Patrick Diegnan

DIEGNAN/McKEON BILL TO HELP CHARITIES BATTLE GLOBAL RECESSION CLEARS ASSEMBLY PANEL

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. and John F. McKeon sponsored to help charitable organizations weather the global economic recession was advanced today by an Assembly committee.

ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Annual Celebration Commemorates Contributions, Heritage of Irish-Americans

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package commemorating the chamber's annual celebration of Saint Patrick's Day - a celebration of New Jersey's strong Irish-American heritage and its contributions to the betterment and advancement of the state.

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS COMMENTARY ON COMMITTEE REVIEW OF OVERSIGHT FOR NJ PORTION OF FEDERAL STIMULUS

(TRENTON) - Chairs of six Assembly committees today issued a multimedia package on the Assembly's efforts to ensure legislative oversight and accountability of the money made available to New Jersey from the recently enacted federal stimulus package.

The committee hearings were the first of two days largely devoted to discussing the impact of the federal stimulus on the state.  Assembly committees heard from a variety of state commissioners and department heads on their efforts to obtain and oversee distribution of federal stimulus dollars.

Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan could move up to the State Senate, if Gov. Jon Corzine picks Barbara Buono as Lt. Governor.

If Barbara Buono were to win election as Lt. Governor, it would mean a January 2010 special election convention to fill her State Senate seat.  Democrats say the leading candidate would be four-term Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield).  If he wins re-election, Edison Mayor Jun Choi could also emerge as a Senate candidate, although he would have a tough time in an election where the voters are Democratic County Committee members.  Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-Edison) is also a potential Senate candidate.

Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan, above, could wind up as Assembly Majority Leader, if Gov. Jon Corzine picks Bonnie Watson Coleman as the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor.

The bigger inside contest if Bonnie Watson Coleman leaves the Legislature to run for Lt. Governor is who would succeed her as Assembly Majority Leader.  Her two main competitors when she won the post after the 2005 election, Neil Cohen and Wilfredo Caraballo, are no longer in the Legislature.  The race is significant because next Majority Leader could become Assembly Speaker someday.

The conventional wisdom is that Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman, would be a leading candidate for Majority Leader.  Cryan has a strong relationship with Speaker Joseph Roberts and with Democratic Party leaders across the state.  Watson Coleman was the Democratic State Chair before she became Majority Leader.

DIEGNAN/CRYAN BILL TO OVERHAUL HIGHER ED STRUCTURE, FISCAL MANAGEMENT ADVANCES
Measure Would Implement Many Recommendations of 2007 SCI Report

(TRENTON) -  The Assembly Higher Education Committee today released legislation committee Chairman Patrick J. Diegnan and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan sponsored to improve the structure, financing and fiscal management of New Jersey's system of higher education.

DIEGNAN/LAMPITT BILL ENHANCING NJ STARS' STANDARDS, SUSTAINABILITY NOW LAW

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly members Patrick J. Diegnan and Pamela Lampitt sponsored to reform the popular NJ STARS college scholarship programs to strengthen its eligibility standards and ease the financial burden on the state's colleges was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

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.

ASSEMBLY PASSES DIEGNAN/LAMPITT BILL
ENHANCING NJ STARS' STANDARDS, SUSTAINABILITY

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assembly members Patrick J. Diegnan and Pamela Lampitt sponsored to reform the popular NJ STARS college scholarship programs to strengthen its eligibility standards and ease the financial burden on the state's colleges.

DIEGNAN/LAMPITT NJ STARS REFORM LEGISLATION
CALLS FOR HIGHER STANDARDS, SUSTAINABILITY
Legislation Seeks to Enact Recommendations of NJ STARS Task Force

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan and Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt sponsored to revise the popular NJ STARS I and NJ STARS II college scholarship programs to ensure their long-term viability was released today from the Assembly Appropriations Committee by a vote of 10-1 with one abstention.