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Saturday, July 2, 2016
So, When Is America's REAL Birthday, Huh?
The 4th of July isn't really America's birthday.
Instead, today is.
That's right: The 2nd of July is America's actual birthday.
So, America is really two days older than she says she is.
How could this be?
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.
That's when America actually declared itself separate and apart from Great Britain.
The day was thought to be very momentous. Thus, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
But today is, technically, America's birthday.
And it all happened in Philadelphia -- the city that came to be known as the Cradle of Liberty.
And that reminds me that this also happens to be a very special birthday forPhiladelphia Bar Association executive director Ken Shear. Happy Birthday, Ken!
May all Philadelphia -- and all of America -- celebrate!
Instead, today is.
That's right: The 2nd of July is America's actual birthday.
So, America is really two days older than she says she is.
How could this be?
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.
That's when America actually declared itself separate and apart from Great Britain.
The day was thought to be very momentous. Thus, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.Of course, two days later the formal Declaration of Independence was finalized and promulgated and it contained the date, "July 4, 1776" and so that's the date that came to be celebrated.
But today is, technically, America's birthday.
And it all happened in Philadelphia -- the city that came to be known as the Cradle of Liberty.
And that reminds me that this also happens to be a very special birthday forPhiladelphia Bar Association executive director Ken Shear. Happy Birthday, Ken!
May all Philadelphia -- and all of America -- celebrate!
Friday, July 1, 2016
'We Fight Back First By Fighting Back'
Statement from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaho yesterday:
You don't murder a sleeping child for peace. You don't slit a little girl's throat to protest a policy you don't like.
You do this because you've been brainwashed. You've been brainwashed by a warped ideology that teaches you that this child isn't human.
We will not let barbarism defeat humanity.
There's no middle ground between beautiful Hallel and her unspeakably evil murderer.
Today, each of us is going to fight back.
I ask you to walk into your child's bedroom before they go to sleep. I ask you to hug them. I ask you to kiss them. Teach them that the values that Hallel's murderer most detested freedom, diversity, pluralism will never die; we'll always hold them dear. Tell them that we will never let fear, evil and terror triumph; that we will always stand for justice. And this is how we will fight back. We fight back first by fighting back, fighting the terrorists, fighting their backers, fighting those who incite for such murder, whether in Hebron or in Orlando, or in Berlin, or in Ankara, or in Belgium, anywhere. We fight back by making sure that our collective moral compass doesn't waver even a millimeter.
Today we will cherish Hallel's memory. We will defend and honor her dignity by redoubling our efforts around the world to defeat the scourge of radical Islamist terror.
May Hallel's memory forever be a blessing.
https://www.facebook.com/Netanyahu/vi...
#Israel #Netanyahu #HallelYaffaAriel
The Curious Tour Of The Crooked Job-Killers
Republican Party of Pennsylvania Communications Director Megan Sweeney released the following statement regarding Hillary Clinton’s upcoming trip to Scranton with Vice President Joe Biden.
“Today, two liberals who’ve helped create and implement job-killing policies have announced they are dropping by to assess their disastrous handiwork first-hand,” Sweeney said. “The Obama-Clinton agenda has resulted in nothing but lost jobs, higher taxes, and skyrocketing health care premiums for families across Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, if Hillary Clinton pretending to be from Scranton, it must be election time.”
