PRINCETON - A series of quick and effective actions to address the economic crisis highlighted the long list of accomplishments Governor Jon S. Corzine discussed today at the annual end-of-year press conference.  "Providing immediate assistance to New Jersey residents and finding economic solutions to help the State through the current national economic recession has been our top priority," Governor Corzine said in prepared remarks.  "The initiatives I outlined in the Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan are important steps towards positioning New Jersey for a strong recovery."In October, Governor Corzine specified four areas of action: immediate assistance, including foreclosure prevention, energy costs, and food costs; short-term job creation, focusing on expediting public works projects and providing strong incentives for new job creation; long-term business climate changes, specifically on changes in tax policy and the cultivation of alternative energy projects, and; continued fiscal responsibility on the state level by keeping state spending in check.To date, initiatives of Governor Corzine's Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan implemented through existing programs or signed into law include increasing energy assistance aid; providing $22.5 million for food, energy and legal aid assistance; expansion of the Senior Freeze program; expediting $2.8 billion in transportation projects; allocating $12.5 million in state funds for foreclosure prevention assistance; created Invest NJ Program; broadened the small qualified business exception under the UEZ program; reforming some of the state's corporate tax laws, and; created the New Jersey Main Street Business Assistance Program."While New Jersey was not immune to the financial crisis caused by the national recession, we have been able to better weather the storm because of the tough, fiscal disciplinary actions we took to balance this year's budget," Governor Corzine said.  PRINCETON - A series of quick and effective actions to address the economic crisis highlighted the long list of accomplishments Governor Jon S. Corzine discussed today at the annual end-of-year press conference.  "Providing immediate assistance to New Jersey residents and finding economic solutions to help the State through the current national economic recession has been our top priority," Governor Corzine said in prepared remarks.  "The initiatives I outlined in the Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan are important steps towards positioning New Jersey for a strong recovery."In October, Governor Corzine specified four areas of action: immediate assistance, including foreclosure prevention, energy costs, and food costs; short-term job creation, focusing on expediting public works projects and providing strong incentives for new job creation; long-term business climate changes, specifically on changes in tax policy and the cultivation of alternative energy projects, and; continued fiscal responsibility on the state level by keeping state spending in check.To date, initiatives of Governor Corzine's Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan implemented through existing programs or signed into law include increasing energy assistance aid; providing $22.5 million for food, energy and legal aid assistance; expansion of the Senior Freeze program; expediting $2.8 billion in transportation projects; allocating $12.5 million in state funds for foreclosure prevention assistance; created Invest NJ Program; broadened the small qualified business exception under the UEZ program; reforming some of the state's corporate tax laws, and; created the New Jersey Main Street Business Assistance Program."While New Jersey was not immune to the financial crisis caused by the national recession, we have been able to better weather the storm because of the tough, fiscal disciplinary actions we took to balance this year's budget," Governor Corzine said.   Governor Corzine's FY ‘09 budget also contained nearly a $3 billion reduction in baseline spending and $600 million in absolute terms.  The budget also reduced the overall size of government through early retirement and attrition; cut the operating budgets of every state department by an average of five percent, and; eliminated altogether the Department of Personnel and the Commerce Commission. Governor Corzine also signed an Executive Order which requires that in all future budgets, recurring expenses must match recurring revenues.  These actions were closely followed by all three Wall Street ratings agencies issuing ratings reports highlighting the New Jersey's progress toward restoring fiscal stability and structural balance to the budget and easing the debt burden on State finances.In addition to bringing fiscal stability to the state budget and planning for short and long term solutions for economic recovery, Governor Corzine also maintained his commitment to restoring the public's faith in government by taking unprecedented steps in strengthening the state's ethics laws and regulations."All of us in public life need to send signals that we are committed to serving people fortheir needs as opposed to serving our own," Governor Corzine said.  "That is what my ethics package is all about and I intend to make sure it remains a top priority moving forward."In September, Governor Corzine signed four Executive Orders designed to close loopholes in the pay-to-play ban; impose a new ban on pay-to-play for all state redevelopment contracts; create a task force to recommend ways to strengthen local government ethics and improve enforcement, compliance and training, and; update disclosure requirements for the executive branch of state government."We have made great strides this year," Governor Corzine said.  "Many of the decisions made have been tough and unpopular, but they were necessary.  We will continue to move forward on a corrective path to fix the failed fiscal policies of New Jersey's past while navigating what is sure to be a difficult financial future nationally."Additional accomplishments are attached.