Assemblywoman Calls on Christie to Impose Belt Tightening Regime at Port Authority

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) on Thursday called on Governor Christie to impose the same belt-tightening requirements at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) as he has for local governments and other authorities in light of the latest report about exorbitant perks for the agency’s top brass.

“For two years, the Governor has told local governments and school districts to tighten their belts and do more with less in light of his budget cuts. Why is this same mentality not being applied to the Port Authority?

“The Governor’s silence on this issue is deafening. I’m dismayed at the lack of outrage he has shown regarding the agency’s dysfunction.

“Daily commuters to New York are now paying an average of $3,000 a year due to the recent toll hikes and yet the Port Authority is using questionable practices to squander taxpayer dollars on lavish perks and exorbitant pension payouts.

“It’s time the Governor stand up and make the Port Authority learn to live within its means, just like taxpayers and local governments have been forced to do in this economy,” said Vainieri Huttle.

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5386

In fact, the biggest headline she has made was for being called a “jerk” by Gov. Chris Christie last year after she jabbed him for taking a state helicopter to his son’s baseball game and then leaving early.

But by now, most New Jerseyans have heard of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which Vainieri Huttle helped write. And because of her, charities can go to a centralized website to find out what funds are available from every department in state government.

Despite her icy relationship with the governor, the Democratic assemblywoman from Bergen County has had her name on top of more bills signed into law than any other lawmaker since Christie, a Republican, took office more than two years ago: 52 in all.

“I like the fact that I’m No. 1,” Vainieri Huttle said.

Although it’s impossible to rank the effectiveness of all 120 state legislators, especially because they can no longer bring “Christmas tree items,” or earmarks, to their districts, one way to view the inner workings of Trenton is to add up whose bills make it past the governor’s desk.

Some bills get further because the sponsors head important committees or hold different positions of power. Others get more bills signed into law simply because they introduce a lot more. And still others get their bills to the governor’s desk because they face tough re-election battles and need to show constituents how hard they’re working.

“The system can be gamed pretty easily,” said Alan Rosenthal, a political science professor at Rutgers University who is an expert on state legislatures. “If you sponsor bills you think are noncontroversial and are going to pass, you’re going to have a good record.”

The statistics include bills in which lawmakers are a prime sponsor, though it’s not unheard of for a bill to have half a dozen or more such sponsors. And sometimes the prime sponsors in one house are knocked off the top spot of a bill by the time the governor signs it.

Vainieri Huttle earned her place at the top of the list partly because she is so prolific: She has sponsored 569 bills since January 2010 — second only to Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May), who has had his name on top of 592.

POSITIONS THAT HELP

But Vainieri Huttle also has a leg up on some colleagues because of her role as chairwoman of the Assembly Human Services Committee, allowing her to get many of her measures past the first legislative hurdle. And some of her legislation signed into law was noncontroversial and cost the state nothing, such as a resolution designating March as “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.”

“In capacity of chair of Human Services there are many people out there who have come to me to talk about legislation,” Vainieri Huttle said. “That’s what I’m here for — to be a voice for the people who need help with these bills.”

More curious is the case of Assemblyman Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), who was sworn in less than two months before the last session ended in January, yet managed to get 11 of the 33 bills he introduced passed during that period — seven of which the governor signed.

Singleton, who was a chief of staff to former Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, already had connections with powerful legislators. And he says Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) helped him out.

“The speaker, to her credit, has recognized it is beneficial to have her freshman members on certain key bills, legislative initiatives that she wants to advance,” he said.

But Singleton acknowledged that the Democratic leadership also may have helped him because he endured a grueling campaign in a swing district.

“I think the politics are reality,” he said. “I did have a tough race, probably will continue to have tough races moving forward. I think the speaker says if I’m willing to hit the ground running, she’s willing to help me.”

PARTY LINES

Not surprisingly, bills sponsored by Democrats were more likely to advance in the Legislature, which they control — even though the governor is a member of the other political party.

The Republicans with the most measures signed into law were two female senators, Diane Allen of Burlington County and Jennifer Beck of Monmouth County — both prime sponsors of 15 bills signed by the governor — tying them at 36th among all 120 lawmakers and eighth among the 40 state senators.

