MCKEON: OVERWHELMING BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT IN ASSEMBLY SPEAKS TO IMPORTANCE OF 'OPEN SPACE' TO N.J. VOTER Assembly Environment Chair Welcomes Passage of Open Space Ballot Measure in Assembly  (TRENTON) - The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chairman welcomed the passage of the open space ballot question measure he sponsored in the Assembly by a 66-9-3 vote. "The overwhelming bi-partisan support of the measure speaks to the fact that New Jersey voters value the importance of open space to the economy, to our environment and to our quality of life," McKeon (D-Essex) said. "Today, lawmakers in the New Jersey General Assembly honored the wishes of the New Jersey voter by voting Yes for open space! I am confident that in November, the citizens of New Jersey will vote in favor of funding open space, enabling us to take advantage of historic lows in property values." McKeon's ballot question measure (A-3901) would empower voters to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) that funds open space by authorizing the state to issue a $400 million bond issue. The GSPT runs out of money in July. McKeon said open space delivers a high economic yield to New Jersey including saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in water purification costs every year and providing a much-needed stimulus to the state's agriculture and tourism industries.The $400 million bond issue would put the annual cost of funding open space at $10 per average household. "For every dollar we spend, New Jersey will get 10 back," McKeon said. "It is money we cannot afford not to spend, especially in areas such as the Highlands where approximately 19,000 more acres of the most critical land in the Special Environment Zones must be preserved in order to protect the state's drinking water. And today, the Assembly voted to enable New Jersey voters to do so." The Highlands is the source of fresh water for more than half the state's residents and open space preservation is an important component of protecting that water supply. Thousands of acres of land in the Highlands region are protected under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act McKeon sponsored in 2004. New Jersey voters have approved 12 consecutive bond measures to fund open space since the first Green Acres Bond Act was passed in 1961. A poll conducted April 3 - 5 found that 80% of voters want their legislators to place the open space ballot question measure before them in November."This is a tipping point for open space. Even in these challenging times, the overwhelming voter support backed by today's passage of the ballot measure in the Assembly is a significant triumph," McKeon said. "I look forward to voter approval of the latest ballot question measure to fund open space." Assembly Budget chairman Louis D. Greenwald, Assembly Minority Whip Jon M. Bramnick, Assembly Minority Budget Officer Joseph R. Malone III, Assembly Majority Conference leader Joan M. Quigley and Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley are among the prime sponsors of the bi-partisan legislation sponsored by 37 lawmakers.###Contact: Gita Bajaj (973) 224-4851 cellular