Lawrence and DiCicco: Moriarty’s talking about bill collectors because all the jobs are leaving his district

Lawrence and DiCicco will oppose tax hikes while supporting sensible spending cuts

BURZICHELLI , MILAM, DeANGELO & MORIARTY CONTINUE FIGHT FOR BILL TARGETING ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES

(TRENTON) – Citing a new survey showing debt collectors remain a top consumer complaint and the need to close gaps in federal law, Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli, Matthew W. Milam, Wayne P. DeAngelo and Paul Moriarty on Thursday continued pushing for a new state law combating unscrupulous debt collection.

The New Jersey Fair Debt Collection Practices Act would eliminate abusive debt collection practices and provide consumers a way to dispute and validate debt information to ensure its accuracy. The bill sponsored by the four Assembly Democrats was approved 61-17 by the Assembly in June and has now been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.

“We’re doing nothing here to relieve a consumer of a rightful debt, but this is a fairness bill that’s needed more than ever to ensure consumers aren’t harassed by unscrupulous debt collectors,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). “What we’re doing here is creating guidelines under which debt collectors may conduct business, defining the rights of consumers and prescribing penalties for violations. At it’s core, this is simply consumer protection.”

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

ASSEMBLY DEMS ON NEW LAW COMBATING HOSPITAL MEDICAL ERRORS

(PLAINSBORO) - Assembly members Paul D. Moriarty, Linda R. Greenstein and Herb Conaway, M.D. today issued a multimedia package on a new law they sponsored to help prevent hospital medical errors.

The law (A-1264/3371/3633) was signed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine during a public ceremony at AARP New Jersey headquarters. It requires the state Department of Health and Senior Services to include hospital-specific data on 14 patient safety indicators in the agency's annual Hospital Performance Report that is available to the public.  The law also prohibits hospitals and doctors from billing a patient or insurance company for specific types of medical errors and hospital-acquired conditions.

The sponsors said the law enables the public to make more informed decisions about their health care options while encouraging poorly performing hospitals to improve patient safety.

MORIARTY & BURZICHELLI CONTINUE TO SEEK JOB PROTECTIONS FOR EMERGENCY VOLUNTEERS

(TRENTON) – Assemblymen Paul Moriarty and John Burzichelli continue to seek job protections for volunteer emergency responders.

“These volunteers selflessly sacrifice their time and risk their safety to protect our communities and families,” said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). “The least we can do is provide them protections when it comes to their livelihoods. This is the moral and decent thing to do.”

Republican Christopher Christie is leading in four legislative districts Democrat Jon Corzine carried easily four years ago, according to a poll conducted for the Assembly Republican Victory '09 Committee. 

The poll also shows Republicans with an opportunity to pick up State Assembly seats in districts 1, 4, 14 and 19.

"This sizeable lead for Christie means the potential for coattails exists for GOP assembly candidates whose central campaign theme includes lowering taxes and reducing government spending, cleaning up political corruption and bringing change to Trenton," Jim Lee, the president of Susquehanna Polling and Research, a Pennsylvania-based firm, wrote in an analysis memo to the Assembly GOP leadership.

In District 1, Christie leads Corzine by 25 points, 55%-30%.  In 2005, Corzine carried the district 53%-47% against Republican Douglas Forrester.  Republicans win a generic ballot test in the race for Assembly by a 48%-29% margin.  The two incumbents, Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matthew Milam (D-Vineland) are considered the most vulnerable Democrats in the Legislature this year.

Christie leads Corzine 52%-32% in District 4; Corzine beat Forrester in the Camden-Gloucester district by fourteen points, 57%-43%.  Just 27% of voters say that Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Twp.) deserves re-election, while 40% say it's time for a new person.  Republicans lead the generic ballot test 41%-33%.

MORIARTY BILLS TO PRESERVE FARMLAND & OPEN SPACE SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Moriarty to help preserve farmland and open space throughout the 4th Legislative District has been signed into law.

“Preserving farmland and open space limits development, protects our water quality and maintains parks and recreation for our families for years to come, all while helping to sustain our reputation and tradition as the Garden State,” said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). “This is supported by voters and will bring benefits to Camden and Gloucester counties for years to come.”

Lawrence, left, and DiCicco at Monday's event in Pitman

When Republican National Chairman Michael Steele and Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie came to their district on Monday, fourth district GOP Assembly candidates Dominick DiCicco and Eugene E. T. Lawrence were far from the center of attention.  But they were happy to see the state party at least paying some attention to their region.

"It opens the door for South Jersey. We don't get a lot of attention down here, and we don't really have a lot of intense representation that really goes to bat for issues the way that we should," said Lawrence.

When Republicans announced Lawrence's candidacy in the spring, they hailed it as a "game changer" in this suburban Philadelphia district with a nearly two-to-one Democratic registration advantage.  Lawrence, an African-American former councilman from Gloucester Township, switched from Democrat to Republican to join the ticket.  He was soon joined by DiCicco, who is the chief counsel for Zurich's North America Commercial division.

They're running against two-term incumbent Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Township), and Bill Collins, a former Gloucester Township school board president and track coach who is replacing outgoing Assemblywoman Sandra Love (D-Gloucester Twp) on the ballot.

The Corzine-Moriarty Record:
More South Jersey Jobs Lost

Archer Daniels Midland Company to close
Glassboro facility; Where is Paul Moriarty?

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Last week, the Archer Daniels Midland Company announced its intentions to close their cocoa facility in Glassboro. Faced with the prospect of losing a major employer in his district, Paul Moriarty showed his "Corzine colors" by failing to act or offer any leadership on this critical issue.

Eugene Lawrence, candidate for Assembly in the Fourth Legislative District, said, "Glassboro's borough administrator, Joe Brigandi, told reporters on June 25th that they would continue to try to reach out to Archer Daniels. Since that time, our legislators have been missing in action. We need leaders in Trenton like Domenick and I who will fight for every job in our district."

"Unfortunately for the citizens of our state and more directly of our District, the policies Corzine and Moriarty of serving special interests at the expense of our taxpayers is directly impacting our neighbors," added Domenick DiCicco, who is also running for Assembly. "To be absent from such a discussion and not being passionately involved in trying to save the jobs of our neighbors is simply inexcusable. Moriarty and Corzine's policies of selling the state to special interests at the expense of the working man are simply a sin."

"Corzine and Moriarty's polices are destroying the economic security of our state. As proven by this latest loss of good paying jobs, the record of the Corzine Moriarty administration in one of failure upon the backs of our citizens," DiCicco added. "This is not my opinion, but simply fact. At the end of the day, the voters alone have the power to change this administration. Enough pain has been heaped upon us and our neighbors."

"It's the failed leadership of politicians like Jon Corzine and Paul Moriarty that lead to businesses, jobs, friends and neighbors leaving our state," DiCicco concluded. "It's time to bring new leadership to South Jersey, a team that will work to rebuild and restore our economy from day one."