MERKT: NEW JERSEY NEEDS A NEW HIGH COURT
ATTRIBUTES POLICY BLUNDERS TO ACTIVIST JUDGES
VOWS TO RESHAPE SUPREME COURT AS GOVERNOR

LESNIAK STATEMENT ON NEED TO REFORM COAH

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, and Chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, issued the following statement before the Committee’s consideration of his bill, S-2485, which makes various reforms to the rules and mandates imposed by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). The bill was approved by a vote of 4-0, with one abstention:

“Our President Barack Obama, in his Inaugural address, said ‘What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them – that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works – whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account – to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day – because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.’

Senator Phil Haines (R-8) issued the following statement today in response to today's testimony from Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria:

“We have been saying for months that COAH was not only bad social policy but also bad economic policy and it should be killed,” said Michael Ramaglia, co-chair of GOP Strong.  “Now we have the proof.” 

PREVIEW - SENATE COMMITTEES TO REVIEW COAH, UNDERAGE DRINKING MONDAY

Committees Will Also Look at ‘Silver Alert’ for Missing Persons; Public Reporting of Hospital Errors

TRENTON – On Monday, Senate Committees will meet to review current issues impacting affordable housing in New Jersey, including efforts to reform the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), and the Governor’s calls to delay a 2.5% commercial developer’s fee in light of the current national economic crisis.

LESNIAK MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPERS’ FEES SUPPORTED BY GOVERNOR

TRENTON – In his State of the State message today, Gov. Jon S. Corzine called for changes in New Jersey’s affordable housing laws that are embodied in legislation proposed by Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee.

“The Governor’s embrace of this critical first step in fixing our affordable housing initiative sends the right message to the business community,” Lesniak said. “We are looking to the private sector to come as good-faith partners in helping with the state’s economic recovery.”

Housing Projections are Repudiated by Rutgers Report

Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset) called on the Corzine Administration and legislative Democrats to publicly admit that the proposed numbers of housing units to be mandated under their new subsidized housing law are based upon erroneous job projections.

Trenton Democrat Leadership Silent as Chorus of Opposition Grows

Senator Kevin O'Toole (R-Bergen) called upon Trenton Democrats to reverse course and abandon their new subsidized housing law as the groups of officials calling for a change in policy has grown to include local Bergen County Democratic officials.

New Report Further Demonstrates Need to Delay December 31 COAH Deadline

A new report on global warming issued by the Corzine Administration this month has only added to the mass confusion caused by a number of conflicting policies affecting development and growth that have been simultaneously championed and enacted by Governor Jon Corzine in recent years. The Draft Global Warming Response Act Recommendation Report, issued on December 15, 2008, represents the Administration's long-term plan to address global warming. The report includes recommendations for smart growth and housing development.

SENATOR LESNIAK’S STATEMENT ON COAH REFORM LEGISLATION

UNION -- Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, released the following statement regarding the current Council on Affordable Housing’s (COAH) mandates, and his legislation to address the short-comings in the current affordable housing law and regulations:

“I have proposed a bill (S 2485) which would fix the faults in the current COAH guidelines that are stifling job growth and economic development in New Jersey. The bill would suspend the 2.5% development fee strangling our economic recovery as well as direct the State Housing Commission to recommend sound planning and economic principles sorely lacking in the current COAH mandates and regulations.