Hillary Clinton’s Slipping Support in the Keystone State
Hillary Clinton Received 340,000 Fewer Votes During Pennsylvania’s 2016 Primary vs. the 2008 Primary (PA Department of State, Accessed 6/30/2016)
76,605 Pennsylvania Democrats Have Switched To The Republican Party Since January 1, 2016. (PA Department of State, Accessed 6/30/2016)
Republicans Have Closed the Registration Gap in Pennsylvania By Nearly 152,000 Voters Since April 2012. (PA Department of State, Accessed 6/30/2016)
Hillary Clinton: Wrong for Scranton, Wrong for the Keystone State
In An Interview With The Boston Globe, Clinton Gave The Obama Administration An "A" For Its Overall Performance, Adding "I Don't Think He Gets The Credit He Deserves For Saving Our Economy." CLINTON: "I'd give him an 'A.' I don't think he gets the credit he deserves for saving our economy from falling into a great depression, for saving the auto industry which represents millions of jobs up and down the supply chain, for beginning the crackdown on Wall Street abuses with Dodd-Frank, for getting the Affordable Care Act passed, for really being as responsive as he could possibly be given the obstructionism that he faced with the Republicans in Congress." (Hillary Clinton, Interview With The Boston Globe, 10/17/2015)
During The Obama Administration, Median Household Income In Pennsylvania Has Fallen $1,348, From $56,521 In 2008 To $55,173 In 2014. (Census, Accessed 9/16/2015)
Under Obama, The Poverty Rate In Pennsylvania Has Increased By 1.5 Percentage Points, From 11.0 Percent In 2008 To 12.5 Percent In 2014. (Census, Accessed 9/16/2015)
- Under Obama, 246,000 More People In Pennsylvania Have Fallen Into Poverty, An Increase Of 18.4 Percent. (Census, Accessed 9/16/2015)
Poverty Rates In 23 Cities In Pennsylvania Increased Between 2009 And 2014. "Median household income and median home values experienced statistically significant growth in only two cities from 2005-2009 to 2010-2014, while statistically significant declines occurred in 13 and 19 cities, respectively. The news for poverty rates was worse. Only one city showed statistically significant improvement, while 23 cities reported statistically significant increases in poverty rates." ("Study Shows Increase In Poverty Rates Here," The Express, 12/9/2015)
Simultaneously 'Unsettling, Complicated And Important'
“The Court has simultaneously transformed judicially created rights like the right to abortion into preferred constitutional rights, while disfavoring many of the rights actually enumerated in the Constitution. But our Constitution renounces the notion that some constitutional rights are more equal than others.”
-- Justice Clarence Thomas, dissenting in Whole Woman’s Health vs. Hellerstedt
“Only six other countries allow an abortion to be performed by dismembering a baby as it is aborted, North Korea, China, and Vietnam amongst them. I joined with 131 of my colleagues, including 25 Democrats, to vote in favor of ending a procedure that many physicians told me, before my vote, that they absolutely refuse to perform because of the sheer brutality of it.”
-- Rep. Nick Miccarelli, on the passage of HB 1948
Following is a commentary from Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput:
Two events happened late last month that are worth considering before the election season begins in earnest this fall.
In its June 27 Whole Woman’s Health vs. Hellerstedt decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, and abortion facilities to maintain the safety standards of ambulatory surgical centers. Both provisions were common sense medical safety matters, but the Court now seems committed to ensuring easy access to abortion anywhere, any time, for any reason. Long gone are the days when supporters of abortion described it as tragic and regrettable. Now it’s a positive good; a right that trumps any obstacle – including any other right – that gets in the way. Abortion has become a cornerstone of America’s unofficial state religion of “choice.” And the unborn child is now little more than a lump of organic material miraculously made human or inhuman by the sorcery of adult will.
On a much more hopeful note, on June 22, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly, 132-65, to pass HB 1948.
HB 1948 bans dismemberment abortion, which ends the life of the unborn baby by tearing off one limb at a time. It also increases the risk of injury to the mother, and it’s used in more than1500 abortions in our Commonwealth each year. The bill also bans abortions after 20 weeks, when the baby can feel pain and the risks to the health of the mother grow significantly. The legislation now heads to the state Senate, where a similar bill, SB 888, has also been introduced. In a state where Kermit Gosnell (now in prison) ran an abortion racket that resembled a butcher shop, HB 1948 is a welcome exercise in medical prudence and common sense.
All leaders – in the Church, in education, in business and in elected office – are accountable for their actions to the people they serve. When they do something right that serves the common good they need to be thanked. When they do something wrong, they should expect to hear about it. The men and women who voted for HB 1948 did the right thing, and I urge Catholics across the archdiocese to let them know their gratitude.
House members within the geographic area of the archdiocese who voted for HB 1948 include Reps. William Adolph, Stephen Barrar, Becky Corbin, Gene DiGirolamo, Michael Driscoll, John Galloway, Robert Godshall, Kate Harper, Tim Hennessey, John Lawrence, Nick Miccarelli, Thomas Quigley, Marguerite Quinn, Jamie Santora, Craig Staats, John Taylor, Marcy Toepel, Dan Truitt, Katharine Watson and Martina White. Reps. Michael Vereb and Thomas Murt were not present for the vote, but had cosponsored the bill.
