***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** Assembly Democrats Commentary on 2009 State-of-the-State Address

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS COMMENTARY ON 2009 STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package commenting on Governor Jon S. Corzine's 2009 State-of-the-State address.

The multimedia package consists of a video press release of legislative commentary, audio of same and a transcript of the commentary.

The video can be accessed directly via our Web site - www.assemblydems.com - or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

A transcript of comments by Democratic lawmakers is appended below:

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. (D-Camden):

"In New Jersey we are swimming against the current of the worst national economic tide in the last 80 years, and for he [Governor Corzine] and us together to have been able to achieve what we've been able to achieve I think is very, very significant."

Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex):

"The governor's message is very direct.  It was a sobering message that I think we're familiar with, which tells us that the economy of New Jersey is the number one, number two and number three priorities."

Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Mercer):

"It was a strong outlook going forward. One of the things I'm optimistic about is the immediate infrastructure needs that we'll be working on to generate a lot of jobs. The jobs are the key to a strong economy."

Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Gerald B. Green (D-Union):

"On all the major issues, I think the Governor has put us in the position where, if working together, we can make life a lot more easy for people in the State of New Jersey."

Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein (D-Middlesex):

"I think that what he did so well in the speech was to highlight all of the strong initiatives that have already taken place and are to come."

Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer):

"We've been able to put more money in education, take care of senior citizens, expand health care and been able to assist people with their mortgages and do some right things by business, so I believe that under his leadership and working with a Democratic-controlled Legislature that we've got New Jersey in probably one of the strongest positions of any state in the nation to get through this."

Speaker Roberts:

"As the majority leader said, if the situation is bearable for us now - and it is challenging but bearable - it's because of some of the tough decisions that he has already made as a proactive governor:  to have a budget that is reduced from last year's, to pay pension costs in a way that they haven't been funded before.  That's given us some breathing room and I think that as tough as this is, as painful as this is, the goal has to be to survive it and then to develop a set of policies that will allow us to thrive once we turn the corner."

Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex):

"I think the governor sounded a hopeful note that the people of the state of New Jersey because of all of the hard work we've done over the past couple of years are well positioned to weather this economic downturn. They're well-positioned therefore to take advantage of a turn-around at the first opportunity."

Assemblyman Herb Conaway, M.D. (D-Burlington):

"I think I share the enthusiasm of all my colleagues here in the Legislature to work very hard over the ensuing months and years to deliver on the promise that we all make - to put New Jerseyans first, to complete and finish the work that we are in."

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