New Jersey Assembly Republicans

From: Land Line – Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill into law to stiffen punishment for truck cargo thieves.

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said the amount of cargo that’s transported through New Jersey ports makes motor carriers a target for cargo theft rings.

She referred to figures that show thieves in the Garden State steal as much as $1 billion worth of cargo annually.

Caroline Casagrande

“Cracking down on cargo theft will make our roads safer for truckers and help our economy because these crimes drive up the prices for just about every good sold in our state,” Casagrande said in a news release.

Dave Rible

“Cargo theft is a very serious and costly crime that puts lives at risk and deals a devastating blow to the economy by increasing the price of clothing, food, pharmaceuticals and just about any product delivered by truck,” stated Assemblyman David Rible, R-Monmouth.

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Press release – Deal Borough and Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande honored deceased Mayor Harry Franco at an awards ceremony and dinner held by the Deal PBA. Mayor Franco served the people of Deal for nearly 34 years – as a Commissioner for 16 years and as Mayor for almost 18 years. Franco oversaw the expansion and improvements to Borough Hall, many improvements to the beach facilities including the Deal Casino, many road improvements and Shared Service agreements with neighboring municipalities. The Police Department was also recognized by the Mayor, Council and legislators for arrests made over the past year.

“Mayor Franco will be missed by all,” said Beck. “Harry was a notable figure in Deal and throughout the county. He worked hard to find innovative ways to improve his town and make it a great place to live. Mayor Franco was a tieless advocate for the needs of his community and always put the interests of his residents first.”

Mary Pat Angelini

“Harry Franco is the personification of a true public servant,” said Angelini. “For more than 40 years he dedicated his time, energy and passion to improving his community. The residents of Deal, both past and present, are forever indebted to Mayor Franco for his efforts which helped make Deal the wonderful community it is today.”

Caroline Casagrande

“Mayor Franco left behind a wonderful legacy serving his community for over 40 years” says Casagrande. “I know he will be missed tremendously by his family, the people of Deal and Monmouth County who were fortunate to know him.”

During the Ceremony Patrolman Nicholas Vaccaro, Sergeant Ronen Neuman and Deal FireFighter Tom Gavin will be presented with the medal of distinguished service and life saving medal for a water rescue in September of 2012. At approximately 5:30pm on September 25 the three men saved three swimmers in distress at the Jerome Avenue Beach.

Mayor Franco’s wife, Ruby, two of his daughters and one of his sons were also present for the ceremony. A Deal park was named in Mayor Franco’s honor.

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Monmouth County legislators Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini thanked Governor Christie for signing their legislation into law that would validate a successful bond proposal by Monmouth Regional High School.

“This bill validates the bond authorization that was approved by the voters and ensures that important and much needed renovations to Monmouth Regional High School will move forward,” Beck explained. “We met with Monmouth Regional officials to address this issue as soon as it arose, I’m glad the Governor signed this bill expeditiously and I’m happy we were able to help.”

In November of 2012 voters in Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Shrewsbury passed a bond issue proposed by the Monmouth Regional High School District. That bond issue was subject to a legal challenge because the school board did not properly provide the statutorily required notice of 60 days to the county clerk to put the bond on the ballot. That requirement was a change from the previous year’s school election.

Caroline Casagrande

“By signing this bill today essential projects at the High School can advance” says Casagrande. “Those projects include renovating science classrooms and girls’ locker rooms as well as the removal of asbestos. We are grateful for the Governor’s swift action on this legislation.”

“I am pleased that Monmouth Regional will now be able to move forward with the necessary improvements to their school facilities,” said Angelini. “This measure ensures that the will of the voters of this school district cannot be overturned based on a minor technicality.”

Mary Pat Angelini

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Gov. Chris Christie signed into law today legislation sponsored by Assembly Republican Policy Co-Chairwoman Caroline Casagrande that shields trusts from creditors in order to keep New Jersey competitive in the estate planning market. The bipartisan legislation, S-765/A-1086, received unanimous approval in both the Senate and Assembly.

“The new law has the dual benefit of protecting New Jersey’s residents in their estate planning while also ensuring that we do not lose this business to other states that already have similar laws in place,” said Casagrande, R-Monmouth. “People pay more than enough taxes while they are alive and their heirs shouldn’t be subject to paying additional taxes because of claims made by creditors.”

The new law clarifies that paying taxes out of a trust does not subject it to claims from creditors, negating a contrary ruling from the IRS. If the assets of the trust were to be subject to such claims, the assets would become part of the taxable estate for federal estate tax purposes. Many other states have already adopted similar provisions to protect trusts after the IRS ruling.

“This will make estate planning more convenient for New Jerseyans, and it will also be a boost for estate planners, banks and lawyers in this state that work on these arrangements,” Casagrande said. “The state will not lose any income tax revenue generated from trusts and we will see a small gain if more people keep their trusts in New Jersey.”

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From: Patch – Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande has introduced a bill that would rein in the use of accrued sick days by retiring public employees.

The bill, A-1943, is backed by the League of Municipalities, according to a release.

Caroline Casagrande

“Sick leave is for sick employees, they are not meant to allow public employees to remain on a public payroll and take an early retirement,” Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said in the release.