###CORZINE ADMINISTRATION 2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTSEconomic Assistance and Recovery Plan: Passed the economic assistance and recovery plan including greater home heating assistance, $3 million in additional funding for your Hunger Initiative, a $9.5 million increase for Legal Services, an expanded Senior Freeze program, and new reforms for business such as the extension of the net operating loss carry-forward provision, the EDA Main Street Assistance program, the Invest NJ program, elimination of the "throw out" rule and "regular place of business" requirement, and reforms for the UEZs.Expediting public sector job creation particularly in the fields of transportation, school construction and energy. Goals are to maximize job creation while simultaneously investing in highly needed infrastructure.Developed a comprehensive mortgage foreclosure plan at the state level and pushing for a federal package.Passed a balanced budget for FY 2009 that reduced state debt by $650 million and identified several management efficiencies, including the reduction of 3,000 workers and the elimination of the Department of Personnel and the Commerce Commission.Passed a constitutional amendment to limit the State's borrowing ability; all new debt must receive voter approval. Maintained property tax relief for most homeowners: The FY 2009 budget provides nearly $1.6 billion to continue rebates for 90% of homeowners while 1.2 million, or 70%, will continue to receive the same rebate amount they received last year. Also, statewide increase in school tax levy was about 2.9% this past year, as opposed to 4.4% the year before and 6-7% increases in prior years.Enacted additional pension reforms including raising the salary level required to qualify for a pension for new workers, raising the retirement age to 62 for new employees, eliminating a state holiday (Lincoln's B-day), and incentives for employees to opt-out of the State Health Benefits Plan. Proposed sweeping ethics reform including four Executive Orders designed to close loopholes in the pay-to-play ban, impose a new ban on pay-to-play for all state redevelopment contracts, creation of a task force to recommend ways to strengthen local government ethics and improve enforcement, compliance and training, and updating disclosure requirements for the executive branch of state government. Also called for legislation to end pay-to-play at all levels of government, ban wheeling, ban no-bid contracts and reforming existing government contracts law, lower contribution limits to county committees, requiring greater disclosure for 527s and similar entities, and make the State Ethics Committee an all-public member body.Championed and enacted a paid family leave insurance program: Became the 3rd state in the nation to provide family leave insurance for workers caring for sick family members and newborn and newly-adopted children.Strengthened Workers' Compensation to protect vulnerable workers injured on the job.Increased staffing to manage increase in unemployment claims.FamilyCare Expansion for all parents up to 200% of federal poverty level and new health insurance mandate for all NJ children. Created the Health Care Stabilization Fund and awarded $44 million in grants.Continued to provide charity care with an updated formula to direct state aid to safety net hospitals.Improved access to care via FQHCs: Increased reimbursement and increased funding to expand hours and services.Improved monitoring of hospitals and prohibited hospitals from over-charging certain uninsured patients. Enacted A-500 which eliminated the use of Regional Contribution AgreementsIncreased SRAP to $52 millionCreated the Interagency Council on Preventing and Reducing HomelessnessCreated the Live-Where-You-Work program to provide low-interest mortgages to homebuyers in towns where they are employed.Undertook implementation of the crime plan re: prevention, enforcement and re-entry. A number of effective and promising practices have been identified and are being utilized in each area. Demonstrating results, particularly strong preliminary results regarding re-entry program called the Another Chance demonstration.Legislative victories to expand the drug court program, drug-court judgeships and the intensive supervision program.Completed and dedicated the new World War II memorial.Increased accountability for schools through new regulations and use of the Executive County Superintendents.Passed the new school funding formula, under which direct aid for education was increased by about $515 million. Preschool expansion included under new formula.Passed the new school construction funding bill, authorizing an additional $2.9 billion for school construction in the SDA/Abbott districts and $1 billion for all other districts.Appointed a new Newark Superintendent in collaboration with the search committee and the Newark Advisory Board.Focusing on reducing drop-outs through a new statewide campaign.Improving access to financial aid and cutting college costs with dual enrollment via new initiatives undertaken by the Commission on Higher Education. Released a new Energy Master Plan (EMP), a roadmap toward a responsible energy future.Signed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative legislation, placing a carbon dioxide cap and trade system on NJ electricity generators.Approved the Highlands Master Plan which will protect environmentally-sensitive areas in the Highlands. Protected State parks despite a severe budget crisis which threatened to close the parks. Released a statewide plan to move forward with $2.8 billion in transportation projects though December 2009, generating an estimated 26,000 jobs directly (45,000 jobs indirectly). Awarded nearly $80 million in DOT municipal aid grants to fund street improvement, rehab and safety projects in 372 NJ towns.Fostering urban economic development via new tools such as the urban transit hub tax credit, the neighborhood revitalization tax credit, and the Urban Plus program.Focused on improved diversity in the judicial system. Since elected, women and minorities have accounted for about 40 percent of new appointments to the bench.Created the Office of Supplier Diversity within Treasury. Opening of new Greystone Park Psychiatric HospitalUndertook restructuring of Ancora Psychiatric HospitalCamden-specific accomplishments include several reforms to the police department (new chief, new police director, improved technology, etc.), as well as a successful six-month collaborative operation that led to 306 arrests. In addition, there have been improvements in municipal budgeting and improvements focused on student engagement, such as the Summer HEAT (jobs) initiative and two recent college fairs.