and Gov. Murphy’s announcement regarding lifting residency requirements for “mission critical” NJ transit employees.

Senator Tom Kean comments on the Aug. 16, 2018 NJ Transit hearing and Gov. Murphy’s announcement regarding lifting residency requirements for NJ transit employees. (SenateNJ.com)

“I appreciate the fact that NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett, the DOT Commissioner, and others were willing to come and testify before us today. It was refreshing to hear these officials acknowledge the pain and suffering our commuters are going through,” Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) said.

“We know now, from multiple summers of hell, that one person taking an unplanned vacation day can shut down an entire train line. The staffing issues at NJ transit are extremely problematic. Individual choices are impacting thousands of lives.

“I am glad to see that Kevin Corbett and Governor Murphy agree with me, that we need to lift residency requirements and expand the pool of hires. This is a solution I have spent years advocating for. I hope that Legislative leaders will also consider expanding this effort to include all types of public employees, as I have proposed. There is no reason not to bring the best and brightest candidates to New Jersey. In the meantime, we need to pass this limited exemption immediately.

“Everyone knows the old saying, ‘we train them and they leave.’ We hear it from business owners all the time. Why not lift this rule and grab highly trained candidates from other states while we can? This is a crisis. Commuters need us to use every tool at our disposal to solve it.

“Executive Director Corbett is right – there is no magic wand of silver bullet, but there are certainly steps we can take right now to get this agency back to where it needs to be.

“We will continue to fight alongside each other, regardless of party, to make sure our commuters have a safe, reliable and accessible way to get to work on time.”

Finally, He Signs SOMETHING That Makes Sense!

Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to allow out-of-state workers who have suffered through a catastrophic event or natural disaster to use their professional licenses in New Jersey.

Governor Phil Murphy has signed Sen. Tom Kean’s bill to allow out-of-state workers to use their professional licenses in New Jersey. The law will help workers who have suffered through a natural disaster or catastrophic event and relocate to NJ. (SenateNJ.com)

“We need to do more to attract highly-trained professionals to New Jersey. Forcing someone to reapply for a license they already have is an unnecessary barrier to employment, particularly for innovative entrepreneurs and people who are self-employed. That’s exactly the kind of worker we want to move here. Let’s not drive them away,” Senator Kean (R-21) said. “Allowing these folks to use an out-of-state license in New Jersey is a commonsense way to grow our economy, and it’s something that many other states already do. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this legislation for years to come.”

Senator Kean’s bipartisan legislation, A-1531/S-522 will provide a streamlined reciprocity process for out-of-state professional and occupational licensing, specifically for professionals who are displaced from their home following a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. The law also clarifies that “state” includes Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and any other U.S. territory.

Under the law, those who were impacted by a natural disaster or catastrophic event after August 1, 2017, will have one year from the bill’s August 10, 2018 signing to provide the required documentation necessary to ensure the applicant’s license can be used when they relocate to New Jersey.

“We pushed for this legislation following Hurricane Maria, which was devastating for the people of Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida,” Senator Kean explained. “This law will aid these storm survivors, and all those who relocate to New Jersey to recover and rebuild their lives. We’ll never forget the generous outpouring of support we received from other states after Superstorm Sandy. Now it’s our turn. We are grateful to have qualified professionals contributing to our economy, and we’ll gladly welcome them to our beautiful state.”

$$$$ Grab: WOW! This Will Cost Us BIG TIME!

New Jersey State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean sent a letter to Acting Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio today to advise that he is exploring legal action to prevent the pending closing of a $3.2 billion sale of Tobacco Settlement Bonds.

Sen. Tom Kean said he is exploring legal action to prevent the pending closing of a $3.2 billion sale of Tobacco Settlement Bonds by the Murphy Administration. (Pixabay)

In the letter, Kean said the transaction effectively extends the final payment date of tobacco bonds more than 40 years beyond their initial issuance in 2003 and 2004 — well beyond what is permitted under the New Jersey Constitution which requires principle and interest on all bonds to be paid within 35 years.

“The Murphy Administration is blatantly ignoring provisions in the New Jersey Constitution that are meant to protect taxpayers from irresponsible debt schemes like this tobacco bond refinancing,” said Kean. “The issuance of this debt will cost New Jersey taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in exchange for a one-shot $250 million budget grab. We are calling for the immediate cancellation of the refinancing, and are exploring our legal options to prevent the closing.”

Article 8, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the New Jersey Constitution provides that all debt must provide for the payment of interest and the discharge the principal within thirty-five years from the time it is contracted.

The debt being refunded by the Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation was first issued in 2003 and the final maturity of the refunding is 2046 – 8 years beyond the New Jersey Constitution’s requirement that the interest and principle be paid and discharged within 35 years (2038).

Kean expressed further concern that that investors in the debt sale are already selling their bonds at a significant mark-up only days after the bond pricing, causing one Bloomberg Intelligence analyst to note: “It would suggest the State left some money on the table as they continue to struggle financially.”

“This tobacco bond scheme has hit the trifecta of being unconstitutional, costly for taxpayers, and so poorly structured that the Murphy Administration is effectively giving away money to investors while simultaneously demanding billions in new taxes from New Jersey residents,” added Kean. “Given the cost, this isn’t something that should be rushed as appears to be the case. While I’m hopeful that litigation won’t be necessary to prevent the closing from taking place, we’re exploring every option to protect New Jersey taxpayers.”

'Yeah, We'll Work With Him' On This, Other Issues

New Jersey State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean reiterated his offer to work with Governor Phil Murphy on a bipartisan effort to increase the minimum wage for New Jersey workers.

Sen. Tom Kean reiterated his offer to work with Gov. Phil Murphy on a bipartisan effort to increase the minimum wage for New Jersey workers. (Pixabay)

“Immediately following his election, I made a public offer to work with Governor Murphy to raise the minimum wage to a level that’s modern and fair,” said Kean. “The offer still stands. We should work together to accomplish a minimum wage increase in a bipartisan way.”

Governor Murphy is scheduled to hold a roundtable discussion today on his minimum wage plan.

“For Democrats who have been critical of single-party government in Washington, they should use this opportunity to demonstrate to the public how they can manage that responsibility better in Trenton,” added Kean. “They may be surprised to learn that there’s room for bipartisan agreement on significant issues like the minimum wage, but that can’t happen if they choose to go it alone.”