The rankings are largely split down the middle: In the current Legislature, the 60 lawmakers with the most bills signed into law are overwhelmingly Democrats, and the 60 with the least to show for their efforts are largely Republicans.

And the 80-member Assembly dominates the Senate in terms of bills that have gone on to become law.

AT LAST PLACE

Although rank, as the saying goes, can have its privileges, it also can impose its penalties.

Take Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris), who for part of the last legislative session was chairman of the state Republican Party. He is tied for last place.

Of the 57 bills Webber wrote or signed on to as a prime sponsor, only three passed both chambers and one — sponsored with six other lawmakers — was signed by the governor.

Sharing the last spot with Webber are two Republicans, Sen. Sam Thompson of Middlesex County and Assemblyman David Russo of Bergen County, and one Democrat, Sen. Brian Stack of Hudson County.

“It’s no shock that the Democratic leadership didn’t post the chairman of the Republican Party’s bills for two years,” said Webber, who is one of the state’s most conservative lawmakers.

But Webber said it would be a mistake to measure his effectiveness by tallying up the laws he has sponsored.

“This isn’t a batting average,” he said. “Legislators do a lot of things, including advocating for their constituents, helping make the case in committees, having amendments drafted and attached to legislation. So there are just a lot of ways to measure it.”

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) had the following published in The Record of Bergen County :

“Given the repeatedly documented waste and abuse that has taken place at this authority, it is simply not wise to continue letting the fox guard the $7 billion hen house. It is time for the Port Authority to stop hiding under a veil of political rhetoric and be held accountable for its actions”

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5364

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) welcomed the news that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is instituting greater cost controls and transparency but said the move underscores the need to pass legislation that will make such measures a permanent requirement rather than a permissive move when the agency is under fire.

Vainieri Huttle is the lead Assembly sponsor of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Transparency and Accountability Act (A-1011), which would require more public transparency, regular audits, and greater financial accountability, measures the agency has been criticized for lacking in recent audits. The legislation recently passed the Senate and awaits final legislative action by the Assembly before being sent to the Governor’s desk. Similar legislation is also working its way through the New York Legislature right now, which is a requirement for any laws governing the bi-state agency.

“Absent our legislation, it’s great to see the Port Authority taking steps to control costs and make more records available to the public, but these moves can easily be undone when the heat is off the agency. One has to wonder if any of these steps would have been taken if reports of mismanagement and waste had not come to light.

“With the Port Authority in charge of a $7 billion budget that affects millions of commuters, increased accountability should not be left to the whims of those in charge, especially when the Vice-Commissioner has admitted that the changes will be ‘painful.’ If anyone understands painful it’s the commuters that have been dealing with the Port Authority’s exorbitant toll hikes since September.

“An independent audit has confirmed that the agency is in need of a top-to-bottom operational overhaul. This is something that needs to be codified by law and I look forward to sending our Transparency and Accountability Act to the Governor’s desk soon,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5277

Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. to help school districts fully comply with the landmark Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights measure has been signed into law.

“This bipartisan solution will help school districts implement the new law, without changing the context of the law, which means that our goal of protecting the countless students who are at the mercy of bullies day in and day out remains intact,” said Vainieri Huttle. “We acknowledged from day one that this law was comprehensive in nature, which is what made it one of the toughest anti-bullying laws in the nation. Any additional help we can provide schools to implement this will hopefully mean more lives bettered because of it.”

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights was signed into law last January and went into effect in September with the start of the new school year. In late January of this year, the state Council on Local Mandates found that the law contained unfunded mandates after several school districts filed complaints. The legislature was given 60 days to remedy the law or risk it being invalidated.

Vainieri Huttle and Senator Barbara Buono worked with their co-sponsors from across the aisle and Governor Christie to reach the solution contained in the measure signed today, wherein the state will provide $1 million in funding, to be awarded as grants through the State Department of Education, to help districts provide training on harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention and on the effective creation of positive school climates, and to help fund related personnel expenses.

“I’m pleased that everyone was able to come together to reach a practical solution that puts the safety and well-being of our students first,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “Every student should be entitled to go to school and learn in an environment free of harassment, intimidation and bullying. Helping schools implement this new law will help us better achieve that goal.”

