Gary Schaer

SCHAER: GOVERNOR HIT RIGHT PRIORITIES ON PROPERTY TAXES, SCHOOLS & HELPING CITIES

(TRENTON) - Governor Jon S. Corzine's first State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature made a positive call for change on property taxes, education funding, and revitalizing of urban centers, Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) said today. Schaer issued the following statement:

The budget deal between Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and Governor Jon Corzine could potentially exempt eight Democratic legislators in the lower house who are anxious to avoid a vote supporting a sales tax increase. Jefferson Van Drew and Nelson Albano in the first district, James Whelan in the second, Michael Panter in the twelfth, and Linda Greenstein in the fourteenth -- all Democrats with potentially competitive races for re-election next year -- appear to be the leading contenders for the first five slots. The sixth pass will probably go to Linda Stender, a Union County Democrat who is running for Congress this year against Republican Michael Ferguson. Democratic sources say that John Burzichelli and Douglas Fisher in the third, Paul Moriarty and David Mayer in the fourth, and Frederick Scalera and Gary Schaer in the 36th will likely compete for the last two slots.

Editor's Note: Schaer says that he and Scalera plan to vote for the budget and have "never asked" for a pass.

A compromise plan that would raise the sales tax to 7% but use only half the increase to fund the current budget won just 15 votes in the Assembly Democratic Caucus on Tuesday. Sources say that Assemblymen Alfred Steele, Gary Schaer, Robert Gordon, Joseph Egan, Reed Gusciora and Gordon Johnson, and Assemblywoman Joan Voss -- all legislators viewed as friendly toward the Governor -- voted against the plan. Assemblyman Neil Cohen walked out of the room just before the vote.

SENATE PASSES BILL CURTAILING MINORS’ ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL TANNING SALONS

Measure to Prohibit Use by Minors Under 14;Require Parental Consent for Minors Under 18

(TRENTON) -- The Senate today gave final legislative approval to legislation Assemblyman Fred Scalera, Gary Schaer, and Herb Conaway, M.D. sponsored to restrict juvenile access to tanning booths and other artificial tanning devices.

ASSEMBLY ADVANCES BILL CURTAILING MINORS' ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL TANNING SALONS
Measure to Prohibit Use by Minors Under 14; Require Parental Consent for Minors Under 18

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Fred Scalera, Gary Schaer, and Herb Conaway, M.D. sponsored to restrict juvenile access to tanning booths and other artificial tanning devices.

SCHAER VOWS UNITED FRONT TO REVERSE SCC PLAN TO BUILD SCHOOL NEXT TO PORN THEATER
Assemblyman Calls SCC Plan 'An Absurdity and an Obscenity,' Says He Will Team with Sarlo, Scalera to Protect Passaic's Young People

(PASSAIC) - Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer today assailed a decision by the state Schools Construction Corporation to construct a new elementary school next to a porn theater in downtown Passaic.

Imre Karaszegi, a former Passaic City Administrator who lost a bid for State Assembly in a heavily targeted 2003 campaign, was appointed last week to serve as a state Administrative Law Judge. Karaszegi was the Democratic candidate in the 36th district against GOP incumbent Paul DiGaetano. DiGaetano gave up his seat this year to seek the Republican nomination for Governor; he will be replaced in the Legislature by a Democrat, Gary Schaer, the Passaic City Council President. Schaer becomes the first Passaic City Democrat to serve in the Legislature since Louis Gill lost his seat to DiGaetano in 1991.

KARCHER ANNOUNCES CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM REFORMS

At a news conference today in the Statehouse, State Senator Ellen Karcher revealed a reform plan today for New Jersey's childhood mental health system, which she said was "in need of major improvements."

Schaer Endorsed By NEW JOBS PAC