REDD-STACK BILL TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO CREATE TRUST FUND TO AID HOMELESS SIGNED INTO LAW

CAMDEN – A bill sponsored by Senators Dana L. Redd and Brian P. Stack which permits county governments to create trust funds in order to provide assistance to homeless New Jerseyans living within the county was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Particularly in this difficult economy, many New Jersey residents are falling through the cracks, unable to make ends meet,” said Senator Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Many of these folks find themselves living on the streets, victims of the economic downturn and unable to find a helping hand. Now, thanks to today’s bill signing, I can say unequivocally to those who are suffering in the night that help is on the way.”

SMITH-GORDON-BEACH BILL TO AUTHORIZE OPEN SPACE BONDING SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Senator Bob Smith, and Committee members, Senators Bob Gordon and Jim Beach which will give voters in November the option to approve up to $400 million in open space borrowing was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Simply put, New Jersey cannot afford the consequences if we fail to act to make an investment in open space preservation,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “Allowing programs like Green Acres and farmland preservation to lapse would be a huge setback for open space preservation, and would open the doors for developers to pave over sensitive open space throughout the State. This bonding initiative provides necessary stop-gap funding for our various open space preservation programs, and buys us a little more time to develop a consensus around permanent funding for open space in New Jersey.”

Adolf to Beach: Say No to Corzine's Irresponsible Budget

Former mayor and early advocate of zero-based budgeting
demands Democrat vote against Governor's gimmicked budget

BERLIN – Joe Adolf, former Mayor of Magnolia and candidate for the State Senate in the 6th Legislative District, has called on Senator Jim Beach to oppose Jon Corzine's budget when it comes up for a vote before the full Senate.

"Jon Corzine's budget is nothing new," Adolf said. "From the one-shot gimmicks to the eye-popping deficit spending, there are two things Jon Corzine's budgets all have in common: they hurt middle-class families, and they fail to resolutely solve any of our state's fiscal problems."

The Governor's budget, if passed, would eliminate property tax rebates for almost two million New Jerseyans and will lead to more jobs moving out of state.

"South Jersey deserves better than Jon Corzine's budget," Adolf added. "South Jersey deserves better than to have Senators and Assemblymen who, instead of standing up for their constituents, back down to the Governor and the entrenched Trenton Democrats."

"The families of the 6th District cannot afford Jon Corzine's budget, and if I were in the Senate today, I would vote against this budget for that reason," Adolf concluded. "It is long past time we stop trying to balance our budget on the backs of our children, and instead make the tough decisions to bring about real budget and property tax reform in our state. I hope that Senator Beach will stand with me and oppose Jon Corzine's irresponsible budget when it comes to a vote before the full Senate."

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Jim Beach, which would require public colleges and universities in New Jersey to provide a link on their website to access information on educational benefits available to veterans has been introduced in the Senate.

            “This bill would benefit our hard-working men and women in uniform, who return home or are discharged from the military and decide to pursue other educational opportunities,” said Senator Beach, D-Camden.  “It can be hard to secure educational scholarship and benefit information when you’ve been out of school for a while, and this bill would keep these veterans aware of available opportunities.”

TRENTON – Two measures sponsored by Senator Jim Beach which would appropriate funds for clean water and farmland preservation projects around the State were approved today by Senate Committees.

            One measure, S-2797, would establish a “Clean Water State Revolving Fund” within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to determine how to best utilize the federal stimulus funds authorized and appropriated through the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.”

            “These funds would help to cover the cost of clean water projects throughout the State of New Jersey,” said Senator Beach, D-Camden.  “The federal stimulus dollars have already been appropriated so there will be no additional cost to taxpayers. It is our responsibility to ensure that we use the funds where they are most needed.”         

BEACH RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING 'TINNITUS AWARENESS WEEK' INTRODUCED IN SENATE

TRENTON – Senator Jim Beach today introduced a resolution in the State Senate to recognize the week of May 10 – May 16 as “Tinnitus Awareness Week,” in order to advance public awareness about the hearing disorder and encourage both public and private health organizations to continue to fund research into treatments designed to alleviate the symptoms and to find a cure for this incapacitating condition.

“When we talk about advocating on behalf of a population, we often speak in terms of being a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves,” said Senator Beach, D-Camden. “In this case, New Jersey must be a voice for those who can’t hear the debate. This resolution would help create enhanced public awareness about a debilitating hearing condition known as tinnitus, and would hopefully spur public and private investment into treating and someday curing this disorder.”

BEACH MEASURE TO GIVE COUNTY SHERIFFS ADMINISTRATIVE FLEXIBILITY ADVANCES IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Jim Beach designed to give county sheriffs a measure of administrative flexibility and ensure essential functions can continue in the sheriff’s absence was unanimously approved by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee today.

“Our State’s county sheriffs perform essential law-enforcement duties for our communities, particularly in the more rural and suburban regions of New Jersey,” said Senator Beach, D-Camden. “Rather than saddle these law enforcement professionals with mountains of paperwork, we should give them the option to share the burden with a duly-authorized undersheriff. And in the event that a sheriff is absent, the administrative functions of the office should be carried on by a qualified undersheriff.”

State Sen. Jim Beach, who is no longest the more junior member of the Senate now that Marcia Karrow has won.

The newest Democrat in the New Jersey State Senate is James Beach, who won a special election convention earlier this month to replace John Adler, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.  A former Camden County Clerk and the Co-Chairman of the Camden County Democratic Party, Beach was given a seat on the Senate Environment Committee; Senate President Richard Codey is expected to give Beach an additional committee assignment shortly.

A new State Senator will be elected on Saturday to replace newly-elected U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton).

Tomorrow is Election Day in Hunterdon County, where Assemblyman Michael Doherty and Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow will face off in a special election convention to replace Leonard Lance as the State Senator from the 23rd district. Lance resigned his State Senate seat earlier this month to take his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Doherty is widely considered to be the front runner, but insider contests decided by County Committee members can produce some surprises in a race where no polling of a finite universe of voters has been conducted.  Either way, District 23 Republican County Committee members will need to return soon to fill the soon-to-be vacant Assembly seat of the winner.  Three Freeholders - Matthew Holt and Erik Peterson of Hunterdon and John DiMaio of Warren - are already announced candidates for the Assembly.  A fourth candidate, Bloomsbury Mayor Mark Peck, is also mulling an Assembly bid.