Linda Greenstein

LAMPITT/CHIVUKULA/WAGNER/VAINIERI HUTTLE/POU/GREENSTEIN BILL TO PERMIT WIND AND SOLAR FACILITIES IN INDUSTRIAL ZONE ADVANCES

(TRENTON) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt, Upendra Chivukula, Connie Wagner, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Nellie Pou and Linda R. Greenstein to permit wind and solar facilities in industrial zones was approved by the Senate.

The bill passed the Assembly 60-15 in October, and an amended version was approved 36-3 by the Senate on Monday. It now returns to the Assembly for final legislative approval.

SENATE OKs GREENSTEIN/WATSON COLEMAN/LAMPITT BILL TO PROMOTE SOLAR ENERGY

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblywomen Linda R. Greenstein, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Pamela R. Lampitt sponsored that would promote energy efficiency through the installation of solar energy panels in new homes has passed the Senate.

“We can vastly improve the quality of life for all New Jersey families by encouraging investment in solar energy systems in all new houses,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex-Mercer). “Sound public policy and environmentally responsible practices can come together to provide dividends for generations.”

Two Democratic legislators from a district where state employees are a huge voting bloc acknowledge Gov. Jon Corzine is in a tough spot and has to make budget cuts, and both profess support for the re-election of their fellow Democrat.  But Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne D'Angelo (D-Hamilton) can't back some of his latest proposed cost saving measures, like a mandatory two day worker furlough, wage freezes and pension deferrals.

"Respectfully to the Governor in understanding the difficult situation he's in - I'm mindful of it - but all too often, whenever it comes down to balancing a budget or cuts, it's always on the backs of the working families," said DeAngelo, who's also president of the Mercer County Building Trades.  "We need to look at other things first before we start taking food off peoples' tables."

The political reality for both Democrats and Republicans here in the 14th - a Trenton-abutting swing district that thousands of state workers call home -- is that agreeing with the Governor on those cuts would mean almost certain political suicide.

COMMITTEE ADVANCES GREENSTEIN BILL TO REGULATE PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGEMENT COMPANIES

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein sponsored to regulate the pharmacy benefits management (PBM) companies that manage prescription drug benefits for health care plans in New Jersey was released by the Assembly Appropriations Committee today.

UPDATED VERSION 

GREENSTEIN BILL STRENGTHENING ANTI-STALKING LAWS CLEARS FINAL LEGISLATIVE HURDLE

(TRENTON) – The Assembly has given final legislative approval to a bill Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein is sponsoring to strengthen the state’s anti-stalking laws.

“Stalking is a serious crime that can destroy a person’s life and leave lasting emotional scars,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex). “We must do more to protect people from unwanted, unrelenting and unnerving attention.”

GREENSTEIN BILL STRENGTHENING ANTI-STALKING LAWS CLEARS FINAL LEGISLATIVE HURDLE

(TRENTON) – The Assembly has given final legislative approval to a bill Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein is sponsoring to strengthen the state’s anti-stalking laws.

“Stalking is a serious crime that can destroy a person’s life and leave lasting emotional scars,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex). “We must do more to protect people from unwanted, unrelenting and unnerving attention.”

ASSEMBLY OK’S LOVE/GREENSTEIN/CRUZ-PEREZ/MORIARTY BILL TARGETING UNSAFE JEWELRY

Measure Comes After Minnesota Boy Died After Swallowing Lead-Tainted Bracelet

(TRENTON) – The Assembly today approved legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Sandi Love, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty targeting unsafe jewelry.

Under the bill, no one may sell, distribute, import or manufacture jewelry in New Jersey that contains materials classified as unsafe The bill also includes stricter restrictions on materials used in children’s jewelry and body piercing jewelry.

Love crafted the legislation (A-2877) after a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy died of lead poisoning from swallowing a tainted charm bracelet.

“Buying a necklace or a charm bracelet shouldn’t bring about fears of lead and mercury poisoning, yet the health and safety of New Jerseyans are at risk,” said Love (D-Gloucester). “It’s time these harmful products are taken down from store shelves for good.”

West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hseuh, left, faces Councilman Charles Morgan in the May non-partisan election. Former Hamilton Councilman Jack Lacy, right, has aplogized for a racial slur sent in an e-mail last week.

Democrats say that West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, an independent, has agreed not to endorse Republican candidates outside of local politics in exchange for no Democratic opposition in his re-election campaign in May.  His deal helps him avoid a three-way race and leaves him with one opponent, Councilman Charles Morgan, a Republican. 

Hsueh has annoyed Democrats in recent years with his support of Republican Bill Baroni in races for the Senate and Assembly.  He has reportedly agreed to support Democratic incumbents Linda Greenstein and Wayne DeAngelo in their Assembly bid next year, and not to endorse Baroni in 2011.  Four years ago, Baroni backed Hsueh's re-election bid, while Greenstein helped then-Councilwoman Allison Miller.

Republicans have not yet settled on candidates to challenge Democratic incumbents Linda Greenstein and Wayne DeAngelo for the State Assembly in the politically competitive 14th district.

Former Mercer County sheriff candidate Jim McSorley acknowledged today that he is considering running for assembly in the 14th District.

“I’m thinking about it, to tell you the truth.  I haven’t made any decisions one way or the other,” said McSorley, a Hamilton resident and former State Police captain.  

The 14th is expected to be one of the prime battleground districts this year, with Republicans specifically targeting freshman Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), a labor leader.  DeAngelo’s running mate, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), is a five-term incumbent.

GREENSTEIN: EARLY SUCCESS FOR BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM A POSITIVE SIGN FOR NEW JERSEY

(PLAINSBORO) – Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein today said the early success of a business grant program she sponsored to help New Jersey businesses weather the global economic meltdown is a positive sign for New Jersey.

Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) was among the sponsors of a new law that provides $3,000 grants for each full-time job created and retained for one-year. The law also gives sales tax rebates to companies that make capital investments of at least $5,000.

The bill was among about 40 advanced by the Assembly since September to help New Jersey businesses and workers emerge strong from the worldwide economic crisis.

“No one claimed this bill was going to solve the global economic meltdown, and unemployment and struggling businesses continues to be a worry, but the early success of this program is a positive sign for 2009 and a signal that businesses have confidence in New Jersey,” Greenstein said. “These grants and incentives are creating jobs and growth and helping position New Jersey to emerge strong from this crisis.”