The law (A-2709) stipulates that, prior to making an application for a grant, a district must explore bullying prevention programs and approaches that are available at no cost, and make an affirmative demonstration of that exploration in their grant application.

Programs and training to implement bullying prevention programs and approaches and to provide training to school employees and volunteers are available at no cost from the Department of Education, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, and various other entities. The use of any program or training that would impose a cost on the district would be at the discretion of the district.

“With any new law of this magnitude, there’s going be some growing pains,” Vainieri Huttle said. “This will help assist schools in adjusting and complying with the new requirements. I’m grateful that everyone involved in this process has shown a willingness to work together for the benefit of our students.”

Additionally, the law calls for the creation of a seven-member taskforce to provide guidance to school districts on available reDests to assist in the implementation of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act; examine the implementation of the act; draft model regulations and submit them to the Commissioner of Education for use in promulgating regulations to implement the provisions of the act.

The task force would also present any recommendations regarding the act deemed to be necessary and appropriate and prepare a report within 180 days of its organizational meeting, and annually for the following three years, on the effectiveness of the act in addressing bullying in schools. The report will be submitted to the commissioner, to the Governor, and to the Legislature, and the task force will expire upon the submission of its final report.

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5268

(TRENTON) – Assembly Democratic legislation sponsored by Connie Wagner, Craig J. Coughlin, Angel Fuentes and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to promote electric vehicle usage by providing corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credits for buying and installing electric vehicle charging stations was recently approved by the Assembly.
The bill (A-566) was Ok’d by a vote of 54-20-5.
“It’s clear that electric cars can play a lead role in tackling some of our biggest concerns, whether it be our reliance on foreign oil or environmental and health concerns,” said Wagner (D-Bergen). “This bill will help steer New Jersey in the right direction.”
“We should be doing all we can to promote electric car usage and purchases in New Jersey,” said Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “This bill isn’t a cure-all, but it’s certainly a great stride toward making New Jersey a friendly state for electric cars, and that’s a great thing.”
“We’ve heard all too often about the serious health concerns facing many children in congested urban areas, and we know some of that comes from exhaust pollution,” said Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester). “This bill will finally push our state in the right direction toward making it easier to buy and use electric cars.”
“This is a sensible and response way to promote the purchases of electric cars in New Jersey, which helps our economy and environment,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “This is a great start toward a smart future for New Jersey.”
Under the bill, charging stations purchased and installed in 2013 will be allowed a credit in an amount of 25 percent of the cost, up to $500 per electric vehicle charging station; for a charging station purchased and installed in 2014 the credit is 15 percent of the cost, up to $300 per charging station; and for a charging station purchased and installed in 2015 the credit is eight percent of the cost, up to $150 per station.
The bill also provides a gross income tax credit for a charging station purchase that is not required to be for business use. The credit for 2013 is 25 percent of cost, up to $500, for 2014 it’s 15 percent of cost, up to $300 and for 2015 it’s 8 percent of cost, up to $150, for the purchase and installation of a charging station.
To qualify for the bill’s tax credits the taxpayer must file an application for a certification with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection that the charging station purchased and installed by the taxpayer is a qualified electric vehicle charging station.
The bill will be referred to the Senate for more consideration

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5241

Bars Sending Checks to Consumers That Once Cashed Enroll Them in Costly Programs

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats Paul Moriarty, Nelson Albano, Ruben J. Ramos Jr and Valerie Vainieri Huttle sponsored to make it illegal to mail unsolicited checks that once cashed enroll consumers in costly programs was approved 79-0 Thursday by the Assembly.

Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) drafted the bill after a constituent showed him an unsolicited $8.25 check they received from a company. Cashing the check would enroll the consumer in an automotive roadside assistance program that costs $15.99 per month.

“These so-called free money offers are at their best deceptive and, at their worst, downright dishonest,” Moriarty said. “Right now, consumers are at their most vulnerable to fall for a scheme that appears to offer them instant cash but would end up costing them much more in the long-run.”

