Joseph Doria

DORIA - SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM SHOULD BE TIED TO ACCOUNTABILITY, EFFICIENCY

TRENTON - Senator Joseph V. Doria, D-Hudson, a member of the Joint Legislative panel considering reforms to the State's school funding formula, issued the following statement today following a roundtable discussion the panel conducted with some of the State's leading authorities on education:

"While we've reached a point in New Jersey where school funding formula reform is an absolute necessity to stabilize out-of-control property taxes, I think we need to put an emphasis on best practices and accountability in order to protect the integrity of the educational system in New Jersey.

MADDEN, MAYER & MORIARTY PROPOSE ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY
Legislation would make first weekend in August free of sales tax for certain purchases

(Turnersville, NJ) Senator Fred Madden, Assemblymen David Mayer and Paul Moriarty are drafting legislation that would establish a sales tax holiday for back-to-school items during the first full weekend in August. This sales tax holiday would be a three day period of tax free shopping for the purchase of school supplies and personal computers priced under $1000. The intent is to provide financial relief to New Jersey families as their children prepare for the school year, however the general public may also take advantage of the tax free items.

DORIA: LEGISLATURE SHOULD "LISTEN, LEARN AND LEAD" ON SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM

TRENTON - Senator Joseph V. Doria Jr. today said New Jersey needs to "make a commitment to a new school funding formula and stick with it" to ensure a quality education for children at a reasonable cost.

"We need to listen, to learn and to lead," said Senator Doria, D-Hudson, who holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership. "We have to listen to the public, learn the needs of all aspects of the educational community and then lead by offering solutions to the challenges of providing educational fairness to all children."

DORIA ON SIGNING OF CABLE COMPETITION MEASURE

TRENTON - Senator Joseph V. Doria made the following statement today following the signature of Governor Corzine of bill S-192, which allows telecomm companies and public utilities that provide for the transmission of video programming to compete in the television service market:

"I commend Governor Corzine for signing this bill today and bringing competition to New Jersey's cable market. This is a major step for New Jersey, opening the market for multiple companies to provide cable in an area, so that we can promote innovation and drive down the cost of cable for our residents."

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg has named Joseph Waks as his new State Director. Waks served as Congressman Bill Pascrell’s Communications Director, as Chief of Staff to Bayonne Mayor Joseph Doria, and as Appointments Counsel to Governor Richard Codey. Waks succeeds Noreen Giblin, who has joined the Corzine administration.

Footnote: the State Director for New Jersey's other U.S. Senator, Nicholas Chiaravalloti, is also a former Chief of Staff to Doria. Chiaravalloti is on a leave of absence so he can work on Robert Menendez's campaign.

LESNIAK-DORIA AMENDMENT TO ENSURE TRANSIT FUNDING

TRENTON - The Senate today approved a proposed constitutional amendment, sponsored by Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Joseph V. Doria, that would seek voter approval to change the dedication of the motor fuels tax from 9 cents to 10.5 cents per gallon to be used solely for transportation projects throughout New Jersey.

"New Jersey voters are being asked to back a dedication of existing gasoline tax revenues so an additional $78 million in pay-as-you-go funding will be available every year for needed improvements to roads, bridges and bus and rail transit operations," said Senator Lesniak, D-Union.

"Our commitment now to transportation projects will help fight potential gridlock problems for our children and grandchildren," said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. "It makes sense to provide a stable source of funding for the necessities of transportation flow and repairs."

SENATE APPROVES TURNER/DORIA/GIRGENTI BILL TO PROTECT PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATORS

TRENTON - The Senate today gave unanimous approval to legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner, Joseph Doria and John Girgenti that would define any assault on a nonpublic school teacher or administrator as an aggravated assault.

"No teacher should ever have to worry about being assaulted by a student," said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Chair of the Senate Education Committee. "But the penalty for harming a teacher should not be dependent on whether that individual teaches in a public or private school. Charging tuition shouldn't result in less stringent punishments for students acting in such a deplorable way."

DORIA CABLE COMPETITION BILL HEADS TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

TRENTON - Senator Joseph V. Doria, D-Hudson, issued the following statement today regarding the Senate's final legislative approval, by a vote of 31-5, of a bill that would foster cable competition in New Jersey and allow telecommunications companies to compete in the television broadcast arena:

"New Jerseyans will soon be able to see real savings on their cable bills, as Statewide franchises for cable TV puts downward pressure on rates and cable companies have to provide better deals for their consumers or get priced out of the market. With the Governor's signature, cable competition in New Jersey will become a reality.

**PREVIEW**

SENATE TO VOTE ON CABLE COMPETITION, GAS TAX DEDICATION MONDAY

TRENTON - On Monday, the Senate is scheduled to vote on legislation which would promote cable competition, dedicate a greater portion of gas tax revenues to transportation improvement projects, and require pharmacists to fill prescriptions without regard to their own personal moral or religious beliefs.

The voting session will begin at 2 P.M. in the Senate chambers. Prior to the session, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will meet to consider bills, including legislation to crack down on fraud and abuse within the State's Medicaid health care system, and create a prescription drug registry program in New Jersey to help seniors and others find the best price for their prescription.

DORIA BILL TO PROMOTE SENIOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS ADVANCES

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria, Jr. which would allow municipalities to exempt senior citizen homeowners from construction permit fees to promote senior home improvements was approved today by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee by a vote of 4-0.

"For many living out their retirement years in New Jersey, fixed incomes and the high cost of living mean little in the way of rainy day savings," said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. "When seniors need to make repairs on their homes, many simply cannot afford to with all of the other expenses they face on a daily basis. Through this legislation, we're making it a little easier for seniors to afford home repairs and improvements needed to make their homes safe and comfortable."