Gary Schaer

WEEKLY BUDGET MESSAGE: SCHAER ON PRESERVING PRIORITIES IN FY 2010 BUDGET

Video Press Release First in a Series Designed to Enhance the Public's Understanding of the Budget

(TRENTON) - Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chairman Gary S. Schaer today issued a multimedia package on the priorities being preserved in the proposed fiscal year 2010 budget.

The package came as the Assembly Budget Committee received budget overviews from the state Department of Treasury and the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services.

GREENWALD, SCHAER, POU PLEDGE FINAL STATE BUDGET
WILL REFLECT, PROTECT NEW JERSEY'S CORE VALUES

(TRENTON) - The leaders of the Assembly Budget Committee today said the panel's work to craft the Fiscal Year 2010 state budget will center on ensuring that the state's priorities reflect and protect New Jersey's core values.

ASSEMBLY BUDGET PANEL MEMBERS DISCUSS IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED FY 2010 BUDGET

(TRENTON) - Democratic members of the Assembly Budget Committee today issued a multimedia package discussing the importance of holding hearings in which the public can address the committee on the proposed FY2010 budget.

Today's public hearing - the third such hearing on the proposed spending plan -  focused on economic development, public safety, transportation, environment and arts, history and cultural issues.  Since the public hearings began, the committee has taken testimony from roughly 150 individuals and groups.

Gov. Jon Corzine and Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro)

Amid fullblown intrigue elsewhere, Nutley businessman Carmen Pio Costa and Carlstadt School Board member Don Diorio will formally announce their Republican candidacies in Rutherford Thursday evening, and few doubt the battleground, gauntlet-down implications of their challenge to Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Nutley).

But if the 36th Legislative District remains a decided field of contention this cycle (as is the 1st District in New Jersey’s deep south), two other districts – the 2nd and the 14th – early identified by operatives in both parties as potential battlegrounds in their own right,  at least for the moment do not appear to be marquee headline races.

Certainly that opens up the possibility for North Country Democrats and Republicans to expend more resources in the 36th, where Democrats enjoy a 2-1 edge but where the Dems must run with an unpopular leading man in Gov. Jon Corzine. 

Yet it could also open up other regions, other terrain, formerly classified as green zones. Arguably chief among these, particularly given its bordering proximity to the 14th, is the 12th District, where Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver) and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-Colts Neck) seek reelection, and last night double-teamed at a town hall meeting in Manalapan.

State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge)

Passaic Democratic Committee Chairman John Currie’s decision to welcome three strikes and you’re out (Assembly, Congress, mayor) Republican candidate Jose Sandoval into the Democratic Party this afternoon triggered a curiosity wave in the city as Democrats wondered about Sandoval’s intentions.

The chief question was whether the real estate developer with a bug for politics and access to cash would turn around and run in the 36th Legislative District Democratic Primary against his former conqueror Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic)?

Currie said he did not discuss that possibility with Sandoval.

“I first heard that he might do that on Friday night, but I couldn’t stop him if I wanted to,” said the party chairman. “All he told me is he’s bringing 1,000 of his people into our party, and if you ask me, that’s pretty positive. Anyone can challenge anyone at anytime. I told him you don’t really need me to change parties but if you want to do something publicly, that’s fine.”

From left: Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco, Passaic Freeholder Director Tahesha Way, and U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.)

PASSAIC – Joe Kennedy wasn’t in the room but he likely would have marveled at the political challenge.

Quietly wrestling with the karma of what Jose Sandoval’s entry into his party means, Passaic County Democratic Party Chairman John Currie welcomed an opportunity Friday night to reflect on the larger dimensions of his party’s history as he stood beside U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.).

“I remember when I learned of the death of President John F. Kennedy,” said Currie. “I was walking across the bridge over the falls in Paterson on my way to football practice.” 

Still, there was no escaping local politics as the younger Kennedy stood next to Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco in the crowded living room of the parents of local Councilman Kenneth Lucianin. 

Businessman Jose Sandoval, who has run as a Republican for State Assembly and U.S. Congress and as a candidate in a 2008 non-partisan special election for Mayor of Passaic, is days away from switching parties and becoming a Democrat. 

Sandoval had arranged a news conference to announce his party switch with John Currie, the Passaic County Democratic Chairman.  But because Sandoval is expected to endorse Vincent Capuana for Mayor in the May election against incumbent Alex Blanco, some Democratic leaders - most notably Assemblyman/Passaic City Councilman Gary Schaer, are asking Currie not to participate.

ASSEMBLY BUDGET PANEL MEMBERS DISCUSS PORTIONS OF PROPOSED FY 2010 BUDGET

(TRENTON) - Democratic members of the Assembly Budget Committee today issued a multimedia package in which they discuss portions of the proposed FY2010 budget pertaining to property tax relief and education funding during the panel's second public hearing on the spending plan.

Today's public hearing focused on education, higher education and local government issues.  The committee took testimony from approximately 50 individuals and groups.

ASSEMBLY OK’S DeANGELO/SCHAER/WISNIEWSKI/McKEON BILL TO REFORM LENDING ACTIVITIES

Bill Would Revise Mortgage & Consumer Loan Practices

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by sponsored by Assemblymen Wayne P. DeAngelo (DMercer/ Middlesex), Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic), John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and John F. McKeon (D-Essex) to reform mortgage and consumer loan lending activities was approved 79-0 Monday by the Assembly.

“The ongoing mortgage foreclosure crisis has showed our oversight laws desperately need reform,” DeAngelo said. “The current system isn’t working and change is needed. This bill will strengthen our ability to ensure mortgage lenders are accountable and help keep people in their homes.”

ASSEMBLY OK'S SCHAER/JASEY/COUTIHNO/DeANGELO BILL
TO PUT MORE MATH, SCIENCE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM
Pilot Program Would Recruit Non-Traditional Teachers

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assembly members Gary Schaer, Mila Jasey, Albert Coutinho and Wayne DeAngelo sponsored to create a pilot program to enable more individuals with degrees and career experience in math and science to receive teaching certificates.