TRENTON, N.J. – Three state lawmakers slammed a bill creating special benefits for employees at Newark Liberty International Airport and the adjacent train station during a March 25 Assembly voting session. The bill (S989), which the Democrats call the “Healthy Terminals Act,” sets a prevailing wage schedule for any...
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TRENTON, N.J. – In the past few years, New Jersey has honored its veterans with free beach access, hunting and fishing licenses, and hiring preferences for civil service jobs. A veteran lawmaker thinks it is time to quit what he calls the “soft-shoe” approach. Assemblyman Brian Bergen, who was...
TRENTON, N.J. – Republican lawmakers in the Assembly and state Senate Thursday again pushed to move forward legislation putting a 14-day cap on any rule Gov. Phil Murphy issues, citing the Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act, unless it receives legislative approval. Murphy declared both a state of emergency...
TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Brian Bergen called on Gov. Phil Murphy to immediately implement the new social distancing guidelines issued Friday from the Centers for Disease Control, which allow students to sit three-feet apart instead of six feet. The updates were made after the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases published...
TRENTON, N.J. – The Assembly Health Committee moved a measure sponsored by Assemblyman Brian Bergen that would promote economic growth by encouraging investments in medical marijuana dispensaries owned by minorities, women and disabled veterans. “It is going to be so important to our state’s economic recovery to encourage investments...
UPDATE: After this story was posted, the Assembly cancelled its Friday voting session and five committee meetings scheduled that day. TRENTON, N.J. – The cancellation of Assembly committees for the third time this month is facing criticism from Assemblyman Brian Bergen. “All business is halted because people of the...
TRENTON, N.J. – On Friday, Speaker Craig Coughlin announced the postponement of all Assembly business for 10 days, a move designed to allow the governor and Senate more time to come to an agreement on the details of marijuana legislation. “An internal political feud is not more important than...
TRENTON, N.J. – The state Education Department quietly sent a memo last week to school districts detailing its plans to require standardized tests this spring even while it could apply for a waiver from the Biden administration. Assemblyman Brian Bergen says the state should think about the impact on...
TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Brian Bergen questioned the Murphy administration’s decision Wednesday to leave off 116,000 public school teachers from the newly announced list of those eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. Instead, smokers are eligible for the early round of vaccination. “I am appalled that the Murphy administration would...
TRENTON, N.J. – Taxpayers that have lower earned income this year could be receiving a lower tax credit from the federal government, and consequentially from state government, because of economic shutdowns resulting from the pandemic response. Assemblymen Brian Bergen, Hal Wirths and John Catalano want to make sure working...