Each of these elected officials can be contacted through the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference’s website at www.pacatholic.org. As urgent as it is to resist ill-conceived bills, it’s equally vital to encourage our officials on the good that they do -- which is considerable.
The coming national election this fall is unsettling, complicated and important, all at the same time. Neither presumptive presidential candidate is ideal; neither comes without serious reasons for concern. All of us who are Catholic need to begin thinking carefully about our political responsibilities now, guided by the essentials of our faith. And as I’ve said many times in the past, the best place to start (but not stop) our thinking is with the 1998 U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter, Living the Gospel of Life.
A lot is at stake in the months ahead. We need to pray daily for our Commonwealth, our nation and our Church.
Note: Columns will be published each week on www.CatholicPhilly.com and can also be found at http://archphila.org/archbishop-chaput/statements/statements.php.
Christie Signs 7th Budget With NO Tax Hikes
Through the use of his veto pen, Governor Christie yesterday signed a seventh consecutive balanced budget that protects taxpayers and critical services through the responsible management of state resources while making the difficult choices to prioritize and fund the essential services on which New Jersey’s residents rely.
Here is the take from the Governor's Office:
For Fiscal Year 2017, Assembly and Senate Democrats once again presented an irresponsible spending plan that favors increasing expenditures for select programs without any meaningful and intellectual consideration for how the state will fund their proposals. But this year they have become uniquely reckless and deceptive, relying on phantom finances, irresponsible gimmicks and unrealistic assumptions to fund hundreds of millions of dollars of new spending.
• Their plan is based on impractical expectations that the State will collect $129 million in additional revenues than projected in the Governor’s revised May budget recommendations and $301 million more than the May revenue projections prepared by their own Office of Legislative Services.
Additionally, the legislative majority wants to thoughtlessly spend down the State's surplus by $160 million. Worse, however, is their shameless inclusion of a $250 million savings in public employee and retiree health care costs which the Governor called for in February, but which the Legislature did absolutely nothing to embrace, negotiate or achieve. As it stands, the savings is penciled in on paper, but completely nonexistent.
Rather than enact responsible policies to continue New Jersey’s economic recovery, Democrat leaders remain committed to an unsustainable path designed to protect special interests instead of hardworking New Jerseyans. The taxpayers of this State cannot afford it. Real leadership requires confronting problems and making difficult decisions. It is time to focus on the real issues, like school funding reform and providing real property tax relief. It is time to adopt a transportation spending plan that protects our infrastructure without continuing to overburden our overtaxed residents. It is time for politicians to work for their citizens and not special interest groups.
Governor Christie’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget:
Governor Christie’s budget includes $34.5 billion in State appropriations, a 2.1% increase over the fiscal year 2016 budget. This will accommodate the reasonable spending necessary to provide stability for New Jersey’s economy while meeting the state’s fiscal obligations.
• Contains $2.3 billion less in discretionary spending than the fiscal year 2008 budget and no new taxes or tax increases.
• Includes the largest pension payment in New Jersey history with a $1.9 billion contribution to the State’s defined benefit funds.
o This will bring total contributions by the Christie Administration to $6.3 billion.
o That will be nearly double the total contributions of every other governor combined since 1995.
• Includes a sixth consecutive year of the highest amount of School Aid supporting Pre-K - 12 education in New Jersey history. The fiscal year 2017 budget proposes spending more than $13.3 billion on education, an increase of$526 million from fiscal year 2016.
• Continues the Governor’s commitment to higher education in New Jersey. Overall, higher education funding is maintained at a total of $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2017.
Providing Tax Relief For Our Citizens. Governor Christie has fought for and won tax relief that is making New Jersey more competitive as a place to live and work.
• Over $3 Billion in Business Tax Cuts and Reforms – Beginning with the fiscal 2012 budget, Governor Christie tackled New Jersey’s business tax climate with tax cuts and reforms that had stalled in Trenton for years. Among the tax reforms included were: long-awaited changes to a single sales factor formula that incentivizes businesses to invest in New Jersey; income/loss netting and loss carry-forward reform; a 25% reduction in the minimum tax on S-corporations, which is how many small businesses file their taxes; research and development incentives; and elimination of the Transitional Energy Facility Assessment.
• The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget continues to provide this essential tax relief for New Jersey businesses of all sizes, fully phased in and unchanged.
• Increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit – In the summer of 2015, Governor Christie proposed and enacted into law an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit from 20% to 30% of the federal benefit. Approximately 500,000 Garden State households will benefit from this tax relief, with the credit for an average working family rising by 50% from approximately $420 to $630. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget continues this critical tax relief for working families at this expanded level.
Historic Higher Education Funding. Maintains the Governor’s commitment to higher education in New Jersey. Overall, higher education funding is maintained at a total of $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2017. Among Governor Christie’s highest priorities has been strengthening New Jersey’s higher education community.
• Tuition Assistance Grant Program (TAG) – To ensure an affordable in-state college education is available to all, TAG grants are available at 56 public and private institutions across New Jersey. Since taking office, Governor Christie has increased State funding for the TAG program by over 60%, to a total of $403.6 million in fiscal year 2017. Approximately 68,000 students, or one-third of all full-time undergraduate students attending school in New Jersey, will receive support from TAG.
• Governor’s Urban Scholarship – The Governor’s Urban Scholarship program will add a fifth class, and will now support an estimated 635 scholars in targeted school districts.
• College Readiness Now – Funded at $1 million in fiscal year 2017, this program will help students prepare for college level course work before they graduate high school. Funding will fully support partnerships between the county colleges and at least 60 high schools throughout the state, with at least one in each county.
Preserving Vital Programs For Our Most Needy And Vulnerable Populations. Advances the Governor’s efforts to take a smarter and more effective approach to how the State supports individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Governor Christie has consistently advocated for the need to change the way society views drug addiction and the misconceptions about who it impacts, how it affects lives, and how we deal with it. In the fiscal year 2017 budget, Governor Christie continues to provide unprecedented leadership on this issue by taking concrete actions to build on this commitment by providing an additional $6 million for statewide post-incarceration services through reentry and recidivism programs.
• $127 Million Investment In Substance Use & Mental Health Treatment – The Governor is making a historic financial commitment to raise reimbursement rates and increase access to substance use and mental health treatment. A combined State and federal investment in fiscal year 2017 of more than $127 million, will expand access to high quality health care providers for individuals with substance use and behavioral health needs.
• Inmate Drug Treatment Program – Continuing his commitment to help all individuals with substance use disorders, Governor Christie is investing $2 million to re-open Mid-State Correctional Facility in 2017 as an institution dedicated to the treatment of inmates. The new Mid-State Correctional Facility substance use disorder treatment program will be licensed by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
• Focusing On Treatment – Governor Christie has followed through on his commitment to take a smarter and more effective approach focused on treating drug-addicted offenders by signing into law landmark legislation to put in place a statewide, mandatory Drug Court Program. The fiscal year 2017 budget includes nearly $64 million in funding to support the Drug Court program.
• Recovery Coach Program – As a direct result of the Facing Addiction Task Force’s work, the Recovery Coach program launched in Monmouth, Ocean, Camden, Essex and Passaic counties. In fiscal year 2017, the budget provides an additional $1.7 million in funding to expand this program into six more counties.
Fundamentally changing the way services and programs to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Governor Christie is committed to moving away from a system that has historically focused on institutionalization to one that emphasizes home and community-based services and supports. To this end, resources have been refocused to provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the ability to live as independently as possible with the proper supports. Governor Christie’s determination to provide services in the community includes funds to develop additional community placements and services that divert admissions to developmental centers.
• The fiscal year 2017 budget provides $48.8 million of new State and federal funding to create community placements and services, including Olmstead.
• Further, included in the fiscal year 2017 budget is a one-time community provider increase for a combined State and federal investment of $10 million. These funds will allow providers that serve individuals with developmental disabilities to make the infrastructure improvements necessary to transition to fee-for-service.
