BUONO STATEMENT ON CORZINE PROPOSAL TO RE-BALANCE FY 2009 BUDGET

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, and Chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Governor Corzine’s announced proposal to re-balance the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget in light of underperforming revenues caused by the national recession:

“When we crafted the FY 2009 Budget last June, no one could have predicted the extent of the current economic meltdown. The national recession has sent unemployment rates soaring, crippled the nation’s credit industry, and significantly reduced state revenues around the country at a time when taxpayers are relying on State-administered support programs more and more.

BUONO BILL TO GIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO OPT OUT OF DUPLICATIVE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE APPROVED IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would give college students the ability to opt out of duplicative health insurance coverage offered by institutions of higher education in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Education Committee today by a vote of 3-2.

BUONO BILL TO REFORM ON-CAMPUS CREDIT CARD SOLICITATIONS ADVANCES

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would make various changes to regulate the solicitation of credit cards on college campuses – including requiring creditors to provide an educational program on the responsible use of credit and prohibiting credit card companies from using promotional gimmicks as an incentive for students to sign up – was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today by a vote of 4-0.

SMITH-BUONO BILL TO CREATE FLEXIBILITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SPEND FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS ADVANCES

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith, Chair of the Senate Environment Committee, and Senator Barbara Buono, Chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, which would create needed flexibility in the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Fund to allow the State to spend federal stimulus dollars on clean water and wastewater projects was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment Committee today.

TRENTON – Noting that health insurers have a responsibility to provide coverage for necessary health care expenses, Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today signed legislation which will require all State-regulated health insurers to cover the cost of medically-necessary hearing aids for children 15 years old and younger.

            “With today’s bill signing, we are making sure that the gift of hearing is not out-of-reach for New Jersey children living with hearing loss,” said Acting Governor Codey.  “No child should be without access to medically-necessary hearing aids, which are especially critical in the formative years when kids develop the skills to speak and communicate.  This new law is about guaranteeing children a level playing field to succeed, and build the skills they need to do well in life.”

BUONO BILL TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF STALKING APPROVED

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would clarify the type of conduct which constitutes stalking under New Jersey’s statutes, to provide better protection for victims of stalking, was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 37-0.

“To many, stalking represents the ultimate victimization of those who are affected, because it leaves victims with a constant and pervasive fear of attack from their victimizers,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “This bill identifies the shortcomings in our current stalking law in New Jersey, and provides for enhanced protections for those who find themselves the targets of stalkers. We need to pass this bill quickly, and give the victims of stalking a greater measure of protection from those who would do them harm.”

VITALE-BUONO MEASURE TO ENCOURAGE NURSING EDUCATION APPROVED IN SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would establish a loan redemption program for nursing educators in New Jersey was unanimously approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.

“The key to a quality nursing workforce in New Jersey is quality nursing educators,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and a member of the Senate Budget panel. “However, many of our best, most talented and most experienced nursing professionals – who would be ideal to pass along the skills they’ve learned – can make much more money practicing, rather than teaching. New Jersey needs to provide competitive incentives, including loan redemption for nurses who have achieved their graduate degrees, to make sure we have the teachers needed to educate the nurses of tomorrow.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono, Jeff Van Drew and Shirley K. Turner, which establishes the “Invest in New Jersey Business Grant Program Act,” as an incentive program to encourage businesses to make capital investments and hire and retain new workers was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

            “Today, New Jersey is taking a strong, bold step to decide its own economic future,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex, who chairs the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. “Despite a national economic crisis which is hampering states around the country and slowing economic development when it is needed most, with this bill as law, we can take a strong stand for New Jersey’s own economic recovery.”

BUONO BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUG ABUSE ADVANCES

Measure Would Require Age Verification Before Purchase of Cold or Cough Remedy Containing DXM

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would require that customers be at least 18 years old to purchase over-the-counter cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan (DXM) – an ingredient which, when abused by teenagers seeking to get high, can have potentially lethal consequences – was unanimously approved by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee today.

“New Jersey has a responsibility to keep our kids safe from the dangers of drug abuse – whether those drugs are purchased illegally, or over-the-counter,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Unfortunately, as the State gets better and better at getting illegal drugs off our streets, kids are turning to over-the-counter cough and cold remedies to get high. We need to crack down on over-the-counter drug abuse, before New Jersey experiences tragedy.”

BUONO - NEW JERSEY NEEDS TO EXPAND ACCESS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Economic Emergency Demands New Jersey Make Access to Unemployment Insurance Easier

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, the Chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, today called on the Governor and the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development to take immediate action to ensure state residents can access Unemployment Insurance benefits without delay.

“Given the sheer volume, Commissioner (David) Socolow and the Department staff are to be credited for doing as good a job as can be expected administering Unemployment Insurance, as demand has skyrocketed during the current economic crisis,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “In the last few months, New Jersey has seen the number of unemployment claims processed in a given week literally double. We need more staff and more resources now to keep up with the ever-increasing demand. And we don’t need to spend state dollars to do it. We have existing federal resources to get people enrolled quickly, so that New Jerseyans are spending less time struggling to find benefits, and more time looking for work to support their families.”