“Instead of relying on tricks, companies looking to sell their services in New Jersey should go back to the old-fashioned way – earning consumers’ trust,” said Albano (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland).

“Checks related to legitimate services would be exempt, as they should, but trying to take advantage of people in these difficult economic times is just flat out wrong,” said Ramos (D-Hudson). “We can do better and this bill will make sure of that.”

“It’s unfortunate, but true, that people try to take advantage of others in this tough economy by throwing what appears to be free money their way, but nothing in life is free,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “This bill, quite simply, does the right thing by ending these scams.”

The legislation (A-1227) would make it unlawful to send an unsolicited check to an individual which, upon being cashed or redeemed, obligates the recipient to pay fees or enrolls them in any club, service, plan or continuing agreement.

Checks related to legitimate banking services or stemming from a pre-existing and direct business-to-consumer relationship would be exempt from the measure’s provision.

An unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act is punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense.

Violations can also result in cease and desist orders by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party.

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5237

(TRENTON) — Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle issued a multimedia package Thursday on her legislation — approved 72-2-3 — to help New Jersey schools fully comply with the recently enacted landmark Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, sponsored by Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), was signed into law in January 2011 and went into effect in September, with the start of the new school year. In late January, the state Council on Local Mandates ruled that the law contained unfunded mandates, following complaints from several school districts. The council gave the Legislature 60 days to remedy the law or risk having it invalidated.

Vainieri Huttle’s remedy legislation (A-2709) — a bipartisan measure supported by the Christie administration — would provide $1 million in funding for the remainder of the school year, to be awarded as grants through the state Department of Education, to help districts provide training or harassment, intimidation and bullying prevention, the effective creation of positive school climates and to help fund related personnel expenses. The grant monies would only be awarded after a school district demonstrates that they have exhausted all bullying prevention programs and approaches that are available at no cost.

The multimedia package consists of a video of Vainieri Huttle’s remarks and public testimony in support of her legislation and audio and a transcript of same.

The video can be accessed directly via our website – www.assemblydems.com – or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

A transcript of comments by Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle is appended below:

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Assembly Human Services Committee Chairwoman:
“This legislation today is to save the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and allow New Jersey to remain a national leader and fight against harassment, intimidation and bullying.

“The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights was signed into law in January of 2011; implemented in this past school year. It has been in effect for a few months and a small school district went to the Council on Local Mandates, to appeal that it was an unfunded mandate. The Council on Local Mandates gave the Legislature 60 days to find remedies and ways to keep the law intact.

“And what we did in a bipartisan way was, we found $1 million in the general fund for this year to provide any of the school districts, after exhausting their free resources with training, some extra tools to implement the law. We also created a task force, a seven-member task-force, that would also provide the districts some clarification and guidelines.

“And we are hoping that with this latest bill, that it will continue to help enhance the law that’s in effect and the law is intact. So, we’re thrilled that we could offer some of those extra resources.”

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5218

Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. to help school districts fully comply with the landmark Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights law was headed for final legislative approval on Thursday with the Assembly approving the measure by a vote of 72-2-3 and the Senate expected to follow suit.

“This bipartisan solution will help school districts implement the new law, without changing the context of the law, which means that our goal of protecting the countless students who are at the mercy of bullies day in and day out remains intact,” said Vainieri Huttle. “We acknowledged from day one that this law was comprehensive in nature, which is what made it one of the toughest anti-bullying laws in the nation. Any additional help we can provide schools to implement this will hopefully mean more lives bettered because of it.”

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights was signed into law last January and went into effect in September with the start of the new school year. In late January of this year, the state Council on Local Mandates found that the law contained unfunded mandates after several school districts filed complaints. The legislature was given 60 days to remedy the law or risk it being invalidated.

Vainieri Huttle and Senator Barbara Buono worked with their co-sponsors from across the aisle and Governor Christie to reach the solution contained in the measure approved today, wherein the state will provide $1 million in funding, to be awarded as grants through the State Department of Education, to help districts provide training on harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention and on the effective creation of positive school climates, and to help fund related personnel expenses.

Final approval of the bill will allow the legislature to meet the 60-day solution requirement mandated by the Council.