BILLS SIGNED:
S-993wGR/A-2777 (Vitale, Pou, Gordon/Wimberly, Vainieri Huttle, Sumter, Oliver) – Permits DHS to request waiver of time limits for certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients under certain circumstances
S-2377/A-4001 (Sarlo/Schaer) - Makes fiscal year 2016 State supplemental appropriations and amends language provisions
S-2456/A-4017 (Smith, Bateman/Andrzejczak, McKeon, Spencer, Pintor Marin, Dancer) - Revises State's open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs; implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for certain environmental purposes
A-3417wGR/S-1462 (Pintor Marin/Ruiz) - Designates portion of State Highway Route No. 21 as "Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway"
A-3617/S-2390 (Green, Rible, Mukherji, Houghtaling Mazzeo/Sarlo, Kyrillos) - Extends expiration date of certain permits for one year in Superstorm Sandy-impacted counties
A-4002 (Schaer) – Revises priority schedule for issuance of converted tax credits under Business Employment Incentive Program
BILLS VETOED:
S-17/A-4000 (Sarlo/Schaer) – LINE ITEM - Appropriates $34,800,995,000 in State funds and $15,706,712,000 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2016-2017
S-1017/A-1963 (Weinberg, Greenstein/Pintor Marin, Lagana, Jasey, Mukherji, Downey) – ABSOLUTE - Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level
A-30/S-1829 (Prieto, Muoio, Oliver, Schaer, Holley, Mukherji, Quijano/Vitale, Whelan) – ABSOLUTE - Increases amount of benefits under Work First New Jersey program
A-1657/S-2168 (Schaer, Vaineri Huttle, Lampitt, Mosquera, Sumter, Wimberly/ Cruz-Perez, Turner) – ABSOLUTE - Establishes “breakfast after the bell” incentive fund
A-3410/S-1854 (Muoio, Vainieri Huttle, Mukherji, Oliver, Gusciora/Vitale, Rice) – ABSOLUTE - Repeals family cap in Work First New Jersey program
Here is the take from the Governor's Office:
For Fiscal Year 2017, Assembly and Senate Democrats once again presented an irresponsible spending plan that favors increasing expenditures for select programs without any meaningful and intellectual consideration for how the state will fund their proposals. But this year they have become uniquely reckless and deceptive, relying on phantom finances, irresponsible gimmicks and unrealistic assumptions to fund hundreds of millions of dollars of new spending.
• Their plan is based on impractical expectations that the State will collect $129 million in additional revenues than projected in the Governor’s revised May budget recommendations and $301 million more than the May revenue projections prepared by their own Office of Legislative Services.
Additionally, the legislative majority wants to thoughtlessly spend down the State's surplus by $160 million. Worse, however, is their shameless inclusion of a $250 million savings in public employee and retiree health care costs which the Governor called for in February, but which the Legislature did absolutely nothing to embrace, negotiate or achieve. As it stands, the savings is penciled in on paper, but completely nonexistent.
Rather than enact responsible policies to continue New Jersey’s economic recovery, Democrat leaders remain committed to an unsustainable path designed to protect special interests instead of hardworking New Jerseyans. The taxpayers of this State cannot afford it. Real leadership requires confronting problems and making difficult decisions. It is time to focus on the real issues, like school funding reform and providing real property tax relief. It is time to adopt a transportation spending plan that protects our infrastructure without continuing to overburden our overtaxed residents. It is time for politicians to work for their citizens and not special interest groups.
Governor Christie’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget:
Governor Christie’s budget includes $34.5 billion in State appropriations, a 2.1% increase over the fiscal year 2016 budget. This will accommodate the reasonable spending necessary to provide stability for New Jersey’s economy while meeting the state’s fiscal obligations.
• Contains $2.3 billion less in discretionary spending than the fiscal year 2008 budget and no new taxes or tax increases.
• Includes the largest pension payment in New Jersey history with a $1.9 billion contribution to the State’s defined benefit funds.
o This will bring total contributions by the Christie Administration to $6.3 billion.
o That will be nearly double the total contributions of every other governor combined since 1995.
• Includes a sixth consecutive year of the highest amount of School Aid supporting Pre-K - 12 education in New Jersey history. The fiscal year 2017 budget proposes spending more than $13.3 billion on education, an increase of$526 million from fiscal year 2016.
• Continues the Governor’s commitment to higher education in New Jersey. Overall, higher education funding is maintained at a total of $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2017.
Providing Tax Relief For Our Citizens. Governor Christie has fought for and won tax relief that is making New Jersey more competitive as a place to live and work.
• Over $3 Billion in Business Tax Cuts and Reforms – Beginning with the fiscal 2012 budget, Governor Christie tackled New Jersey’s business tax climate with tax cuts and reforms that had stalled in Trenton for years. Among the tax reforms included were: long-awaited changes to a single sales factor formula that incentivizes businesses to invest in New Jersey; income/loss netting and loss carry-forward reform; a 25% reduction in the minimum tax on S-corporations, which is how many small businesses file their taxes; research and development incentives; and elimination of the Transitional Energy Facility Assessment.
