The Fight to End Domestic Violence Against Women

By Congressman Chris Smith

Congressman Chris Smith meets with members of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Nicole Morella, Cristina Williams and Catherine Hernesh  . photo via facebook

For 22 years, the Violence Against Women Act has been one of our nation’s most impactful laws. Aided by $6 billion in federal VAWA funding, millions of women have received emergency assistance during a crisis and support that has helped break the cycle of violence.

As the first comprehensive legislative package to address the epidemic of domestic violence, VAWA changed the attention to and conversation surrounding how we as a nation can better support victims of abuse and help families in need of a safe space. The law, which I supported at the outset and consistently since, invested significant resources to help prevent domestic abuse, assist the women and children who fall victim to it, and improve the judicial system’s response.

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Christie Signs Law Allowing PTSD To Be Treated With Medical Marijuana

photo via facebook

New Jersey Post Traumatic Stress Disorder patients can be treated with Medical Marijuana, after conventional treatments have failed, under a bill signed by Governor Chris Christie on Wednesday. The new law took effect upon Christie signing the bill.

The bill, which passed with veto proof majorities in the Assembly and Senate, adds PTSD to the list of debilitating medical conditions that can be legally treated with cannabis under the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

In a statement issued with the enactment of the bill, Christie cited the increase in PTSD among military veterans and others since the terrorist attack upon the United States on September 11, 2001.  Christie said he was directing the Commissioner of the Department of Health to promulgate regulations to deter the abuse of medical marijuana that might result from the enactment of this new law.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, September 16-18, 2016

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, Sept. 16

• Gypsy by Phoenix Productions at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Iago by NJ Repertory Company (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• The Lion in Winter by The Stone Church Players (Navesink) – MORE INFO
• Handmade Jewelry Collection (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• Bluegrass Mini Golf at Monmouth Park (Oceanport) – MORE INFO

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New Jersey Gov. Christie, seeking revenue, ends 40-year tax agreement with Pa.

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is scrapping an agreement between New Jersey and Pennsylvania that has allowed taxpayers to pay income tax in the state where they live, not where they work. The Christie administration on Friday notified officials in Harrisburg, Pa., that the governor was nixing the agreement. That means wealthy Pennsylvania… Read the rest of this entry »

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PIG FARM PLANNED FOR MANALAPAN

Developer Joe Spano seems to be resigned that the property he owns at the corner of Route 33 and Millhurst Road will remain a farm, after being thwarted in numerous attempts over the last thirteen years to get an acceptable development approved by the Manalapan Township Committee.  But soy beans and corn crops are not coming close to covering expenses and providing a fair return on the roughly $20 million Spano says has been invested in the property through his former company, Manalapan Retail Realty Partners, and his current company, Village at Manalapan Properties.

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Christie, Democrats take another stab at ending N.J. road funding crisis

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has resumed talks with Democratic legislative leaders in another attempt to end a stalemate over transportation funding that prompted a statewide road construction shutdown heading into its third month. Christie met with Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) on Monday, and will meet with Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), as well this… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sunday is GoTopless Day

By Art Gallagher

Not a transgender person

If a pre-op transgender person with boobs and male parts goes topless in public, is that person violating anti-nudity ordinances?

I’d ask Congressman Frank Pallone, but he couldn’t tell me if a woman with all the parts she was born with should have the right to go topless wherever a man does when I caught up with him three years ago.  Since then, the president of the GoTopless movement has publicly chastised the congressman and he runs the other way whenever he sees me.

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Sonnek-Schelmz Slams “Special Interest Money Addict” Pallone For Accepting EpiPen Cash

Congressman Frank Pallone

Republican congressional candidate Brent Sonnek-Schmelz today demanded that Congressman Frank Pallone (Radical Progressive Liberal Democrat-Middlesex and Monmouth Counties) return the $10,000 he has collected from Mylan Pharmaceuticals’ political action committee and that Pallone explain his cozy financial relationships with the companies he is charged with overseeing as the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mylan and CEO Heather Bresch have come under scrutiny this week after it was reported that the company has increased the wholesale price of EpiPen 400% while Bresch’s salary has increased 671% from $2,453,456 in 2007, the year of the Mylan aquired EpiPen to $18,931,068 in 2015.

EpiPen is a life saving emergency treatment for anaphylactic shock.  Sales of the drug provide 40% of Mylan’s operating profit, according to published reports.

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Congressman Smith Encourages High School Students To Enter the Congressional App Challenge

Congressman Chris Smith and Freeholder Lillian Burry in Spring Lake, Aug 22, 2016

Congressman Chris Smith, R-NJ 4 is encouraging Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) high school students from his district to apply for the Congressional App Challenge, a competition for U.S. high school students across the nation.

“The App Challenge encourages high school students to get involved in STEM fields, computer science and programming by creating and exhibiting their software applications,” said Smith. “This challenge is a modest but important step to inspire creativity in students, urge them to pursue coding skills and prepare for good-paying, high-tech jobs.”

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O’Scanlon: Make Drivers’ Licenses Expire On Birthdays

Declan O’Scanlon

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon is the best friend New Jersey drivers have in Trenton.

The Monmouth County legislator who defeated red light cameras today announced that he is introducing legislation that will reduce the end of the month waiting lines at Motor Vehicle Commission offices by changing the date that drivers’ licenses expire from the last day of the month to the birthday of the driver.

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