Nellie Pou

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.

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

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WEIGH PRISON REHAB REFORM AT SPECIAL HEARING IN PATERSON

(PATERSON) – Assembly Democrats released the following statements Wednesday at a special hearing focusing on improving education and training to help those released from prison avoid returning to crime.

The Second Chance hearing was the fourth convened by Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman.

Watson Coleman (D-Mercer):

“This is a complex problem that we must solve for the good of all New Jersey taxpayers. We cannot expect to end the pervasive cycle of arrest, incarceration, release and re-incarceration if prison conditions don’t promote rehabilitation. This insidious cycle has a terrible impact on our economy, our families and our communities and prison conditions must encourage reintegration into society.”

POU: NEW JERSEY BETTER POSITIONED TO COMBAT CRISIS THANKS TO ECONOMIC FOCUS

(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, the Assembly Appropriations Committee chairwoman, released the following statement on Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s State of the State address:

“These are difficult times, but they would be much worse for New Jersey had we not worked with the Governor to slash state spending, boost businesses and help hard-working New Jerseyans weather this storm.

-- REMINDER FOR WEDNESDAY --

FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TESTIFY AT PRISON REHAB REFORM HEARING IN PATERSON

(TRENTON) – Former U.S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach is expected to testify Wednesday when Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman convenes another Second Chance hearing on improving education and training to help those released from prison avoid returning to crime.

WATSON COLEMAN/ GREEN/CAPUTO/JASEY/POU/RAMOS/VAS/SMITH ANTI-FORECLOSURE MEASURE NOW LAW

Bill Establishes Direct Lines of Help to Lenders, Borrowers

(TRENTON) – Legislation eight Assembly Democratic lawmakers sponsored to help homeowners facing impending foreclosure was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

“New Jersey’s deepening mortgage crisis makes it imperative that we provide direct assistance to ensure families can stay in their homes and out of foreclosure,” said a leading sponsor, Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer). “We need to open lines for borrowers and lenders to work together to preserve the dream of homeownership that is quickly becoming a nightmare for too many families.”

ASSEMBLY BILL TO BOOST PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED SIGNED INTO LAW

Measure Increases Income Limits for Property Tax Relief Program

(CLIFFSIDE PARK) – Gov. Jon S. Corzine today signed into law an Assembly bill to help more senior citizens and disabled residents receive property tax relief.

The bill (A-3460) raises the income eligibility limits for senior citizen and disabled homeowners to apply for the Senior Freeze property tax relief program, increasing household income limits from $55,000 to $80,000 over the next three years.

The law is sponsored by Assembly members Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester), Joan Voss (D-Bergen), Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex), Sandi Love (D-Camden/Gloucester), Nellie Pou (D-Passaic) and Patrick J. Diegnan (D-Middlesex).

“Making it easier for senior citizens and disabled homeowners to take advantage of this property tax relief will help ensure the global economic crisis doesn’t force residents on fixed incomes out of their homes,” Moriarty said.

BILL STREAMLINING SALES TAX BREAK
FOR UEZ-BASED SMALL BUSINESSES NOW LAW

(TRENTON) - Legislation making it easier for businesses in New Jersey's 34 urban enterprise zones (UEZ) to purchase goods and services for their businesses sales-tax-free was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

ASSEMBLY BILL TO HELP WITH HEATING BILLS, FOOD AND FORECLOSURES SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Gov. Jon S. Corzine today signed into law legislation sponsored by Assembly members Connie Wagner, John Burzichelli, Nellie Pou and Sheila Oliver to provide $22.5 million to help residents struggling against the global economic crisis.

The New Jersey Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan provides $3 million for food banks and soup kitchens and $10 million to help pay utility bills for households in need.

It also provides $9.2 million to Legal Services of New Jersey and $300,000 for the Community Health Law Project to help low-income homeowners and tenants with issues such as mortgage foreclosure, bankruptcy, debt collection and eviction.

The bill is among many advanced by the Assembly to help residents and businesses weather the global crisis.

JOB-GROWTH GRANTS, HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE
CLEAR ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
Measures Aim to Help Residents Weather Current Economic Downturn,
Promote Job-Growth and Retention

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Appropriations Committee today released a package of measures aimed at helping homeowners and businesses emerge intact from the global economic crisis.