VANDERVALK, RUMANA, RUSSO: RESURRECTING 'MONETIZATION' SHOWS CORZINE'S DISREGARD FOR STRUGGLING MIDDLE CLASS

In response to a report Thursday in which Governor Jon Corzine said he is reconsidering resurrecting his failed massive 800 percent toll hike scheme, Assembly Republican members Charlotte Vandervalk, Scott Rumana and David Russo today said the fact the governor would even consider such a move shows a blatant disregard for the needs and wants of the state’s residents who vehemently opposed the plan the first time it was proposed.

CORZINE STILL SILENT AS NEW YORK CONTINUES TO EXTORT NEW JERSEY COMMUTERS

NEW YORK TRANSIT AGENCY BALANCING ITS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF NEW JERSEYANS WITH NARY A PEEP FROM GOVERNOR CORZINE

    After finally receiving a response to a letter objecting to a discriminatory toll policy by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Assemblymen Scott T. Rumana and David Russo called on Governor Corzine to explain why he didn't do anything to stop New York from gouging New Jersey drivers.

ECONOMIST SAYS CORZINE HAS TAKEN NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY AN ENTIRE DECADE BACKWARD

RUTGERS ECONOMIST DUBS THE CENTURY'S FIRST TEN YEARS THE "LOST DECADE" BECAUSE NEW JERSEY AND NATION HAVE FEWER PRIVATE JOBS

    Despite Governor Corzine's promises to grow the nation's economy, New Jersey will have fewer private sector jobs today than in December 1999, making it "a lost decade," according to a prominent Rutgers economist.

RUSSO SAYS CABLEVISION SHOULD RECONSIDER DIGITAL CABLE BOX FEE FOR ANALOG CUSTOMERS

Assemblyman David Russo today said Cablevision should reconsider charging analog customers a monthly digital cable box fee since the move is strictly a business decision that will allow the cable company to reclaim space and ultimately increase its revenue by giving it the ability to offer subscribers increased digital channels.

REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ASK NEW YORK TO RESCIND DISCRIMINATORY TOLL HIKE ON NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SET TO DISCONTINUE E-ZPASS DISCOUNTS FOR NEW JERSEY DRIVERS

    Five Assembly Republicans sent a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, asking the New York agency to rescind a policy that will discriminate against New Jersey motorists.

RUMANA AND RUSSO: CORZINE BUDGET IS MORE PAIN FOR NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS – NOT GOVERNMENT

          As Governor Corzine delivered his budget address today that among other things will eliminate the income tax deduction for property taxes paid by homeowners, reduce aid to schools and municipalities, and severely curtail those who are eligible for property tax rebates, Assemblymen Scott Rumana and David Russo, both R-Passaic, Bergen, and Essex, stated that once again the governor is hurting taxpayers and failing to address the systemic problems in state government.

EMBARRASSING IRVINGTON AUDIT MORE PROOF THAT SPECIAL MUNICIPAL AID NEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED

AUDIT FINDS IRVINGTON’S BOOKS OUT-OF-BALANCE SINCE 2000 DESPITE SPECIAL AID FROM THE STATE TOTALING $27 MILLION

    Assemblymen Scott T. Rumana and David C. Russo said a recent audit revealing inappropriate expenditures and careless bookkeeping in Irvington provides another reason why Gov. Jon S. Corzine must end the Special Municipal Aid given to a handful of select cities over the years.

DEMOCRATS RECOGNIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MISTAKES THEY ENACTED LAST YEAR

SENATE PANEL APPROVES MEASURE TODAY TO TWEAK AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW, BUT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS STILL SHUN TOTAL REFORM OFFERED BY REPUBLICANS

Assemblymen Scott T. Rumana and David C. Russo said today that Democratic leaders should embrace a Republican proposal to truly fix the mistakes made over the past year when regional contribution agreements, or RCAs, were outlawed and 115,000 units were mandated upon municipalities based on faulty criteria.

CORZINE'S GLOBAL WARMING GOALS CONFLICT WITH HIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING MANDATES

CORZINE WANTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PUSHED INTO SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES WHILE HIS ENERGY PLAN SAYS DEVELOPMENT WILL OCCUR NEAR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

While Gov. Jon S. Corzine is stubbornly pushing an affordable-housing plan that will increase local property taxes and fill open spaces with clustered housing in the state’s suburbs, his Draft Global Warming Response Act Recommendation Report takes the opposite tact directing nearly all development toward existing infrastructure and on redeveloped lots.

RUMANA AND RUSSO: STATE SHOULD INVESTIGATE LATEST AUDIT OF PATERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT

INDEPENDENT AUDIT SHOWS PATERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT PAID $4.8 MILLION IN OVERTIME FOR SECURITY SERVICES WHEN CONTRACT CONTAINED NO OVERTIME PROVISION

Assemblymen Scott T. Rumana and David C. Russo, both R-Passaic, Bergen and Essex, today demanded an investigation by the state Department of Education and law enforcement officials after a report that Paterson school officials paid $4.8 million in overtime from 2007 to 2008 to a private security firm whose original contract didn’t provide for overtime, according to a report in the Herald News.