LESNIAK ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak which will jump-start New Jersey’s economy and create new economic and job opportunities was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“New Jersey’s economic problems didn’t begin with the global economic crisis affecting the rest of the world, and it wouldn't end when the national economy rebounds” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “For the first time ever, we’re going to see less private-sector jobs at the end of the decade than we had in the beginning of the decade. Alarm bells should be going off that we need new economic policies and job retention and growth incentives, not the same-old, tired policies that have helped push us to the brink of economic collapse.

“This bill charts a new course for the State – one in which we’re a willing partner to economic expansion and private sector investment,” added Senator Lesniak. “It gives New Jersey the needed shot in the arm to turn the corner and be a job creator.”

CODEY APPLAUDS CORZINE SIGNING OF NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC STIMULUS ACT

NEWARK – Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, issued the following statement today regarding Governor Corzine’s signing of S-2299, the “New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009”:

“During the worst economic crisis in generations, Governor Corzine and his partners in the New Jersey Legislature have consistently shown the leadership needed to make true economic recovery and stimulus a reality.

WHELAN SUPPORTS HIGHER EDUCATION PROVISIONS IN ECONOMIC STIMULUS ACT

TRENTON – Senator Jim Whelan said today that provisions contained within the “New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009” that pertain to higher education in New Jersey would help boost the national reputation of the State’s public colleges and universities while creating new research and job opportunities for students. The “Economic Stimulus Act,” which was sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, received final legislative approval from the Senate today by a vote of 23-14.

“Our State colleges and public universities are at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to the financing of on-campus projects and the opportunities created for students through strong public-private partnerships,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic, and a member of the Senate Education Committee who advocated for these policy changes while working on the higher education restructuring legislation which was approved earlier today in the Senate. “Because of the regulatory and legal blockades which prevent institutions of higher education from contracting with private entities to finance construction projects in New Jersey, colleges have to rely on inadequate State financial support or tuition revenues to build on campus. Other states have given colleges the authority to take advantage of private financing, and the results are phenomenal.

LESNIAK ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak which would jump-start New Jersey’s economy was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 23-14, receiving final legislative approval.

“Even before the national recession, New Jersey’s economy has lagged behind the national economy for nearly a decade, with in-State private-sector job growth underperforming national statistics in even the rosiest economic times,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “In the four year period from 2003 to 2007, private sector employment grew nationally by 6.5 percent. By comparison, during that same time period in New Jersey, the private sector job base grew by only 2.3 percent.