Quorum Call
News from the District
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From the office of Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney
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A Message from the Assemblyman:
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Dear Friend,
Spring is here! So get ready to plant your flowers and protect your wallet because the Legislature is gearing up for the budget approval process as the Assembly and the Senate conducts their public hearings. Last month, Governor Phil Murphy proposed a $38.6 Billion budget that relies on raising taxes and fees. I assure you that I will continue to fight for the values of New Jersey families and work to make our State more affordable.
I'm excited to share with you the status of a few pieces of legislation that are important to me. On March 25, the General Assembly voted to approved two bills that I co-sponsored that concern the opioid crisis in New Jersey. The fist bill requires hospitals to include a warning in patient discharge papers concerning risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications. This bill currently awaits action in the Senate. The second bill requires prescription opioid medications to include a warning sticker advising patients of risk of addiction and overdose. As you know, this issue is very important to me and these are just a few steps I've taken to fight addiction. Lastly, the Assembly also passed a resolution, which I co-sponsored, that designates the second Monday of each May as New Jersey Economic Development Day. So, mark your calendars - this year, it will be on May 13th!
Other news from the District and about my activities this past month are included below.
I've also included a brief section detailing April's Observances as Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month and National Prescription Take Back Day. Finally, our
Spotlight
feature this month highlights the US Equestrian Team, which is based in Peapack-Gladston, NJ, for their gold medal winning performance at the FEI Nations Cup in Wellington, FL last month.
I hope you enjoy this month's edition of
Quorum Call,
and stay safe as we get ready for the warmer spring months.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Rooney
Assemblyman
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Rooney's Recipes
Assemblyman and winner of Food Network's
"Chopped"
shares his favorite recipes
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Ingredients fo:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) of salted butter
- 2 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 cup regular white sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 8-ounce package caramels
- 1 5-ounce can evaporated milk
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
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Preparation:
Butter a 9 x 13-inch pan and heat oven to 350 degrees. In large, heavy saucepan over low heat, melt butter and chocolate.
Remove from heat and stir in sugars, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt.
Add eggs one at a time, beating about 30 seconds after each.
Pour half the mixture in the pan and bake for 7 minutes. While it is baking, melt caramels in double boiler or microwave, and stir in milk.
After 7 minutes remove partially baked brownies from oven and drizzle with the caramel, then sprinkle with nuts. Spoon remaining brownie mix over and bake another 30 to 35 minutes.
Sprinkling with powdered sugar is optional.
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Recent Legislation and News from Trenton
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Here is some of my recent activity at the State House.
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Passaic County Education Association Legislative Dinner
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With my Passaic County colleagues, I attended the dinner to support chapter 78 relief. We also discussed pension obligations, support staff rights, and other issues important to our teachers. I am committed to finding bipartisan solutions for our educators.
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Passaic County Young Republicans Meeting
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Assemblyman Chris DePhillips and I attended the March meeting to discuss the importance of this year's election in November.
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Opioid Epidemic Panel Discussion
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I joined parents, teachers, law enforcement personnel, and health care professionals at a panel discussion at the Wyckoff Family YMCA addressing mental health and the opioid epidemic.
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Pequannock Republican Club Pasta Dinner
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Attended this year's Pasta Dinner with Sheriff James Gannon, Freeholder Heather Darling, Freeholder Doug Cabana, and Surrogate Doug Cabana.
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21st Annual Chocolate Competetion
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I served as a judge at the annual Chocolate Competition at Bergen County Academies. The students did an incredible job.
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Bergen/Passaic County School Boards Association Meeting
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Joined my colleagues in a panel discussion about the impact of the state budget on our schools. We spoke about the steps we need to take to ensure this year's budget does not negatively impact our children.
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On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local police departments and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 17th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your pills for disposal to a participating police department. (Sites cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last fall Americans turned in nearly 460 tons (more than 900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 16 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in almost 11 million pounds—nearly 5,500 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27 Take Back Day event, go to
www.DEATakeBack.com
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This April, we are observing Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. Esophageal cancer, which is cancer of the esophagus, is one of the fastest-growing cancer diagnoses in the United States with nearly 18,000 new cases diagnosed annually. It often begins as gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid flows into the food pipe, irritating the lining of the esophagus.
Acid reflux and heartburn can set the stage for esophageal cancer by causing tissue damage that can lead to a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus.
See a doctor
if you have pain or difficulty when swallowing, hoarseness, excessive coughing, enlarged lymph nodes or abnormal weight loss.
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Consumer Tips
Tips, scam alerts, and other advice about every-day situations for consumers
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New Jersey based US Equestrian Team competed with teams from around the world in Florida in March
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Team USA won the gold medal in FEI Nations Cup Intermediate II U25 beating teams from Canada and Spain. The tournament was held in Wellington, FL and riding for Team USA were Lauren Aasher, Natalie Pai, and Kerrigan Gluch with a total score of 138.559 percent. Lauren, Natalie, and Kerrigan beat two teams from Canada to take home the gold!
Click
here to learn more on how to visit the US Equestrian Team Olympic Training Center and Headquarters in Peapack-Gladstone.
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Did you know the horse is New Jersey's state animal? That is why I have sponsored
a bill that authorizes the creation of special license plates commemorating the horse as the State animal.
Read more about US Equestrian Team
here
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1211 Hamburg Turnpike
Suite 301
Wayne, NJ 07470
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Office: (973) 237-1362
Fax: (973) 237-1367
Email: AsmRooney@njleg.org
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Appropriations
Consumer Affairs
Environment and Solid Waste
Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission
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