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“New Jersey families are being crushed by some of the highest electric bills, property taxes, and cost of living in the entire country, and Sherrill’s answer is to spend more defending illegal immigrants,”
~Congressman Van Drew
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (CNBNews)(June 6, 2026)– Today, Congressman Van Drew released the following statement condemning Governor Sherrill’s decision to increase funding for New Jersey’s Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative by an additional $12 million, bringing the total taxpayer-funded program to more than $20 million. The funding is intended to provide legal assistance to individuals facing deportation and detention proceedings.
Legislation designed to ensure quicker collection of digital evidence in investigations of domestic violence and stalking cases cleared the Assembly Judiciary Committee today. Specifically, Bill A5155 would amend the New Jersey Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act to require expedited compliance with certain search warrants for information in these types of cases. Assemblywomen Marisa Sweeney and Heather Simmons sponsored the bill. “For victims of domestic violence and stalking, every day spent waiting for information can feel like an eternity,” said Assemblywoman Sweeney (D-Morris, Passaic). “We know that sometimes the most critical evidence is stored online, and when investigators can’t get to that information quickly, it can slow down the efforts in place to protect victims and stop abuse before it escalates even more.” Under the bill, when served with certain search warrants related to domestic violence, stalking, or violations of protective orders, social media platform providers would be required to respond within 72 hours. All other communications providers would be required to respond within five business days. To ensure these requests receive prompt attention, qualifying warrants would be required to clearly state “Immediate Response Required,” helping law enforcement more effectively investigate cases and better protect victims from ongoing harm. “Technology has transformed the way people communicate, but unfortunately it has also changed the way some people intimidate, harass, and stalk their victims,” said Assemblywoman Simmons (D-Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem). “When investigators need access to digital evidence that could help protect someone from harm, unnecessary delays have serious consequences. This bill recognizes that urgency and ensures such lifesaving information can be collected without additional delays.” The bill is modeled after Oregon’s “Kristil’s Law,” which was enacted after a Colorado woman endured months of stalking, harassment, and digital impersonation before being murdered by her husband.
In celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak today highlighted more than $130 million in ongoing restoration and visitor improvement projects at state-owned historic sites that have had pivotal roles in New Jersey and American history, spanning from the American Revolution through the Industrial Revolution and beyond.
Acting Commissioner Potosnak discussed the investments today at the Wallace House Historic Site in Somerville, Somerset County, which is undergoing a $4.3 million restoration and served as General George Washington’s headquarters when the Continental Army encamped at Middlebrook during the winter of 1778-1779. He emphasized the Sherrill Administration’s commitment to ensure visitors are inspired by elements of American history that are uniquely New Jersey. “The determination and resilience of America and her people can be found in the pivotal actions of New Jersey’s contributions from 250 years ago to today,”
As the human cost of Washington’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” begins to come into focus for the most vulnerable New Jerseyans, Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin is making sure families in the Garden State don’t fall through the cracks. Bill A3883, which advanced through the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee today, would help families and individuals comply with new federal requirements that threaten their access to two critical safety-net programs—NJ FamilyCare and SNAP.
Combined, these programs provide healthcare benefits and food assistance to more than two million New Jersey residents.
“For a parent working two jobs, a senior on a fixed income, or someone dealing with a health issue, navigating new and expanded mandates can be the difference between keeping benefits and losing them,” said Speaker Coughlin in his testimony. “Here in New Jersey, we already lead the nation in fighting food insecurity—we fought hard to provide the highest monthly SNAP minimum in the country, and we should be proud of that. But setting the bar high means nothing if we let bureaucracy knock people off the ladder on their way up.”
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection invites the public to get outside and connect with nature during National Trails Day this Saturday, June 6, by participating in one of 22 guided hikes throughout state parks, forests and historic sites.
Gloucester City, NJ(August 30, 2021)(CNBNews)— The November 2 election in Gloucester City will have three different groups offering candidates for the positions on the council that are open. When Mayor Dan Spencer resigned suddenly in April, he still had a year and a half left on his four-year term. His resignation set up the following chain of events. Democrat Councilman at large Pat Keating stepped down from his position and was appointed to the mayor’s seat until this November’s election. The fact that there were two unexpected openings on the council seems to have got two former mayors with different philosophies thinking about getting back in the arena.
Those two mayors are Robert (Bob) Bevan, who was elected in the 80s to two terms as an independent, and Charles (Chuck) Billingham, who was elected in the mid-90s as a democrat.
Former Gloucester City Mayor Robert Bevan’s candidate for Pat Keating’s council-at-large seat is Sarah O’Brien; she is very involved in a youth program called Community Rocks, which teaches art and music to kids, according to Bevan.
Bevan had hoped to have a candidate to run Spencer’s unexpired term, but was unable to find anyone interested. “We had short notice; the deadline for us to gather names on the nomination petition was today, August 30, by 4 PM. That seat, along with Keating’s at-large position, will be up for re-election next November. Hopefully, we can get more people interested in running for office by then.”
We will talk with Bevan about why he got back into the political arena later this week. We will also have more information about Sarah O’Brien at that time.
Billingham announced today that he is forming his own Democratic Party in Gloucester City, and is backing Dale Baile for mayor, George Berglund for council, and newcomer Robbie Page for Keating’s at-large council seat. Billingham said he has resigned from the Gloucester City Democrat Club and is just organizing this new group. He emphasized he was not going to run for any position on council or any other body.
