January 22, 2010
Contact: John Gorman / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7)
State Psychiatric Hospitals, Developmental Centers and Veterans’ Memorial Homes Will Be Affected
A bill sponsored by Senator Diane Allen (R-Burlington) that requires employee drug testing at state psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers and veterans’ memorial homes was recently signed into law.
“Residents in these facilities are reliant on others to take care of their most basic human needs, Allen stated. “It is only common sense that staff must be prepared and alert to perform these vital responsibilities. Requiring employees to undergo drug testing is a reasonable step and should be expected.”
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January 21, 2010
Contact: John Gorman / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7)
Senator Diane Allen (R-Burlington) was the prime sponsor of a new law that requires each four-year institution of higher education to provide information on graduation rates, costs, faculty and other important facts on its website.
“College is so expensive that most parents can’t afford to make mistakes when choosing where to send their children,” Senator Allen said. “This bill will help both parents and students make better choices about where to spend their precious educational dollars.”
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December 8, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7),
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Diane Allen, members of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement regarding the State Department of Education’s decision to apply for federal “Race to the Top” education grants.
“I am pleased that Commissioner Davy has decided to apply for $200 million to $400 million in federal education grants,” Kean began. “Her initiative in applying for these funds will positively impact student performance for many years to come. Additionally, these funds will be vitally important to property taxpayers over the next several months.”
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December 3, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7),
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Diane Allen, both members of the Senate Education Committee, expressed disappointment that New Jersey is woefully unprepared to apply for federal “Race to the Top” education grants. Published reports indicate that the state Department of Education ceased working on the application in mid-November. The deadline for the grant application is January 19, 2010.
“It is disappointing that the state Department of Education will be unable to complete the grant application by the deadline,” Kean stated. “I believe, especially in our current fiscal situation, it is imperative to make every effort to apply for all of the federal aid for which we are eligible. Remember, New Jersey only gets back 61 cents of every dollar we send to Washington. To refuse to apply for a $200 million to $400 million education grant is simply inexcusable.”
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December 3, 2009
Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7)
Senator Diane Allen, R-7, advanced her bill allowing taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to help members of the military and their families. The New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund would be financed with voluntary contributions from taxpayers. Taxpayers would be asked, as they file their tax returns, if they want to include a contribution or dedicate a portion of a refund to help military families in need of assistance.
“This bill makes it easy for good-hearted, patriotic people to help the most deserving families in our state deal with the stresses of overseas deployment and long terms of duty,” Senator Allen said. “It costs taxpayers nothing unless they donate, and it could mean the world to a military family that is making tremendous sacrifices for every American citizen.”
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November 9, 2009
Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7)
Senator Diane Allen thanks the many supporters and other friends who have called inquiring about her health. She is humbled and deeply moved by their concern.
“My illness has shown me again just how much the good people of my district and the state of New Jersey care about others,” Senator Allen said. “It’s impossible to express how grateful I am for their outpourings of caring, support and love.”
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The Senate Republican caucus announced today that they have unanimously voted to keep their strong leadership team in place for the next year. In addition, the senators also unanimously agreed to cast their votes for Senator Tom Kean as the next Senate president.
“Over the last decade, the policies of Governor Corzine and his allies have failed New Jersey’s struggling middle class,” Senate Republican Leader Kean said. “People are looking for change in Trenton, and our caucus is united and determined to provide real alternatives to the governor’s failed policies that will create jobs and make our state more affordable for everyone.”
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October 6, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7)
Senator Diane Allen provided the following comment when an informal survey of state authorities found that their high-paid, non-union patronage employees are not required to engage in furloughs similar to those imposed on rank and file state employees.
The informal survey indicates that there are no furlough policies in place for non-union employees at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the Waterfront Commission, or many other state authorities, some of which are heavily subsidized by taxes paid by private employees and public employees alike.
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September 15, 2009
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7)
Senator Diane Allen (R-Burlington, Camden) called on Governor Jon Corzine to stop diversions of money from the state’s Clean Energy Fund. A published report in The Press of Atlantic City indicates that $30 million has been diverted from the fund since July 1, 2009.
The fund, which is financed by rate payers through the societal benefits charge added to every utility bill in the state, provides capital for renewable energy programs and supports the Lifeline Program and the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.
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July 27, 2009
Contact: John Gorman / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7)
Senator Diane Allen, R-Burlington, was angered by reports that the Corzine administration has decided to withhold the details of investigations conducted after a child under the supervision of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) dies from abuse or neglect. The new policy of less disclosure was reported today in the Star-Ledger of Newark.
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