“The key question is what in God’s name has Rumana been waiting for? He should have been condemning the plan the moment it was introduced in February. It sounds to me that he is just trying to save his political career by finally responding to the public’s outrage.” ROBERT  FASS 

Estimated Cost: $28 Billion Over 10 Years With No Funding Plan

Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-District 16) is calling on Governor Jon Corzine and Joseph Doria, Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, to clarify how towns will finance over 100, 000 newly required affordable housing units. The non-partisan Office of Legislative Services has estimated the cost to be $28 billion.

My decision to run or not to run for Assembly will be made on the facts – not on character assassination, not on meaningless, time wasting recalling of past failures or old hatreds. My decision to run for Assembly will be based on how I can help the Republican Party turn around a state in severe trouble.  

Mayors, city council members and municipal officials are furious over the new Council on Affordable Housing Regulations. It's time Governor Corzine listened to them and order a delay in the implemenation of the economy-killing new rules.

My decision to run or not to run for Assembly will be made on the facts – not on character assassination, not on meaningless, time wasting recalling of past failures or old hatreds. My decision to run for Assembly will be based on how I can help the Republican Party turn around a state in severe trouble.  

Republicans knew that the new COAH rules were a huge unfunded mandate. Now they know just how big. The best estimate is that it will cost communities $2 billion a year to meet these requirements for "affordable" housing.

Senator Steve Oroho, R-District 24, issued the following statement in response to the Council on Affordable Housing's decision to ban 72 communities in the Highlands region from planning any development that doesn't include construction of more "affordable" housing:Oroho,

SENATOR LESNIAK ON FIXING NEW JERSEY’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM

UNION – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, and Chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, issued the following statement today on the direction of affordable housing regulations in New Jersey:

“COAH has failed to address the affordable housing needs of New Jersey during a growing economy and booming housing market. Under the current economic downturn, its approach will not only fail to spur low income housing development, it will stifle moderate income housing development and dampen New Jersey's chances for an economic rebound. Our unemployment rate will continue to increase causing more pain for our residents.

During yesterday's Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing, Senator Steve Oroho (R-24) questioned two of New Jersey's leading economic experts, Dr. James Hughes, dean of Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and Dr. Joseph Seneca, a Rutgers Professor and former chair of the New Jersey Council of Economic Advisors about New Jersey's economic future and the impact COAH will have on the state. Their exchange is below:

Republicans need to stand up to the social engineers in Trenton and say no to a ruinous affordable housing policy that will destroy the environment and raise property taxes in Passaic County