###Governor Jon S. Corzine's Federal Stimulus RequestGovernor Corzine testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee in December, requesting consideration for a federal stimulus package for states. Key components of his request include:States need the federal government to begin fully funding its obligations for programs like No Child Left Behind and special education funding.  For special education, the federal government only pays 17 percent of total costs, when it's supposed to be covering 40 percent.  Since the inception of NCLB, the federal government has underfunded the program by $1.2 billion in New Jersey alone.  Over the past five months, an additional 40,000 people have enrolled in New Jersey's Medicaid program. State are facing steep federal cuts in the program at precisely the same time that people are losing their jobs and need an increased Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP), considering anticipated increases in the unemployment rate.A comprehensive federal program is needed to address the housing crisis at its core. A key component of that program should allocate funds to make state Housing Finance Authorities are competitive in the marketplace.  States are working to bridge the gaps in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, unemployment insurance and workforce development, and need maximum leeway in spending these funds on the programs for which they were designated.States and the federal government can put people back to work by committing a massive investment in public infrastructure, such as the proposed mass transit tunnel project under the Hudson River - a project that will create 6,000 construction jobs annually for ten years and 50,000 permanent jobs in the region.  ###Governor Corzine's FY ‘09 budget also contained nearly a $3 billion reduction in baseline spending and $600 million in absolute terms.  The budget also reduced the overall size of government through early retirement and attrition; cut the operating budgets of every state department by an average of five percent, and; eliminated altogether the Department of Personnel and the Commerce Commission. Governor Corzine also signed an Executive Order which requires that in all future budgets, recurring expenses must match recurring revenues.  These actions were closely followed by all three Wall Street ratings agencies issuing ratings reports highlighting the New Jersey's progress toward restoring fiscal stability and structural balance to the budget and easing the debt burden on State finances.In addition to bringing fiscal stability to the state budget and planning for short and long term solutions for economic recovery, Governor Corzine also maintained his commitment to restoring the public's faith in government by taking unprecedented steps in strengthening the state's ethics laws and regulations."All of us in public life need to send signals that we are committed to serving people fortheir needs as opposed to serving our own," Governor Corzine said.  "That is what my ethics package is all about and I intend to make sure it remains a top priority moving forward."In September, Governor Corzine signed four Executive Orders designed to close loopholes in the pay-to-play ban; impose a new ban on pay-to-play for all state redevelopment contracts; create a task force to recommend ways to strengthen local government ethics and improve enforcement, compliance and training, and; update disclosure requirements for the executive branch of state government."We have made great strides this year," Governor Corzine said.  "Many of the decisions made have been tough and unpopular, but they were necessary.  We will continue to move forward on a corrective path to fix the failed fiscal policies of New Jersey's past while navigating what is sure to be a difficult financial future nationally."Additional accomplishments are attached.###CORZINE ADMINISTRATION 2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTSEconomic Assistance and Recovery Plan: Passed the economic assistance and recovery plan including greater home heating assistance, $3 million in additional funding for your Hunger Initiative, a $9.5 million increase for Legal Services, an expanded Senior Freeze program, and new reforms for business such as the extension of the net operating loss carry-forward provision, the EDA Main Street Assistance program, the Invest NJ program, elimination of the "throw out" rule and "regular place of business" requirement, and reforms for the UEZs.Expediting public sector job creation particularly in the fields of transportation, school construction and energy. Goals are to maximize job creation while simultaneously investing in highly needed infrastructure.Developed a comprehensive mortgage foreclosure plan at the state level and pushing for a federal package.Passed a balanced budget for FY 2009 that reduced state debt by $650 million and identified several management efficiencies, including the reduction of 3,000 workers and the elimination of the Department of Personnel and the Commerce Commission.Passed a constitutional amendment to limit the State's borrowing ability; all new debt must receive voter approval. Maintained property tax relief for most homeowners: The FY 2009 budget provides nearly $1.6 billion to continue rebates for 90% of homeowners while 1.2 million, or 70%, will continue to receive the same rebate amount they received last year. Also, statewide increase in school tax levy was about 2.9% this past year, as opposed to 4.4% the year before and 6-7% increases in prior years.Enacted additional pension reforms including raising the salary level required to qualify for a pension for new workers, raising the retirement age to 62 for new employees, eliminating a state holiday (Lincoln's B-day), and incentives for employees to opt-out of the State Health Benefits Plan. Proposed sweeping ethics reform including four Executive Orders designed to close loopholes in the pay-to-play ban, impose a new ban on pay-to-play for all state redevelopment contracts, creation of a task force to recommend