In 2009, former Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks came within two percentage points of picking off Assemblyman Jerry Green, (D-22), of Plainfield, and now Marks is watching the state redistricting process to determine whether or not he will again challenge Green and Assemblywoman Linda Stender, (D-22), of Fanwood this year. 

"Let's see how the redistricting shakes out and then we'll talk," Marks told PolitickerNJ.com.

GREEN, CONNERS & CONAWAY BILL BARRING THOSE CONVICTED OF CRIME FROM SERVING ON SCHOOL BOARDS GETS FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green and Assemblymen Jack Conners and Herb Conaway, M.D. sponsored to bar those convicted of crimes from serving on school boards and requiring board members to undergo criminal checks received final legislative approval on Thursday.

The bill (A-444) was approved 76-0-1 by the Assembly.

“If we prohibit someone from teaching in a classroom because of past convictions, then they definitely should be prohibited from presiding over the education of an entire school district,” said Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). “It’s a common sense change that is long overdue.”

GREEN: CHRISTIE COAH VETO SHOWS HE WANTS HIGHER BUSINESS TAXES & COURT FIGHTS

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green released the following statement Monday on Gov. Chris Christie’s conditional veto of legislation he sponsored (A-3447) he sponsored to abolish the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and reform affordable housing laws to put less pressure on municipalities.

In his conditional veto, the governor sought the original version of the bill that was judged unconstitutional by the Office of Legislative Services and imposed a 2.5 percent fee on businesses.

Green’s bill was deemed constitutional and lowered the fee to 1.5 percent:

“The governor has now made it clear that he supports unconstitutional legislation that imposes higher fees on New Jersey businesses.

“The last thing New Jersey and its economy needs is unworkable laws that force businesses to pay higher taxes, but that’s exactly what the governor has endorsed with this unfortunate decision.

“Our bill was backed by a broad range of businesses, housing advocates, legal experts and local officials who understood it was the best way to provide housing for working class residents, create jobs and spark the economy.

“The governor, sadly, wants higher business taxes and a court fight. That accomplishes nothing.”

LANDMARK GREEN, JASEY & COUTINHO BILL TO ABOLISH COAH & REVAMP NEW JERSEY HOUSING LAW GAINS FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

Sweeping Reform Eliminates Commercial Developer Fee & Provides Major Housing Obligation Breaks to Municipalities Throughout New Jersey

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green, Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey and Assemblyman Albert Coutinho sponsored to abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing, eliminate a commercial development fee and streamline New Jersey’s housing laws was granted final legislative approval by both houses on Monday.

Bill S-1, which has been substituted for Assembly version A-3447, incorporates recent amendments made by the Assembly to better meet the state’s affordable housing goals in a constitutional manner, as determined by the bipartisan Office of Legislative Services. A copy of the recent opinion rendered by OLS is attached.

OLIVER, CRYAN, MORIARTY, GREEN & WATSON COLEMAN ‘BACK TO WORK NJ’ BILL TO CREATE JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH GETS ASSEMBLY APPROVAL

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver, Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman to create the Back to Work NJ program to stimulate job growth by allowing unemployed New Jerseyans to receive workplace training from a potential employer was approved Thursday by the Assembly.

The bill (A-3584) is a centerpiece of the Democratic legislative effort to create jobs and reinvigorate New Jersey’s economy.

“This innovative program will allow out-of-work New Jerseyans to develop the new skills they need and keep them tethered to the workforce even in the face of unemployment,” said Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). “It’s just the kind of program we need to tackle this recession and help workers and businesses alike to jumpstart our economy and move our state forward.”

GREEN, CONNERS & CONAWAY BILL BARRING THOSE CONVICTED OF CRIME FROM SERVING ON SCHOOL BOARDS GETS FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green and Assemblymen Jack Conners and Herb Conaway, M.D. sponsored to bar those convicted of crimes from serving on school boards and requiring board members to undergo criminal checks received final legislative approval on Monday.

The bill (A-444) passed the Assembly unanimously in June and was approved 36-0 by the Senate on Monday.

“If we prohibit someone from teaching in a classroom because of past convictions, then they definitely should be prohibited from presiding over the education of an entire school district,” said Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). “It’s a common sense change that is long overdue.”

TRENTON – A hearing on S1, which installs affordable housing requirement reforms and eliminates the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), sparked a floor debate, Monday.

Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield), who sponsored the Assembly version, stood up for the bill.

“Today, we’re going to eliminate COAH,” Green said. “The most important issue that the governor wanted us to address in this bill we have done that.”

“(It) also reflects how the people of New Jersey feel about this issue,” Green said. “We’re going to build houses…We’re going to put people back to work.”

But several Republican lawmakers disagreed.

LANDMARK GREEN, JASEY & COUTINHO BILL TO ABOLISH COAH & REVAMP NEW JERSEY HOUSING LAW APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

Sweeping Reform Eliminates Commercial Developer Fee & Provides Major Housing Obligation Breaks to Municipalities Throughout New Jersey

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green, Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey and Assemblyman Albert Coutinho sponsored to abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing, eliminate a commercial development fee and streamline New Jersey’s housing laws was approved 43-32 Monday by the Assembly.

The bill (A-3447) would abolish COAH and its bureacracy, eliminate the 2.5 percent fee on commercial development to help pay for affordable housing development and provide major housing obligation reductions for municipalities throughout New Jersey.

“New Jersey will finally have a viable housing plan for its hard-working families that is also good for business and workable for mayors,” said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “This bill gives towns relief from COAH’s unreasonable demands, offers businesses a much-needed break and clears the way for housing for lower-income New Jerseyans to finally actually be built in our state. It is a sound and reasonable approach that bodes well for New Jersey’s future.”

ANDMARK GREEN, JASEY & COUTINHO BILL TO ABOLISH COAH & REVAMP NEW JERSEY HOUSING LAW ADVANCED BY ASSEMBLY PANEL

Sweeping Reform Eliminates Commercial Developer Fee & Provides Major Housing Obligation Breaks to Municipalities Throughout New Jersey

(TRENTON) – New legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green, Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey and Assemblyman Albert Coutinho sponsored to abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing, eliminate a commercial development fee and streamline New Jersey’s housing laws was released 4-0-2 Friday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-3447) would abolish COAH and its bureacracy, eliminate the 2.5 percent fee on commercial development to help pay for affordable housing development and provide major housing obligation reductions for municipalities throughout New Jersey.

“New Jersey will finally have a viable housing plan for its hard-working families that is also good for business and workable for mayors,” said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “This bill gives towns relief from COAH’s unreasonable demands, offers businesses a much-needed break and clears the way for housing for lower-income New Jerseyans to finally actually be built in our state. It is a sound and reasonable approach that bodes well for New Jersey’s future.”

OLIVER, CRYAN, MORIARTY & GREEN 'BACK TO WORK NJ' BILL TO CREATE JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH ADVANCED BY ASSEMBLY PANEL

(TRENTON) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver, Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty and Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green to create the Back to Work NJ program to stimulate job growth by allowing unemployed New Jerseyans to receive workplace training from a potential employer was released Wednesday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-3584), which was approved by a vote of 8-2-2, is a centerpiece of the Democratic legislative effort to create jobs and reinvigorate New Jersey's economy.

"This innovative program will allow out-of-work New Jerseyans to develop the new skills they need and keep them tethered to the workforce even in the face of unemployment," said Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). "It's just the kind of program we need to tackle this recession and help workers and businesses alike to jumpstart our economy and move our state forward."