Mothers Against Drunk Driving Name O’Scanlon Legislator of the Year

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has named Assembly O’Scanlon it’s 2017 Legislator of the Year.

In recognition of your tireless efforts to advance the mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in 2017, we are pleased to announce that we are honoring you as a 2017 MADD Legislator of the Year.

We thank you for your unwavering leadership in authoring DWI reform ignition interlock legislation in A 4016.

MADD commends you for your dedication and leadership in advancing MADD’s mission.  Thank you for your work in saving lives and in being a strong advocate for victims of impaired driving. Please do not hesitate to contact MADD with any questions. 

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O’Scanlon releases Arbitration Task Force report recommending permanent award cap

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon released today the report of the Arbitration Award Task Force as recommended by four of the eight members. The report outlines the success of the arbitration award cap in enabling municipal officials to maintain budgets within the 2 percent property-tax cap and curb property-tax increases to historically low levels, and recommends making the cap on arbitration awards permanent before the policy is scheduled to sunset on Dec. 31.

“The data contained in this report is beyond clear and convincing; it is overwhelming,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “It would be irresponsible for the Legislature not to take action. In fact, any legislator that fails to advocate for continuation of the arbitration award cap will be, by extension, advocating for the obliteration of the property tax cap and higher property taxes. There is no middle ground here. Mark my words; if the cap isn’t permanently extended taxpayers will unquestionably face much more dramatic property tax increases and cuts to municipal services.”

During a vote Monday to release the report, the task force was deadlocked 4-4. Union representatives blocked the report’s endorsement. O’Scanlon, who voted to release the report, is the only legislator appointed by the governor to sit on the task force. Read the rest of this entry »

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Celebrating the 9-11 Survivors

By Art Gallagher

Part of me would like to forget September 11, 2001.

It was a horrible day, parts of which I can remember like it happened last week.  The phone call from my assistant asking if I’d heard about the plane crashing into the World Trade Center.  The meeting where we didn’t discuss our work but were listening to the radio reports of the incident when the second plane hit.  The horror when we realized that our country was under attack. The tearful phone call from my father who feared for a family member who worked in downtown Manhattan. The crowd that gathered in my Highlands backyard watching the smoke in the distance and the ferry boats docking with soot covered strangers. Phones stopped working.  Sending my employees home early. The look on my wife’s face. Read the rest of this entry »

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Best Hurricane Irma photos, videos and quips from social media

Much of New Jersey showed its support for Florida while it was beset by Hurricane Irma Saturday and Sunday, including Gov. Chris Christie. Everyone in NJ understands how Floridians feel tonight. We have sent NJSP, NJ Nat’l Guard & NJ utility men. We stand with you today & always — Governor Christie (@GovChristie) September 10, 2017… Read the rest of this entry »

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Equifax: Recent data breach exposed personal info belonging to as many as 143 million Americans

Equifax, one of the nation’s three main credit reporting agencies, has announced a “cybersecurity incident” that could potentially impact roughly 143 million U.S. consumers, according to a statement released on the company’s website. The news comes just months after a breach occurred at an Equifax subsidiary earlier this year, exposing W-2 and payroll data to criminals.… Read the rest of this entry »

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Trump Brings Compassion and Warmth to Flood-Ravaged Texas

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump returned to Texas Saturday to meet with victims whose lives have been upended by Hurricane Harvey and offer their support to the volunteers and officials leading recovery efforts. The Trumps and members of the president’s Cabinet visited the emergency shelter at Houston’s NRG Stadium in Houston where they… Read the rest of this entry »

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Guadagno blasts Murphy over his $1.3 billion tax plan

ROBBINSVILLE — Republican gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno signaled Tuesday the top thing she’ll use to attack Democratic rival Phil Murphy between now and November’s election: His proposed $1.3 billion tax hike. Guadagno, speaking alongside the top GOP leaders in the Legislature, blasted Murphy, who she dubbed “the tax man,” over his tax plan he… Read the rest of this entry »

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How N.J. is helping Harvey flood victims in Texas

TRENTON — A day after a New Jersey Office of Emergency Management task force declared it was “ready to answer the call” to support Tropical Storm Harvey recovery efforts in Texas, Gov. Chris Christie declared Sunday night the unit is heading to the storm-tattered state. “As Americans, we come together during times of crisis,” Christie said… Read the rest of this entry »

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Don’t make same mistake, man who burned retina in 1962 eclipse warns

OREGON CITY, Ore. — A 70-year-old man who burned his retina by staring directly into the sun during a partial solar eclipse in 1962 has a warning for those planning to view the solar eclipse Monday afternoon. Don’t make the same mistake. Lou Tomososki, of Oregon City, told television station KGW.com in Portland that watching the… Read the rest of this entry »

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New Jersey native Jerry Lewis, comedian, telethon host, dies at 91

LAS VEGAS — Jerry Lewis, the rubber-faced comedian and director whose fundraising telethons became as famous as his hit movies, has died. Publicist Candi Cazau says the Newark native passed away Sunday morning of natural causes at age 91 in Las Vegas with his family by his side. Lewis made a career unleashing his inner child,… Read the rest of this entry »

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