• The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget continues to provide this essential tax relief for New Jersey businesses of all sizes, fully phased in and unchanged.
• Increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit – In the summer of 2015, Governor Christie proposed and enacted into law an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit from 20% to 30% of the federal benefit. Approximately 500,000 Garden State households will benefit from this tax relief, with the credit for an average working family rising by 50% from approximately $420 to $630. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget continues this critical tax relief for working families at this expanded level.
Historic Higher Education Funding. Maintains the Governor’s commitment to higher education in New Jersey. Overall, higher education funding is maintained at a total of $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2017. Among Governor Christie’s highest priorities has been strengthening New Jersey’s higher education community.
• Tuition Assistance Grant Program (TAG) – To ensure an affordable in-state college education is available to all, TAG grants are available at 56 public and private institutions across New Jersey. Since taking office, Governor Christie has increased State funding for the TAG program by over 60%, to a total of $403.6 million in fiscal year 2017. Approximately 68,000 students, or one-third of all full-time undergraduate students attending school in New Jersey, will receive support from TAG.
• Governor’s Urban Scholarship – The Governor’s Urban Scholarship program will add a fifth class, and will now support an estimated 635 scholars in targeted school districts.
• College Readiness Now – Funded at $1 million in fiscal year 2017, this program will help students prepare for college level course work before they graduate high school. Funding will fully support partnerships between the county colleges and at least 60 high schools throughout the state, with at least one in each county.
Preserving Vital Programs For Our Most Needy And Vulnerable Populations. Advances the Governor’s efforts to take a smarter and more effective approach to how the State supports individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Governor Christie has consistently advocated for the need to change the way society views drug addiction and the misconceptions about who it impacts, how it affects lives, and how we deal with it. In the fiscal year 2017 budget, Governor Christie continues to provide unprecedented leadership on this issue by taking concrete actions to build on this commitment by providing an additional $6 million for statewide post-incarceration services through reentry and recidivism programs.
• $127 Million Investment In Substance Use & Mental Health Treatment – The Governor is making a historic financial commitment to raise reimbursement rates and increase access to substance use and mental health treatment. A combined State and federal investment in fiscal year 2017 of more than $127 million, will expand access to high quality health care providers for individuals with substance use and behavioral health needs.
• Inmate Drug Treatment Program – Continuing his commitment to help all individuals with substance use disorders, Governor Christie is investing $2 million to re-open Mid-State Correctional Facility in 2017 as an institution dedicated to the treatment of inmates. The new Mid-State Correctional Facility substance use disorder treatment program will be licensed by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
• Focusing On Treatment – Governor Christie has followed through on his commitment to take a smarter and more effective approach focused on treating drug-addicted offenders by signing into law landmark legislation to put in place a statewide, mandatory Drug Court Program. The fiscal year 2017 budget includes nearly $64 million in funding to support the Drug Court program.
• Recovery Coach Program – As a direct result of the Facing Addiction Task Force’s work, the Recovery Coach program launched in Monmouth, Ocean, Camden, Essex and Passaic counties. In fiscal year 2017, the budget provides an additional $1.7 million in funding to expand this program into six more counties.
Fundamentally changing the way services and programs to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Governor Christie is committed to moving away from a system that has historically focused on institutionalization to one that emphasizes home and community-based services and supports. To this end, resources have been refocused to provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the ability to live as independently as possible with the proper supports. Governor Christie’s determination to provide services in the community includes funds to develop additional community placements and services that divert admissions to developmental centers.
• The fiscal year 2017 budget provides $48.8 million of new State and federal funding to create community placements and services, including Olmstead.
• Further, included in the fiscal year 2017 budget is a one-time community provider increase for a combined State and federal investment of $10 million. These funds will allow providers that serve individuals with developmental disabilities to make the infrastructure improvements necessary to transition to fee-for-service.