“I don’t want to do anything in a vacuum or behind closed doors from now on; everything will be in the open. The people I spoke to so far agreed to that open-door policy. I have the blessing of Jim Beach, the chairman of the Camden County Democratic organization and also the state Democratic organization, to proceed with the reorganization of the Gloucester City Democratic Party. After speaking with Chairman Beach, he promised that the candidates I am backing in November will be listed in Column 1 on the ballot. The incumbents who are up for re-election have been moved to Column 2. “
“In the future, I like to see incumbents earn the right to run for re-election. Under the present system, an incumbent can stay in office as long as he wants, even if he isn’t doing his job. Asked who else is involved in this change, Billingham said, “Presently it is just and Ad-hoc group of non-political people who agree with me that our city is going in the wrong direction.”
Asked who was in charge of the present Democrat Party, Billingham said, “My son Michael is the head of those people, and there is a bit of a private disagreement between us. I have no intention of running for office. I am just an advisor.”
What made you decide to start this movement?
“I have been out of politics since 2015, but in recent months, I met with the present members of the Party, and I wasn’t hearing anything different coming from their mouths. I just got my tax bill and I saw how high it was this year, I just had to do something. I also have been reading your Peyton and Me Meandering columns and I see quality of life problems I just didn’t like. “
“Robbie Page has an incredible educational background in finance. He has the backing of the Camden County Democrats. Rob will be out knocking on doors, meeting everyone he can between now and November 2. Dale Baile is running for mayor. He is a businessman who has been involved in civic activities for many years. He is going to make a great mayor.”
Lastly, I would like to make it clear that I don’t approve of personal attacks on candidates. I will disagree with someone’s policies, but it upsets me when the Party or the local Democrats bash someone’s personality. I tried for six months to influence those running the local organization to my way of thinking. But, they disagreed with me and forced me to take this action.”
Once we know the names of the candidates the regular Democrats are nominating, we will publish that information.
Congressman Van Drew toured the Delaney Hall Detention Facility to see the conditions, operations, and law enforcement response for himself. “I toured Delaney Hall today because I wanted to see the facts with my own eyes,” said Congressman Van Drew. “What I saw was very different from the political story being pushed by some of my Democrat colleagues. The facility has doctors, nurses, and dentists providing medical care. There is a law library for detainees to study their cases along with a regular library, and large spaces for recreation, including a soccer field and a gym. The food service provides menu options for religious needs, kosher meals, allergies, and other dietary restrictions. I saw good conditions, clean facilities, basic care, and a detention center where ICE and DHS are doing a hard job that keeps our communities safe. Quite frankly, the conditions I saw today are better than what you see in some nursing homes. Let’s be honest about who is being held here. These are illegal immigrants with criminal histories involving drug trafficking, weapons charges, assault, fraud, money laundering, cocaine distribution, and other serious offenses. They are exactly the kind of people ICE should be taking off our streets. “Americans have every right to peacefully protest, but when you throw objects at officers, assault law enforcement, block federal agents, and riot outside a detention facility, you are breaking the law. Local police must keep working with ICE, DHS, and federal law enforcement to maintain order. ICE and DHS are doing their job, and I will continue to stand with the men and women who protect the American people.”
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jacksonintroduced legislation today that would impose a 100% New Jersey state income tax on any payments received through President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. Bill A5196, one of the first-of-its-kind in the country, would effectively eliminate any net financial benefit for recipients residing in New Jersey.
The fund was established to compensate individuals who claim they were targeted by the Biden administration and Democratic officials as victims of political “weaponization” and “lawfare.” Critics have raised concerns that individuals connected to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including New Jersey residents who were charged and later pardoned, could potentially benefit from the program.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly used in the workplace to streamline tasks and make operations more efficient, Assembly Democrats continue to encourage responsible growth of technology. The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee today advanced Bill A4731, which would create a model policy for the use of generative AI. Assemblymembers Tennille R. McCoy, Balvir Singh and Luanne Peterpaul sponsored the legislation. “Navigating the practical uses of AI is one of the most important challenges facing professionals today,” said Assemblywoman McCoy (D-Mercer, Middlesex). “As this technology becomes more common in workplaces across New Jersey, we must ensure there are clear standards and regulations in place to protect consumers while also allowing a space for innovation.” Bill A4731 would direct professional and occupational boards to promulgate rules for licensee use of generative AI. Specifically, the bill would direct the Division of Consumer Affairs to create a model policy governing the use of generative AI by licensed professionals across New Jersey’s regulatory boards. The boards would then be able to use that model policy to create and adopt policies for their professions, putting guardrails in place to ensure that professionals use generative AI in ethical and fair ways to best benefit their clients, patients or customers. “New technology like generative AI can be a useful tool to boost efficiency, but we need to put some standards in place,” said Assemblyman Singh (D-Burlington). “As we continue moving into the digital future, providing guidance to make sure licensed professionals are using AI in a way that is consistent with their duties and obligations is more important than ever.” “Studies show that many businesses and professionals are still in the experimentation or piloting phase of using AI, making now the perfect time to advance Bill A4731,” said Assemblywoman Peterpaul (D-Monmouth). “The integration of AI in the workplace is inevitable, and establishing guidelines today will benefit the patients, workers and consumers of tomorrow.”
