May 9, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, will submit legislation adopt the State Commission of Investigation’s recommendations released today regarding the practice of union officials being paid tens of millions of tax dollars for doing no public work.
“This shamefully abusive practice needs to stop immediately,” Bateman said. “Taxpayers in many communities already suffer the greatest property tax burdens that stem, in part, from rich union benefits. We absolutely should not have to pay for salaries, pensions and benefits for estranged public servants to conduct union business.”
(more…)
April 20, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, said this week’s all-time high of 90 percent voter approved local school budgets is a testament to slowed property tax growth due, in large part, to school administrators complying with Cap 2.0.
“New Jersey voters passed budgets in a record 90 percent of school districts including Princeton, Montgomery and Hillsborough, thanks to our bipartisan accomplishment of a 2-percent levy cap and the hard work of school district leaders to create responsible budgets,” Bateman said. “This is a sign that voters must be happy with how property tax growth has slowed with landmark reforms under Governor Christie.”
(more…)
Republican Senators representing districts with large numbers of New York City commuters have sent a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressing their strong opposition to any effort to restore a .45% income tax on New Jersey commuters working in New York City.
The proposal to bring back the “commuter tax”, which was abolished in 2000, has been floated by Manhattan Borough President and 2013 Mayoral candidate Scott Stringer. Proceeds from the levy would be used to bail out the long-dysfunctional Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
(more…)
April 2, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
The following editorial by Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-16, and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was published in the April 2, 2012 edition of the Courier-Post:
On Thursday, March 23rd, 2012, an exceptionally well qualified nominee to the Supreme Court was rejected by the petty partisan whims of the Democrats in the New Jersey State Senate. Phillip Kwon, a decorated prosecutor who has put corrupt public officials in jail and led the fight against street gangs in our state, was denied a job for which he was clearly qualified — Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court — for no good reason at all.
It was a tragedy for the judicial system in our state because Mr. Kwon’s nomination was blocked not based on his qualifications, but on rumor, innuendo, and an outright lie.
(more…)
Senate Republican Judiciary Committee Members Gerald Cardinale, Kevin O’Toole, Joe Kyrillos, Christopher Bateman, and Michael J. Doherty issued the following statement regarding the Committee’s rejection of Supreme Court nominee Phil Kwon:
Today, Democratic Senators on the Judiciary Committee rejected an exceptionally well-qualified Supreme Court nominee for no good reason whatsoever. From the moment Mr. Kwon was nominated, the Majority engaged in a campaign of intensely personal character assassination centering around issues that were completely immaterial to his fitness to serve on the court.
The Majority’s entire line of questioning and basis for rejecting his nomination centered on events that had absolutely nothing to do with Phil Kwon.
(more…)
March 16, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
The 16th District delegation — Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, Assemblyman Jack M. Ciattarelli, and Assemblywoman Donna Simon — is moving to dedicate the U.S. Route 206 bypass in Hillsborough Township to Peter J. Biondi, the late and sorely missed Assemblyman and U.S. Army veteran who recently lost his battle with cancer.
“Assemblyman Biondi dedicated his life to public service for the persisting benefit of our state, as he supported and mentored many young political candidates,” said Senator Bateman (R-Hunterdon/Mercer/Middlesex/Somerset). “We should commemorate this gregarious, loving family man, who also dedicated his life to improving State, Somerset County and Hillsborough, as well as volunteering on youth service committees and serving as a firefighter.”
(more…)
March 1, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, a member of the Senate Judiciary and Law and Public Safety committees, urges the enactment of Gov. Christie’s drug court expansion program released today to mandate drug treatment for many drug crime convicts and criminals with histories of drug use.
“This initiative will change lives and improve our society by helping nonviolent offenders get the treatment and support they need but might not otherwise pursue,” said Bateman (R-16). “We can also cut costs by not wasting money to house them in prison cells while they could instead get help to turn their lives around.”
(more…)
March 1, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-16) said today’s Quinnipiac University poll provides undeniable evidence that more than ever it is the Legislature’s obligation to let New Jerseyans decide on same sex marriage.
“We do the best service to our residents by eliminating politics from this decision and allowing the people of this state to define their society and culture,” Bateman said. “We wouldn’t be the first state to provide such justice.”
(more…)
February 27, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman’s bill to facilitate municipal mergers was moved today by the Community and Urban Affairs Committee, as Senator Bateman (R-16) was inked as a sponsor after the majority party copied his legislation and posted it as S-1114.
“Democrats, the Senate President and this Committee did the right thing today, number one, for taxpayers,” Bateman said. “As residents, the governor and Senate President know, we have to emphasize more shared services.”
(more…)
February 24, 2012
Contact: Jeremy Rosen / (609) 847-3600
Senator Christopher Bateman
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-16) is flattered that Democrats favor his legislation to remove financial impediments hindering municipalities from merging enough to steal it as their own and post it for a committee vote on Monday.
“If it takes slimy politics for the majority party to allow my legislation to be heard, then so be it, it’ll be a win for taxpayers,” Bateman said. “It’s OK if the Democrats need help coming up with good government ideas of their own, but next time, they can just ask.”
(more…)