BILLS SIGNED:
S-993wGR/A-2777 (Vitale, Pou, Gordon/Wimberly, Vainieri Huttle, Sumter, Oliver) – Permits DHS to request waiver of time limits for certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients under certain circumstances
S-2377/A-4001 (Sarlo/Schaer) - Makes fiscal year 2016 State supplemental appropriations and amends language provisions
S-2456/A-4017 (Smith, Bateman/Andrzejczak, McKeon, Spencer, Pintor Marin, Dancer) - Revises State's open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs; implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for certain environmental purposes
A-3417wGR/S-1462 (Pintor Marin/Ruiz) - Designates portion of State Highway Route No. 21 as "Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway"
A-3617/S-2390 (Green, Rible, Mukherji, Houghtaling Mazzeo/Sarlo, Kyrillos) - Extends expiration date of certain permits for one year in Superstorm Sandy-impacted counties
A-4002 (Schaer) – Revises priority schedule for issuance of converted tax credits under Business Employment Incentive Program
BILLS VETOED:
S-17/A-4000 (Sarlo/Schaer) – LINE ITEM - Appropriates $34,800,995,000 in State funds and $15,706,712,000 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2016-2017
S-1017/A-1963 (Weinberg, Greenstein/Pintor Marin, Lagana, Jasey, Mukherji, Downey) – ABSOLUTE - Provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level
A-30/S-1829 (Prieto, Muoio, Oliver, Schaer, Holley, Mukherji, Quijano/Vitale, Whelan) – ABSOLUTE - Increases amount of benefits under Work First New Jersey program
A-1657/S-2168 (Schaer, Vaineri Huttle, Lampitt, Mosquera, Sumter, Wimberly/ Cruz-Perez, Turner) – ABSOLUTE - Establishes “breakfast after the bell” incentive fund
A-3410/S-1854 (Muoio, Vainieri Huttle, Mukherji, Oliver, Gusciora/Vitale, Rice) – ABSOLUTE - Repeals family cap in Work First New Jersey program
No Gas Tax Deal; Christie Orders Work Halted
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie issued an Executive Order yesterday, requiring plans for an orderly shutdown of Transportation Trust Fund projects to be prepared by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, 2016, and that ongoing TTF work must cease according to those plans.
“Senate Democrats are clearly conflicted over how to appease their public and private-sector union masters, because their union masters also are divided over the bipartisan tax fairness solution that passed the Assembly. The Senate’s inaction ignored the benefits the package would bring to the overburdened taxpayers of New Jersey, who would benefit daily from the sales tax cut it would provide and the retirement income tax elimination for 81 percent of senior citizens. The Senate’s inaction also ignored New Jersey’s necessary transportation infrastructure improvements, as well as the hundreds of private-sector workers who came to Trenton today with their jobs hanging in the balance, because the Senate failed to re-authorize this Transportation Trust,” Governor Christie said.
Executive Order 210, was issued in response to today’s inaction by the Senate on the Assembly Transportation Trust Fund package that would have provided every New Jersey family two broad-based tax cuts that exceed the plan’s proposal for a dedicated gas tax increase.
“As Governor, I am entrusted with the responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this State, as well as the responsibility to aid in the prevention of damage, loss, or destruction of property in the event of emergencies affecting the State. As this executive order states, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this State, it is necessary that the remaining amounts held by the TTF not be spent on any transportation project that is not absolutely essential,” he added.
“Senate Democrats are clearly conflicted over how to appease their public and private-sector union masters, because their union masters also are divided over the bipartisan tax fairness solution that passed the Assembly. The Senate’s inaction ignored the benefits the package would bring to the overburdened taxpayers of New Jersey, who would benefit daily from the sales tax cut it would provide and the retirement income tax elimination for 81 percent of senior citizens. The Senate’s inaction also ignored New Jersey’s necessary transportation infrastructure improvements, as well as the hundreds of private-sector workers who came to Trenton today with their jobs hanging in the balance, because the Senate failed to re-authorize this Transportation Trust,” Governor Christie said.
Executive Order 210, was issued in response to today’s inaction by the Senate on the Assembly Transportation Trust Fund package that would have provided every New Jersey family two broad-based tax cuts that exceed the plan’s proposal for a dedicated gas tax increase.
“As Governor, I am entrusted with the responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this State, as well as the responsibility to aid in the prevention of damage, loss, or destruction of property in the event of emergencies affecting the State. As this executive order states, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this State, it is necessary that the remaining amounts held by the TTF not be spent on any transportation project that is not absolutely essential,” he added.
'No Photos, No Pictures, No Cell Phones . . . '
The whole tete-a-tete no only looks bad but it simply stinks and gives off the appearance (at the very least) of impropriety.
The FBI ordered 'no photos, no pictures, no cell phones' as the meeting was underway.
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