Call NJ Assembly Members Today-Act today to stop Governor Christie from weakening essential safeguards
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Joanne O'Neill
May 22, 2012, 5:25:58 PM5/22/12
to PDA Progressive Democracy South Jersey, PDA - NJ, Occupy Trenton, Occupy New Jersey, NJ Accountability&Justice, NJ...@googlegroups.com
ACTION
ALERT
The NJ Assembly is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would override the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) waiver rule this Thursday, May 24. Act today to stop Governor Christie from weakening essential safeguards that protect our health, workers' rights, and clean air and water.
Christie has issued an order requiring every state agency to set up a process for waiving virtually any state public or worker safeguard that agency is supposed to enforce. We need to stop this process in its tracks by getting the legislature to block the first agency's waiver rule.
TAKE ACTION
Call your State Assemblyperson today and ask them to vote YES on ACR 37 to block the DEP Waiver Rule.
Find your State Assemblyperson. You can search by town.
When you reach your Assemblyperson, or a legislative aide, tell them your name and where you live and ask your Assemblyperson to vote YES on ACR 37, the resolution to override the DEP waiver rule.
BACKGROUND
Governor Christie’s Executive Order #2 mandates every state agency to develop rules that will allow them to waive their own regulations. The DEP was the first state agency to enact a waiver rule.
1) In addition to endangering the environment, this waiver policy will endanger New Jersey workers. New Jersey regulations help create safer working conditions for employees in hazardous industries across the state. Every day these safeguards, such as those issued under the Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act, and the Spill Act, protect the lives and well-being of workers in our state’s chemical plants, oil refineries, and many other industries that use hazardous substances. Waiving these protections will endanger their safety.
2) The rule will hurt New Jersey’s small businesses. The proposed rule will make it harder for small business to compete with big corporations. In order to apply for a waiver, a company will need political influence and the resources to pay attorneys and experts. Only wealthy, well connected corporations can afford such expenses.
3) Waivers will be granted with limited public comment and public notice. This will prevent NJ residents who will be affected by a waiver from protesting and will make it easy to reward large campaign contributors with the right to violate state law.
4.) The DEP waiver policy sets a precedent for other agencies. Following in DEP's footsteps, the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) recently established its waiver policy as well. DCA waivers will jeopardize the ability of NJ residents to challenge consumer fraud by car dealers, insurance companies, lenders, cell phone carriers, home construction and repair providers, telemarketers, employment agencies, and more.
5.) The rule violates NJ law and the state constitution. When the legislature wants an agency to grant waivers, it provides for that power by law. If Christie believes that safeguards we all count on should be repealed, he should go to the legislature -- not unilaterally set up a process to let wealthy corporations and individuals simply ignore the law.
Please call your Assemblyperson today and urge them to vote in favor of Assembly resolution ACR37.
The NJ Assembly is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would override the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) waiver rule this Thursday, May 24. Act today to stop Governor Christie from weakening essential safeguards that protect our health, workers' rights, and clean air and water.
Christie has issued an order requiring every state agency to set up a process for waiving virtually any state public or worker safeguard that agency is supposed to enforce. We need to stop this process in its tracks by getting the legislature to block the first agency's waiver rule.
TAKE ACTION
Call your State Assemblyperson today and ask them to vote YES on ACR 37 to block the DEP Waiver Rule.
Find your State Assemblyperson. You can search by town.
When you reach your Assemblyperson, or a legislative aide, tell them your name and where you live and ask your Assemblyperson to vote YES on ACR 37, the resolution to override the DEP waiver rule.
BACKGROUND
Governor Christie’s Executive Order #2 mandates every state agency to develop rules that will allow them to waive their own regulations. The DEP was the first state agency to enact a waiver rule.
1) In addition to endangering the environment, this waiver policy will endanger New Jersey workers. New Jersey regulations help create safer working conditions for employees in hazardous industries across the state. Every day these safeguards, such as those issued under the Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act, and the Spill Act, protect the lives and well-being of workers in our state’s chemical plants, oil refineries, and many other industries that use hazardous substances. Waiving these protections will endanger their safety.
2) The rule will hurt New Jersey’s small businesses. The proposed rule will make it harder for small business to compete with big corporations. In order to apply for a waiver, a company will need political influence and the resources to pay attorneys and experts. Only wealthy, well connected corporations can afford such expenses.
3) Waivers will be granted with limited public comment and public notice. This will prevent NJ residents who will be affected by a waiver from protesting and will make it easy to reward large campaign contributors with the right to violate state law.
4.) The DEP waiver policy sets a precedent for other agencies. Following in DEP's footsteps, the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) recently established its waiver policy as well. DCA waivers will jeopardize the ability of NJ residents to challenge consumer fraud by car dealers, insurance companies, lenders, cell phone carriers, home construction and repair providers, telemarketers, employment agencies, and more.
5.) The rule violates NJ law and the state constitution. When the legislature wants an agency to grant waivers, it provides for that power by law. If Christie believes that safeguards we all count on should be repealed, he should go to the legislature -- not unilaterally set up a process to let wealthy corporations and individuals simply ignore the law.
Please call your Assemblyperson today and urge them to vote in favor of Assembly resolution ACR37.
If you have questions or need more information,
please contact Mo Kinberg WEC Campaign Organizer mkin...@njwec.org or call (609) 695-7100
ext. 300.
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