Passaic

DeCROCE SAYS PROPERTY TAX EXPLOSION JUSTIFIES
A 30 PERCENT TAX CREDIT FOR MOST HOMEOWNERS

Proposes 30% Tax Credit For Seniors And Households
Earning $200,000 or Less; Everyone Else Would See a 20% Reduction

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says a published report on Sunday that confirmed property taxes jumped an average of 7.3 percent for New Jersey homeowners in 2006 demands an immediate legislative response and one that will provide significant property tax relief in the coming year.

DeCroce said the report by The Record of Hackensack proves the tax relief proposals that have been bandied about by the Democrats who control the Legislature will not do enough to ease the crushing financial burden that has made New Jersey an unaffordable place to live for middle class families.

"New Jersey taxpayers are being bled dry," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "Democrats are responsible for a 35 percent rise in property taxes, $6 billion in new state taxes, $10 billion in increased spending and $37.5 billion in new debt in just five years. They promised property tax relief and reform by the end of 2006 and utterly failed to deliver on that promise. Is it any wonder thousands of New Jersey families are fleeing the state each year for more tax-friendly environments? It's time to end the exodus."

DeCroce called on Democrats, in the spirit of bipartisanship, to consider a major tax relief effort that includes:

* A permanent 30 percent property tax cut for all primary residences with a combined household income at or below $200,000.

* A permanent 20 percent tax cut for all other households.

* A guarantee that senior citizens on fixed incomes get a 30 percent or $2,000 property tax credit, whichever is higher.

* A $5,000 cap on any tax credit.

* Doubling the size of renter rebates.

ASSEMBLY AND SENATE HONORS PEQUANNOCK
LITTLE LEAGUE GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM
RESOLUTION TO BE PRESENTED FOR PLACING SECOND AT
LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES

The Pequannock Little League Girls Softball Team will receive praise today by the New Jersey Legislature for a brilliant performance during their 2006 national title campaign. District 26 legislators Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio and Senator Robert Martin will present the team with a resolution in tribute to their performance at the General Assembly voting session today.

WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2006 CONTACT: (201) 602-4468

WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY STEERING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT
Riverdale Mayor William Budesheim Named

Morris Plains, NJ - As the Webber for Assembly exploratory committee continues its work, the campaign today announced the first member of its Steering Committee, Riverdale Borough Mayor William Budesheim.

GORMLEY AND O'TOOLE EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR BENEFIT REFORMS, BUT SAY MORE CAN BE DONE

APPROVE FINAL REPORT, BUT ALSO RECOMMEND SEVERAL STRONGER REFORMS

Senator William Gormley and Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole said they support most of the reforms proposed in the final report adopted today by the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform, but added that they believe the committee could have gone further and would have preferred stronger recommendations in several key areas.

O'TOOLE: PENSION REFORM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS A GOOD START

Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen, a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform, issued the following statement today regarding the recommendations issued by the Committee:

DeCROCE SAYS SCHEME TO SELL EXISTING
TOLL ROADS AND CREATE NEW ONES IS A FARCE
'Taxpayers Will Get Socked Coming and Going'

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today the Corzine Administration should put the brakes on a proposal it is reportedly considering to create a series of new toll roads out of free highways.

"The whole idea of selling or leasing toll roads was supposed to be a way to ease the financial burden of New Jersey taxpayers," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "What's the point if the Democrats create new toll roads to replace the ones they lease or sell? All that will do is multiply the number of tolls motorists must pay."

DeCROCE STATEMENT ON TODAY'S NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT GAY MARRIAGE RULING

KEAN & MENENDEZ RESPOND TO CONCLUDING DEBATE QUESTIONS

(TRENTON) - U.S. Senate candidates Thomas H. Kean Jr. and Robert Menendez have responded to a series of short questions on topical state and national issues in the Hall Institute's Virtual Debate.

Their responses are posted on the Virtual Debate website at www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate. The questions, which include several submissions from visitors to the Hall Institute website, are:

DeCROCE CHALLENGES DEM LEADERS TO END
THE EQUIVOCATION ON BIPARTISAN PAY-TO-PLAY REFORM

Seeks Firm Commitment to End Political Contributions by Redevelopers

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today he is disappointed with the lukewarm response of Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, D-Camden, and Senate President Richard Codey, D-Essex, to a bipartisan attempt to advance "pay-to-play" reform by ending political contributions by builders involved with redevelopment projects.

"We need a sweeping top-to-bottom ban on the insidious practice of pay-to-play," asserted DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "So far efforts to enact such a ban have hit a brick wall in the form of the Assembly Speaker and Senate President. The very least they can do is heed calls by their own members to consider incremental reform."

DeCROCE SAYS CAMDEN CORRUPTION
UNDERSCORES NEED FOR SPECIAL ETHICS REFORM SESSION NOW

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says new disclosures that the U.S. Attorney's Office has subpoenaed state records regarding the activities of state Sen. Wayne Bryant further underscores the need for Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts to call a special session of the Assembly to consider anti-corruption bills now.

"What is the Speaker waiting for?" asked DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "His running-mate can already feel the U.S. Attorney's Office closing in on him. Yet Roberts continues to act like there's no emergency.

"How many more troubling revelations have to come out of Camden County for Speaker Roberts to acknowledge that something is terribly wrong in his own backyard and throughout the state? This crisis demands action now, not months from now."