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Running Out The Clock?

With Just 56 Days Remaining In The Session, Let’s Hope The Legislature Gets Back From Their Current Vacation Ready To Finally Address Some Of New Jersey’s Most Pressing Issues

“You know we have more work to do, the tool kit has to happen. We have to find a way to put a tool kit together, again I’m sure it will be some kind of a compromise, but the core principles will be the same. … We need to continue to work now and seize the momentum that the Governor said to continue to make improvements in New Jersey.”– Senate President Steve Sweeney, Press Conference On Bipartisan Property Tax CapCompromise, July 3, 2010

 

THE LEGISLATURE HAS FAILED TO TAKE ACTION ON KEY ELEMENTS OF GOVERNOR CHRISTIE’S REFORM AGENDA

 

Education Reform
  • Failed to take action on the Opportunity Scholarship Act (S-1872/A-2810) which establishes a five-year pilot program to provide tax credits to entities contributing to scholarships for certain low-income students.
  • Failed to take action on the School Children First Act (S-2881/A-4168) to provide for an educator evaluation system based on multiple measures of teacher effectiveness.
  • Failed to take action on the Urban Hope Act (S-3002/A-4264) which provides for the creation of as many as ten “transformation school projects” in the worst performing districts.
  • Failed to act on Charter Reform (A-4167) to provide critical updates to strengthen and improve New Jersey’s charter law.

Civil Service Reform
  • Legislature-passed Civil Service Reform failed to include the critically needed opt-out and furlough options for municipalities.

Sick Leave Reform

  • Public employee unused sick leave and vacation payouts cost New Jersey taxpayers over $43 million in 2010.

Ethics Reform
  • Failed to take up Governor Christie’s Ethics Reform Package, Introduced back in September, 2010.
  • Failed to Act to bring Accountability and Transparency to the Legislature through Increased Disclosure (CV of A2768)

Shadow Government Reform
  • Failed to Act on Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Oversight and Accountability to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners and the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission.
  • Failed to Act on Governor Christie’s Comprehensive Shadow Government Reform Legislation.

 

MEANWHILE, SEVERAL OTHER CRITICAL TOOL KIT REFORM BILLS LANGUISH IN THE LEGISLATURE

 

A-1646/S-1781

 Directs that one sample ballot shall be delivered to each residence address where at least one resident thereof is registered to vote.

A-2951/S-2174

 Eliminate eligibility for State retirement systems for non- government groups and associations.

A-2958/S-2012

 Allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against a taxpayer’s delinquent local property taxes.

A-2953/S-2024

 Permits layoff plans as substitute for employment reconciliation plans for joint meetings or shared service agreements under certain circumstances.

A-2955/S-2135

 Employee Discipline Reform.  Limits right of appeal of disciplinary action taken by employer against certain public employees.

A-2960/S-2043

 Concerns collective negotiations for school employees; repeals law prohibiting school boards from imposing terms and conditions of employment.

A-2961/S-2025

 Authorizes executive county superintendent of schools to require implementation of shared services arrangements and to approve school district collective negotiations agreements prior to execution of agreement.

A-2962/S-2027

 Concerns collective negotiations for public institutions of higher education.

A-2963/S-2026

 Amends State college law to remove certain employees from civil service system and allow boards of trustees to conduct collective bargaining.

A-2964/S-2172

 

 

 

A-3219

 

 

A-3220

 Authorizes the establishment of probationary periods for non-tenured faculty members at State colleges.

 

Amends State college law to allow boards of trustees to conduct collective bargaining.

 

Amends State college law to remove certain employees from civil service system.

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Posted: November 15th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Chris Christie, NJ Judiciary | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment »

One Comment on “Running Out The Clock?”

  1. If only.. said at 4:02 pm on November 20th, 2011:

    we could be like Texas, whose legislature only meets every other year.. just think: a whole year of REST, from these idiots constantly feeling the need to listen to the lobbyists on every issue, and continually regulating more and more of our lives- just to claim to do their part-time job,with benefits and pensions they are so quick to take for themselves, yet make others pay more for!.. now, that would be a step in the right direction!