Bob Smith

SMITH - 'TOUGH WORK IS AHEAD OF US ON PROPERTY TAXES'

Joint Consolidation Committee Begins Work To Reform Property Taxes, Shrink Government in New Jersey

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today regarding the panel's organizational meeting, and their ongoing mission of finding savings for the taxpayers of New Jersey through an emphasis on smaller government on the State and local levels:

"From the information presented to us today, I know the really tough work is ahead of us. But, if we're ever going to do something about New Jersey's property tax crisis, we need to ensure a more efficient and cost-effective delivery of the services we provide to the taxpayers of the State.

WISNIEWSKI STATEMENT AT OPENING OF JOINT COMMITTEE
ON GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATION AND SHARED SERVICES

(TRENTON) - Below are remarks prepared for delivery this morning by Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), co-chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services:

SMITH - 'WE MUST PROTECT THE NEW JERSEY SHORE'

DOVER TOWNSHIP - Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, issued the following statement after the panel's hearing on beach erosion and fisheries management at the Dover Township Municipal Building today:

"The New Jersey Shore is one of our State's preeminent environmental resources, drawing in millions in tourism dollars each year to our communities, and serving as a point of pride for residents of the Garden State.

SMITH TO CO-CHAIR JOINT COMMITTEE ON CONSOLIDATION

Senator Looks Forward to a Vigorous Debate on Shared Services

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, released the following statement today following the announcement that he will serve as Co-Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services during this year's Special Session dedicated to solving New Jersey's property tax crisis.

"New Jerseyans have had to endure over 30 years of oppressively high property taxes, and the Legislature needs to take a stand now, before it gets worse.

"At the root of the property tax crisis is the duplication and inefficient delivery of services that characterizes the 'home rule' system of government that local officials cling to so zealously.

BUONO/SMITH BILL TO REMOVE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES THROUGH SENATE

TRENTON - The statute of limitations for criminal offenses arising from violations of certain environmental laws and crimes causing widespread injury or damage would be eliminated under a bill sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Bob Smith and passed today by the Senate.

"The nature of environmental crimes and violations can lead them to have a widespread and long-term effect on both the community as a whole and individual people that can make it difficult to prosecute known offenders under the statute of limitations," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. "Given that there are cases where the health effects and environmental damage is not noticeable until years after the crime has occurred or where it can take years just to figure out who is responsible, prosecutors need to have sufficient time to investigate these crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions."

TURNER/BUONO/SMITH BILL TO REQUIRE LOCAL NOTICE FOR HAZARDOUS CLEAN-UPS RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner, Barbara Buono and Bob Smith that would require that local governments be notified any time a hazardous site remediation is performed within the boundaries of the municipality was approved by both houses of the Legislature today, clearing the way for its enactment.

"It boggles the mind to think that that this type of communication doesn't automatically occur," said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. "But after it took six months for DEP to let Hamilton Township know that contaminated concrete had been used in construction at the American Metro office complex, it became clear that the Legislature had to require such notices. When it comes to environmental contamination, we can't take any short cuts in addressing the problem and protecting residents from health dangers."

SMITH BILL TO APPROPRIATE $15 MILLION FOR FARMLAND PRESERVATION IN THE HIGHLANDS APPROVED

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would appropriate $15 million for farmland preservation in the Highlands region was unanimously approved by the Senate today.

"For the Highlands Water Protection Act to be successful, we need to make a substantial public investment into land preservation in the region," said Senator Smith. "It's not enough that we declare certain sensitive watershed lands as off-limits to development. We need to put our money where our mouths, and hearts, are, to truly protect this valuable water supply from contamination and pollution brought on by overdevelopment."

BUONO/SMITH BILL TO REMOVE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES APPROVED BY COMMITTEE

TRENTON - The statute of limitations for criminal offenses arising from violations of certain environmental laws and crimes causing widespread injury or damage would be eliminated under a bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono and Bob Smith and passed today by the Senate Environment Committee.

"The nature of environmental crimes and violations can make it difficult to prosecute offenders under the statute of limitations," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. "The health effects and environmental damage may not be noticeable until years after the crime has occurred and it can take as long to figure out who is responsible. Prosecutors need to have sufficient time to investigate these crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions."

SMITH BILL TO ENHANCE PLASTIC RECYCLING IN NEW JERSEY APPROVED

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would require a higher recycling standard for plastic packaging sold in New Jersey to promote recycling, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease our dependence on foreign oil was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 25-10.

"New Jersey's natural resources are absolutely precious, and we must do everything in our power to promote conservation and reuse," said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee. "By encouraging greater use of recycled plastics, we will save on landfill space, conserve petroleum used in the production of plastics, and cut down on the emissions associated with producing virgin plastics, or those that contain no recycled content. The measure is far reaching and will protect the environmental health of New Jersey in so many ways."

TURNER/BUONO/SMITH BILL WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL NOTICE FOR HAZARDOUS CLEAN UPS

TRENTON - The Senate approved legislation today sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner, Barbara Buono and Bob Smith that would require that local governments be notified any time a hazardous site remediation is performed within the boundaries of the municipality.

"It took six months for the DEP to inform Hamilton Township that contaminated concrete was used to build a road at the American Metro office complex," said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. "For local residents, six months is too long to be in the dark about potential exposure to hazardous substances. When it comes to environmental contamination, time is of the essence in addressing the problem and protecting residents from health dangers."