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KEY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES:
DiFrancesco continues to lead the fight for improving the quality of life
for all New Jerseyans.
Under Senate President DiFrancesco's leadership, the following legislative
initiatives have moved forward in the Senate:
Property Tax Relief Now -- a $400 million direct relief plan.
Building a Healthier New Jersey -- a 24-point plan aimed at reforming
the health care industry.
Protecting New Jersey's Drinking Water, a 16-point plan of action
to protect, conserve, test and monitor New Jersey's drinking water supplies.
RELIEF FOR NEW JERSEY PROPERTY TAXPAYERS
Recognizing the burden of property taxes, Senator DiFrancesco has proposed
AProperty Tax Relief Now! an initiative that provides $400 million in
direct property tax relief to taxpayers.
KEEPING THE STRONG ECONOMY MOVING
As the sponsor of the recently enacted Congestion Relief and Transportation
Trust Fund Renewal Act, Senator DiFrancesco helped secure billions for
road and infrastructure improvements without the implementation of any
new taxes.
The Senator was also a sponsor of several measures aimed at enhancing
employment opportunities for New Jersey residents, including the Economic
Recovery Act, which funded, among other projects, the New Jersey Performing
Arts Center.
PROVIDING THE TOOLS FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
DiFrancesco has been at the forefront of a number of initiatives aimed
at raising the standard of educational excellence and providing the tools
to help New Jersey school children reach academic success.
Under the Senate President's leadership, New Jersey also enacted the
Comprehensive Education Improvement and Funding Act of 1996, which ensures
all children receive a thorough and efficient education.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
During his tenure as Senate President, laws establishing a stable source
of funding for shore protection, providing for the clean-up of hazardous
waste and brownfields and creating a loan and grant program for underground
storage tank removals were enacted.
PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF NEW JERSEYANS
The Senate President sponsored legislation that created KidCare, a state
subsidized health insurance program for needy children, as well as the
landmark Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund and AFamily Leave
Act.
PROTECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AGAINST CRIME
Under his leadership, the New Jersey Legislature passed Megan's Law in
1994, in the wake of the murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka of Hamilton
Township. In order to provide parents with a greater ability to protect
their children, the Senate President sponsored a constitutional amendment
in 2000, enabling the state to post the names of convicted sex offenders
on the Internet.Under his leadership as Senate President, New Jersey has
enacted laws toughening the rules for granting parole. As Acting Governor
in 2000, DiFrancesco signed legislation that mandates a life sentence
without parole for murderers if the death penalty is not imposed.
The Senator also sponsored the legislation providing every law enforcement
agency in the state with a high-tech computer system called ATRAK (Technology
to Recover Abducted Kids), establishing a statewide child abduction recovery
program.
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE POLICY REFORMS
Automobile Insurance Cost Reduction Act of 1998, which reduced premiums
by 15 percent.
The Energy Reform Act of 1997, designed to cut energy rates by 45 percent
Tort Reform, to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits
The Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1993, which implemented the first-ever
limits on campaign contributions
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Senator DiFrancesco, a lifelong resident of New Jersey, is a graduate
of Penn State University and Seton Hall School of Law and is a partner
in a Warren law firm. Senator DiFrancesco and his wife, Diane, have three
daughters, Marie, Tracy and Marci
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