“I’m pleased that everyone was able to come together to reach a practical solution that puts the safety and well-being of our students first,” said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “Every student should be entitled to go to school and learn in an environment free of harassment, intimidation and bullying. Helping schools implement this new law will help us better achieve that goal.”

However, the bill (A-2709) stipulates that, prior to making an application for a grant, a district must explore bullying prevention programs and approaches that are available at no cost, and make an affirmative demonstration of that exploration in their grant application.

Programs and training to implement bullying prevention programs and approaches and to provide training to school employees and volunteers are available at no cost from the Department of Education, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, and various other entities. The use of any program or training that would impose a cost on the district would be at the discretion of the district.

“With any new law of this magnitude, there’s going be some growing pains. This will help assist schools in adjusting and complying with the new requirements. I’m grateful that everyone involved in this process has shown a willingness to work together for the benefit of our students.”

Additionally, the bill calls for the creation of a seven-member taskforce to provide guidance to school districts on available reDests to assist in the implementation of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act; examine the implementation of the act; draft model regulations and submit them to the Commissioner of Education for use in promulgating regulations to implement the provisions of the act.

The task force would also present any recommendations regarding the act deemed to be necessary and appropriate and prepare a report within 180 days of its organizational meeting, and annually for the following three years, on the effectiveness of the act in addressing bullying in schools. The report will be submitted to the commissioner, to the Governor, and to the Legislature, and the task force will expire upon the submission of its final report.

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5228

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Herb Conaway, Jr., M.D., John McKeon, Ruben Ramos, Jr., and Valerie Vainieri Huttle sponsored to crackdown on illegal steroid abuse in New Jersey’s law enforcement and firefighting communities was approved Thursday by the full Assembly.

The legislation comes after an extensive series by The Star-Ledger revealed widespread steroid abuse in police and fire departments. In one case, at least 248 officers and firefighters reportedly obtained prescriptions for these drugs from a single Jersey City doctor.

The bill (A-1827), which was approved by the Assembly with a 79-0 vote, would require the Department of Law and Public Safety to include human growth hormones among the drugs to be monitored in the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).

The PMP was created in 2007 to monitor controlled dangerous substances dispensed in most outpatient settings.

“This steroid abuse is frightening from both a public policy and public health perspective,” said Conaway (D-Burlington/Camden). “Taxpayers have been stung and public safety has been put at risk, as has the health of the abusers. We cannot sit idly by and let this abuse continue. This bill is a step in the proper direction.”

“State taxpayers have been wrongly paying for millions of dollars in insurance costs for prescriptions that were, in many cases, issued illegally,” said McKeon (D-Essex/Morris). “Taxpayers also have been footing the bill for the side effects of this abuse. It’s long past time for this outrage to finally stop. Taxpayers and public safety deserve better.”

Human growth hormone is not a controlled dangerous substance under federal and state laws. Therefore, prescriptions for human growth hormones would not be monitored as a matter of course under the PMP.

However, the program’s Director is authorized to expand the program to monitor drugs such as human growth hormones after a lengthy and protracted process. The process requires that the director initially determine that the drug should be monitored, taking into consideration various factors, including potential for abuse, scientific evidence or its pharmacological effects, history and current patterns of abuse, and the risk to the public health. The director is then required to monitor the drug on a temporary basis, after which the director has the discretion to permanently add the drug to the monitoring program, which must follow the regulatory process of publication in the New Jersey Register.

In light of the investigations that have revealed significant abuses in the use of human growth hormones throughout New Jersey that pose a risk to the public’s health and safety, this bill is intended to ensure that human growth hormones are added to the monitoring program as soon as possible.

“It’s bad enough that this abuse has been costing the taxpayers of this state millions of dollars,” said Ramos (D-Hudson). “But law enforcement officers susceptible to ‘roid rage’ pose a grave danger to the public safety. This measure will increase accountability and awareness and send a message that this behavior must stop.”

“Steroid abuse often comes with increased aggression, so this illegal activity by those assigned to protect our safety has been costly to taxpayers and put people at risk,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “It cannot continue. This bill will prevent abuse, save taxpayers money and hopefully lead to these abusers getting the help they need before it’s too late.”

Article source: http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5231