ways to strengthen local government ethics and improve enforcement, compliance and training, and updating disclosure requirements for the executive branch of state government. Also called for legislation to end pay-to-play at all levels of government, ban wheeling, ban no-bid contracts and reforming existing government contracts law, lower contribution limits to county committees, requiring greater disclosure for 527s and similar entities, and make the State Ethics Committee an all-public member body.Championed and enacted a paid family leave insurance program: Became the 3rd state in the nation to provide family leave insurance for workers caring for sick family members and newborn and newly-adopted children.Strengthened Workers' Compensation to protect vulnerable workers injured on the job.Increased staffing to manage increase in unemployment claims.FamilyCare Expansion for all parents up to 200% of federal poverty level and new health insurance mandate for all NJ children. Created the Health Care Stabilization Fund and awarded $44 million in grants.Continued to provide charity care with an updated formula to direct state aid to safety net hospitals.Improved access to care via FQHCs: Increased reimbursement and increased funding to expand hours and services.Improved monitoring of hospitals and prohibited hospitals from over-charging certain uninsured patients. Enacted A-500 which eliminated the use of Regional Contribution AgreementsIncreased SRAP to $52 millionCreated the Interagency Council on Preventing and Reducing HomelessnessCreated the Live-Where-You-Work program to provide low-interest mortgages to homebuyers in towns where they are employed.Undertook implementation of the crime plan re: prevention, enforcement and re-entry. A number of effective and promising practices have been identified and are being utilized in each area. Demonstrating results, particularly strong preliminary results regarding re-entry program called the Another Chance demonstration.Legislative victories to expand the drug court program, drug-court judgeships and the intensive supervision program.Completed and dedicated the new World War II memorial.Increased accountability for schools through new regulations and use of the Executive County Superintendents.Passed the new school funding formula, under which direct aid for education was increased by about $515 million. Preschool expansion included under new formula.Passed the new school construction funding bill, authorizing an additional $2.9 billion for school construction in the SDA/Abbott districts and $1 billion for all other districts.Appointed a new Newark Superintendent in collaboration with the search committee and the Newark Advisory Board.Focusing on reducing drop-outs through a new statewide campaign.Improving access to financial aid and cutting college costs with dual enrollment via new initiatives undertaken by the Commission on Higher Education. Released a new Energy Master Plan (EMP), a roadmap toward a responsible energy future.Signed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative legislation, placing a carbon dioxide cap and trade system on NJ electricity generators.Approved the Highlands Master Plan which will protect environmentally-sensitive areas in the Highlands. Protected State parks despite a severe budget crisis which threatened to close the parks. Released a statewide plan to move forward with $2.8 billion in transportation projects though December 2009, generating an estimated 26,000 jobs directly (45,000 jobs indirectly). Awarded nearly $80 million in DOT municipal aid grants to fund street improvement, rehab and safety projects in 372 NJ towns.Fostering urban economic development via new tools such as the urban transit hub tax credit, the neighborhood revitalization tax credit, and the Urban Plus program.Focused on improved diversity in the judicial system. Since elected, women and minorities have accounted for about 40 percent of new appointments to the bench.Created the Office of Supplier Diversity within Treasury. Opening of new Greystone Park Psychiatric HospitalUndertook restructuring of Ancora Psychiatric HospitalCamden-specific accomplishments include several reforms to the police department (new chief, new police director, improved technology, etc.), as well as a successful six-month collaborative operation that led to 306 arrests. In addition, there have been improvements in municipal budgeting and improvements focused on student engagement, such as the Summer HEAT (jobs) initiative and two recent college fairs.###Governor Jon S. Corzine's Federal Stimulus RequestGovernor Corzine testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee in December, requesting consideration for a federal stimulus package for states. Key components of his request include:States need the federal government to begin fully funding its obligations for programs like No Child Left Behind and special education funding.  For special education, the federal government only pays 17 percent of total costs, when it's supposed to be covering 40 percent.  Since the inception of NCLB, the federal government has underfunded the program by $1.2 billion in New Jersey alone.  Over the past five months, an additional 40,000 people have enrolled in New Jersey's Medicaid program. State are facing steep federal cuts in the program at precisely the same time that people are losing their jobs and need an increased Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP), considering anticipated increases in the unemployment rate.A comprehensive federal program is needed to address the housing crisis at its core. A key component of that program should allocate funds to make state Housing Finance Authorities are competitive in the marketplace.  States are working to bridge the gaps in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, unemployment insurance and workforce development, and need maximum leeway in spending these funds on the programs for which they were designated.States and the federal government can put people back to work by committing a massive investment in public infrastructure, such as the proposed mass transit tunnel project under the Hudson River - a project that will create 6,000 construction jobs annually for ten years and 50,000 permanent jobs in the region.  ###