GREENWALD BILL FOR TAX AMNESTY
CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE HURDLE
Measure Seeks Payment of Estimated $100 Million in Back Taxes
To Help Close Gap in Current Fiscal Year's Budget

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly Budget Chairman Louis D. Greenwald sponsored to create a temporary amnesty program to enable individuals who owe the state back taxes to come clean without fear of civil or criminal penalties was released today from committee.

Greenwald Talks Tough on Property Taxes,
But Folds Under Pressure

Chaiman of Budget Committee says
he will fight to protect property tax rebates,
but goes AWOL when Corzine tells him to zip it

HADDON HEIGHTS -- Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees), chairman of the Budget Committee in the General Assembly, recently claimed that he would fight to keep New Jerseyans' property tax rebates "to the death." But shortly after making his statement, Greenwald disappeared from public view, and his office refused to comment on his claim.

"The fact is that Lou Greenwald tried to score cheap political points by coming out in favor of keeping property tax rebates," said Camden County GOP Chairman Richard DeMichele, Jr. "But Greenwald didn't clear his comments with the real boss in town, Jon Corzine, and when Corzine found out, suddenly Greenwald could not be found."

"As Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald has been reckless and irresponsible in making New Jersey unaffordable and unfriendly to small business," DeMichele added. "Lou Greenwald won't stand up to Jon Corzine, and he won't stand up for South Jersey taxpayers."

GREENWALD, POU: RECESSION'S 'GUT-PUNCH' REQUIRES MORE CUTS, SMALLER GOVERNMENT

Two of the most prominent athletes in America have made big news. Michael Phelps, eight time Olympic gold medalist, was pictured taking a marijuana bong in South Carolina, while New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez did admit he took a performance enhancement substance after his name was leaked revealing he failed a drug test when he was a member of the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003.   They both have been excoriated in the press for their “misbehavior.”

In New Jersey meanwhile, Assemblymen Herb Conway, Jr., a physician, and Louis Greenwald introduced A-3079.  The bill mandates that fluoride be added to all public water systems. It passed the first hurdle, when by a vote of 10-0 with one abstention it was released by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee and then sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.   Also in New Jersey, the state mandates more childhood vaccines than any other state, and according to the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice, “New Jersey is the first jurisdiction anywhere in the world to make flu shots and meningococcal shots compulsory” for preschool kids and sixth graders, respectively. 

PANEL OK'S SCALERA/McKEON/GREENWALD BILL FOR
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO COLLEGE FUND
Measure Would Exempt First $5,000 in Annual Contributions To NJ BEST
College Savings Plan from State Income Taxes

(TRENTON) -- An Assembly panel has released legislation Assemblymen Fred Scalera, John McKeon and Louis Greenwald sponsored to provide a state income tax deduction to residents who save for their children's higher education through a state-administered college savings plan.

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS ON CHILD PROTECTION BILL PACKAGE

Measures Would Educate Parents, Reduce Poverty & Enhance Education

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package on the Assembly passage of a three-bill package to enhance the quality of life of New Jersey's children.

The measures would require the state to give information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to new parents (A-725), create a council on child welfare and social services tasked with developing a statewide plan to reduce child poverty (A-1411) and create a task force to study and implement best practices for diagnosing, treating and educating students with reading disabilities.

ASSEMBLY APPROVES GREENWALD/FISHER BILL
TO EDUCATE PARENTS ON SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

(TRENTON) -  The Assembly today voted 77-0 to approve legislation Assembly members Louis D. Greenwald and Douglas H. Fisher sponsored to require the state include information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to new parents.

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC BUDGET PANEL MEMBERS COMMENTARY ON MID-YEAR BUDGET CUTS

(TRENTON) - Democratic members of the Assembly Budget Committee today issued a multimedia package explaining why a round of mid-year cuts to the state budget is necessary.

Earlier this month, the Corzine administration released a list of $812 million in planned budget cuts, selected as part of a larger plan to deal with an estimated $2.1 billion shortfall in the current year budget.

GREENWALD: GOVERNOR RIGHT IN MAKING ECONOMY FOCUS OF STATE-OF-THE-STATE

(TRENTON) - Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Louis Greenwald said Governor Jon Corzine was right in making New Jersey's economy and the state's ability to emerge from the national recession the focus of his annual State-of-the-State message.

GREENWALD ISSUES MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE ON BILL TO OVERHAUL CARE FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Measure Would Save Money, Enhance Services by Ending Institutionalization

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden) today issued a multimedia package on his legislation to overhaul the way the state cares for individuals with developmental disabilities by refocusing money from costly institutional care toward community-based services.

Greenwald's measure (A-3625) aims to reduce the population of New Jersey's seven developmental centers by 80 percent within five years.