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Press release –  Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande welcomed the support of the New Jersey League of Municipalities of her plan to save money for property taxpayers by banning the abuse of sick days by retiring public employees, A-1943.

Caroline Casagrande

“Sick leave is for sick employees, they are not meant to allow public employees to remain on a public payroll and take an early retirement,” Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said.

As an example, Princeton Township arranged to pay the long-time municipal administrator and police chief for nine months after they left their posts, collecting their regular salaries along with all their benefits and pension contributions. More recently, the since merged Princeton has sanctioned allowing its police chief to remain on the payroll for several months before he will reach 30 years in the pension system in October.

“Sick days are not meant to be used as a financial windfall at the end of a career,” Casagrande said. “And, taxpayers certainly cannot afford to pay municipal workers who aren’t working.”

Casagrande said the practice, known as terminal leave, makes it extremely difficult for local officials to stay within the property tax cap.

“Municipalities are often forced to leave critical positions vacant because they cannot afford to pay two individuals for the same job,” Casagrande said. “That increases property taxes and makes it more difficult to maintain the services that property taxpayers expect.”

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From: Asbury Park Press – Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande said research has shown the state loses 28,000 students to out-of-state colleges, “brain drain” that costs New Jersey in taxes, companies, new jobs and innovation those graduates will bring elsewhere. The funding, if approved, will help keep homegrown, stellar students in New Jersey and create more than 10,000 construction jobs, she said.

Caroline Casagrande

“The cost of losing those students is absolutely staggering,” Casagrande said, adding that it costs $10 billion annually to raise and then ship those students out-of-state for school. “What’s even more depressing, when we talk with some of the groups that have a lot of those STEM jobs, like the New Jersey Technology Council, their number one ask is for more immigration pieces, because a lot of those companies can’t even find enough educated engineers and professionals to fill some of those jobs.”

“It really is incumbent upon New Jersey to show some leadership in this area and make sure we’re preparing our students for those high-paying jobs that are available and fill those slots,” Casagrande said.

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From: Star-Ledger – At the sixth and final public hearing considering the rate hikes, Assemblywomen Amy Handlin and Caroline Casagrande argued that the rate hikes were unwarranted, criticizing the utility’s response to Hurricane Sandy.

”JCP&L has a pattern of neglecting its duty to provide reliable services to our constituents,” said Handlin, R-Monmouth. “We will not reward poor performance with a rate increase.”

Amy Handlin & Caroline Casagrande

The Assemblywomen also accused JCP&L of neglecting their districts’ electricity grid.

”They don’t fix their infrastructure,” said Casagrande, R-Monmouth. “Every penny the company has shorted our communities should be used to improve its service before we even think about a rate increase.

Casagrande and Handlin entered a petition bearing 1,500 signatures into the hearing’s record.

”JCP&L was taking unnecessary chances with low staff and poor equipment,” Handlin said.

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From: Patch – Leading the charge against the rate hike were Assemblywomen Amy Handlin and Caroline Cassagrande, both R-Monmouth, who delivered scathing statements, saying the company was “derelict in its duty’’ to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure before extracting profits.

Amy Handlin

“JCP&L took unnecessary chances with old equipment, low staff and poor maintenance many years before Sandy made this company a four-letter word in our region,’’ Handlin said. “I implore the BPU: Send a message to JCP&L that we will not reward poor performance with rate increases.’’

Cassegrande chastised JCP&L for not taking advantage of $600 million of state stimulus money being offered to utility companies for infrastructure upgrades.

Caroline Casagrande

“We were literally giving away $600 million dollars two years ago, to any utility that would apply,’’ Cassagrande said. “But to apply, you had to open up your books. You had to show us what you were making. And that, I think is one of the most telling things.”

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From: NJ 101.5 FM — A pair of Assembly members plans to submit more than 1,500 signatures they gathered in opposition to a Jersey Central Power and Light rate increase request.

The legislators are from Monmouth County, one of the areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy. Thousands of residents were without power for more than a week.

Amy Handlin

“We will speak for the hundreds of ratepayers who are tired of paying more for less service,” said Assemblywoman Amy Handlin. “This proposal to take about $85 more per year from hard-working families lacks credibility because JCP&L has yet to answer very serious charges of pocketing corporate profit instead of investing in the improvements that would have made our service more reliable and our rates more tolerable.”

JCP&L is asking for approval for a 4.5 percent increase, roughly $85 more per year for the average ratepayer, to repair damage caused by Hurricanes Irene and Sandy. Handlin, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and hundreds of their constituents, object to the proposal because of an unanswered allegation from a nonpartisan government watchdog that JCP&L collected more profit than legally allowed from New Jersey ratepayers while allowing its infrastructure to deteriorate.

Caroline Casagrande

“After JCP&L literally left our communities in the dark and sent New Jersey ratepayers’ money to its parent company in Ohio, the utility is back with hands in our pockets,” explained Casagrande. “We will make the case for thousands of hard-working families and businesses that JCP&L should not see one penny more from New Jersey ratepayers until it returns every dollar it pocketed for corporate greed.”

Two public hearings are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on April 24 at the Freehold Township Municipal Building.

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