Bonnie Watson Coleman

GREENSTEIN/WATSON COLEMAN/LAMPITT BILL TO PROMOTE SOLAR ENERGY RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblywomen Linda R. Greenstein, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Pamela R. Lampitt sponsored that would promote energy efficiency through the installation of solar energy panels in new homes has received final legislative approval.

The Assembly voted 72-5-2 Monday to approve the bill. The Senate voted 37-0. It now goes to the Governor.

“We can vastly improve the quality of life for all New Jersey families by encouraging investment in solar energy systems in all new houses,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex-Mercer). “Sound public policy and environmentally responsible practices can come together to provide dividends for generations.”

Right Choices made to protect education, health care and most vulnerable

 
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assemblyman Gary Schaer, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan and Evesham Mayor Randy Brown held a press conference at the Statehouse in Trenton today to discuss the effects of Governor Corzine’s FY10 budget proposal on New Jersey’s middle class. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

WATSON COLEMAN LAUDS ADMINISTRATION FOR MORTGAGE FRAUD FOCUS

Also Finds Hope in Reduced Foreclosures in New Jersey

(TRENTON) – Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today lauded efforts by Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s administration to combat mortgage fraud.

She also found hope in a new report that found reduced foreclosures in New Jersey.

Two weeks ago, Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie predicted that Governor Jon Corzine would blame New Jersey’s economic woes on the global economic crisis.  "The governor's going to say, 'It's not my fault, it's not my fault, it's the global economic crisis's fault,” the former U.S. Attorney said.

Christie was close.  Corzine never called the crisis global; in his budget address he mentioned the “national economic crisis.” 

But the “global economic crisis” catch phrase is already getting plenty of play.  One press release put out by the Assembly Democratic office last week used the words “global economic crisis “five times.  Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), in a statement issued yesterday, said: “The Governor should be commended for proposing a bold plan to help stave off this global economic crisis.”  Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), Assemblyman Jack Conners (D-Pennsauken), and State Treasurer David Rousseau all used the “global economic crisis” terminology.

Worth watching: how Democratic legislators who are prospective candidates for Lieutenant Governor position themselves on Jon Corzine's proposed state budget. Specifically, keep an eye on Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) and Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing).  Buono and Watson Coleman were complimentary toward Corzine, but stopped short of endorsing his proposals.

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS COMMENTARY ON 2009 BUDGET ADDRESS

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package on their reactions to Governor Jon S. Corzine's 2009 Budget Address.

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

WATSON COLEMAN: BUDGET PLAN POSITIONS NEW JERSEY TO EMERGE STRONG

(TRENTON) – Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman released the following statement today after Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s budget address:

“The Governor should be commended for proposing a bold plan to help stave off this global economic crisis.

“It was a sobering and serious message, but fortunately the Governor and Democratic lawmakers have already taken steps to put New Jersey in a stronger and a better position..."

ROBERTS/WATSON COLEMAN PARTICIPATE IN TELE-TOWN HALL WITH AARP MEMBERS

Discuss Concerns over Property Taxes, Foreclosure, Health Care

(TRENTON) - Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., and Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today issued a multimedia package featuring highlights of their hour-long tele-town hall with AARP New Jersey members, during which they discussed Assembly efforts to combat the global economic crisis.

Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer

TRENTON – There was Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on a television set and Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer listening with deepening skepticism. Palmer, a short-list candidate for lieutenant governor, thought Jindal’s Tuesday night GOP bite-back at President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus speech was especially poor. 

“I think he’s being panned a lot,” Palmer said of the Republican governor who in his remarks likened an aid package to federal bureaucrats haplessly attempting to micromanage Hurricane Katrina relief, and who would refuse a profusion of new federal funds to his state.

“Bobby Jindal’s either hypocritical or he’s putting politics ahead of his responsibility as governor of Louisiana,” said Trenton’s mayor since 1990. “Louisiana especially should welcome aid, and it’s his job to make sure that money is used effectively. Look, we tried the governor’s approach and it’s not going anywhere.” 

Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan, above, could wind up as Assembly Majority Leader, if Gov. Jon Corzine picks Bonnie Watson Coleman as the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor.

The bigger inside contest if Bonnie Watson Coleman leaves the Legislature to run for Lt. Governor is who would succeed her as Assembly Majority Leader.  Her two main competitors when she won the post after the 2005 election, Neil Cohen and Wilfredo Caraballo, are no longer in the Legislature.  The race is significant because next Majority Leader could become Assembly Speaker someday.

The conventional wisdom is that Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman, would be a leading candidate for Majority Leader.  Cryan has a strong relationship with Speaker Joseph Roberts and with Democratic Party leaders across the state.  Watson Coleman was the Democratic State Chair before she became Majority Leader.