Declan O'Scanlon

Representatives from the NJ Association of Counties, the State League of Municipalities, and the Conference of Mayors will make a plea to state lawmakers Friday to reauthorize the cap that limits pay increases for police and firefighters by arbitrators to 2%.

NJ may start requiring EMS providers to report each encounter with a patient, so officials can track, analyze and improve response to medical emergencies.

A bill would allow counties and municipalities to create permanent lower speed limits in school zones, rather than ones that only take effect during certain times when schools are in session.

Despite concerns about possible costs for taxpayers, the Assembly voted 61-4 for a bill ceding control of the police and fire pension funds to a union-controlled panel.

The repeal of the Affordable Care Act, if it happens, will take months to enact and years to roll out. But it's already influencing the coming year's budget.

The possible impact of federal budget cuts was a recurring theme at the first public hearing on New Jersey's proposed budget for 2018.

New Jersey’s long-term debt grew by 12 percent last year, due to what it owes for pensions and health benefits for retirees, according to an annual state report.

Lawmakers say drunk-driving convicts drive with suspended licenses, so the way to reduce repeat offenses is through ignition-lock breath tests, not license suspensions.

The first of the tax cuts adopted along with the nearly 23-cent increase in the gas tax takes effect on Sunday – but while everyone benefits, few may notice.

Attacking current approaches to shared services as "awful," Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon is pushing a plan that he says would result in more efficient policing and savings for taxpayers.