Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the committee approved the nomination of Andrew Eristoff as state treasurer.
“Acting Treasurer Eristoff faces an incredibly difficult task in balancing next year’s budget and dealing with the difficulties of keeping the current budget balanced during a recession,” Senator Bateman said.
Third Round Rules to Be Suspended for 90 Days
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, a prime sponsor of legislation that would dismantle the Council On Affordable Housing (COAH), applauded Governor Christie’s Executive Order suspending COAH’s third round rules.
“Governor Christie should be commended for his quick, decisive action suspending the third round rules,” Bateman stated. “For too long COAH’s arbitrary and unpredictable rules and regulations have destroyed open space and stifled job growth without helping build adequate affordable housing.”
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman said that he will continue to push for passage of legislation that reforms the state’s failed rules governing so-called “affordable” housing.
“I’m part of a law firm that represents clients on both sides of the current debate over affordable housing,” Senator Bateman said. “However, as a senator, I have to take a clear stand for policies that best represent the interests of my constituents.
New Legislation Will Implement Seven SCI Recommendations
Senator Christopher (Kip) Bateman, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will introduce legislation Monday which would codify seven recommendations made by the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) to restrict the type and amount of compensation provided to local public employees. The recommendations were outlined in a report entitled, “The Beat Goes on… Waste and Abuse in Local Government Employee Compensation and Benefits,” released December 1, 2009.
“This bill is quite simply property tax control legislation,” Bateman stated. “Common sense makes obvious that public employee payroll abuses must raise property taxes.”
Five Republican senators today said that it’s unlikely that a bill redefining marriage can pass the Senate and asked their Democratic colleagues to join them in a bipartisan effort to strengthen New Jersey’s civil union law. The five said that while they can’t support the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act (S-1967), they will work to ensure that New Jersey civil union law is enforced and provides all rights and benefits that legislators intended.
“Moving testimony in Senate hearings suggests that New Jersey’s civil union law is not always understood or followed,” Senator Tom Kean said. “We need to educate the public about the law, and enhance it if necessary so that no civil union partner is turned away from the hospital bed of a loved one.”
The Senate today passed a bill that would require that districts notify parents within 10 days when soil contaminated with pesticides or other chemicals is discovered at a school. Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-District 16, was a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 480 (Assembly Bill 1072).
“Administrators should let parents know immediately if there is a health risk present on school grounds,” Senator Bateman said. “This bill will make sure that parents are alerted to the risk and are informed of the steps being taken to prevent children from coming in contact with contaminated soil.”
Senator Christopher (Kip) Bateman, R-District 16, said he is pleased that the Senate unanimously passed his legislation requiring that state agencies release any report resulting from a school district audit within 30 days of completion.
“When taxpayers pay for a study or an audit, they should have the right to see it as soon as it is completed,” Senator Bateman said. “Keeping such information secret only contributes to a growing distrust of government.”
Senator Kip Bateman speaking during the Senate session on December 10, 2009.
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman issued the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s last minute decision to withdraw the nomination of Mayor Robert F. Holtaway for a position on the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Senator Bateman is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I am disturbed and disappointed that neither the governor nor any member of his administration had the common courtesy to notify me, Mayor Holtaway or any member of the Judiciary Committee of their decision to withdraw his nomination. The explanation that this was an eleventh hour decision is unacceptable, how long does it take to pick up the phone?
Data to be Used for State Planning Purposes Kept Secret
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Somerset) continued to call on Governor Jon Corzine today to release the results of a Rutgers study provided to the State Planning Commission that projects future population, employment and housing numbers in New Jersey. The numbers from the Rutgers Study apparently indicate that job growth for the period encompassing the years 2008 to 2028 will only amount to 6,550 annually, compared with the administration’s previous projection of 54,000 over the same period.
The New Jersey Taxpayers Alliance has announced that State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Somerset) is a recognized “Taxpayer Champion” who has never failed to champion taxpayers in the fight to make the state more affordable and Trenton more accountable.
The Alliance, in its first rating of state legislators, gave Bateman a perfect score for voting in the interest of taxpayers on 10 critical bills.
