Paul Moriarty

PANEL CLEARS GUSCIORA / CRUZ-PEREZ / MORIARTY / RILEY BILL TARGETING SIMULATED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Reed Gusciora, Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Paul Moriarty and Celeste Riley sponsored to make it illegal for businesses to advertise using a simulated government document was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill (A-3931) would make using such documents – whether through the mail or the Internet – a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act.

“Marketing companies that use these simulated forms are preying on the vulnerability of the average citizen during a global recession,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer).

BURZICHELLI / MILAM / DeANGELO / MORIARTY BILL TARGETING ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES RELEASED BY ASSEMBLY PANEL

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli, Matthew W. Milam, Wayne P. DeAngelo and Paul Moriarty to combat harassing consumer debt collection practices was released today by an Assembly committee.

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 that information's accuracy.

“We’re doing nothing here to relieve a consumer of a rightful debt, but this is a fairness bill that will ensure consumers are not harassed by unscrupulous debt collectors,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester).

MORIARTY LAUDS EXTENDED RELIEF DEADLINES FOR SENIOR AND DISABLED HOMEOWNERS

(WASHINGTON TWP.) – Assemblyman Paul Moriarty today praised Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s announcement that deadlines for New Jersey’s senior and disabled homeowners to file for property tax relief have been extended.

“As we battle this global economic recession, many senior and disabled citizens throughout New Jersey are struggling to make ends meet and bearing the brunt of higher costs on everything from utilities to groceries to health care, but one thing remains clear: providing senior citizens and the disabled with the help they need continues to be a top priority,” said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden).

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has weighed in on the contested Republican primary for State Assembly in District 4, asking GOP voters in Camden and Gloucester counties to back Domenick DiCicco. 

"New Jersey is too often the example of activist, liberal government run amok," Gingrich wrote in a letter to South Jersey Republicans.  "With some of the highest taxes in the country and some of the most hostile anti-business, anti-growth policies, New Jersey's state government is in desperate need of reform."

Gingrich says he has had the chance to "visit and work with" DiCicco over the past few years.

"I am confident that, if Domenick is elected, he will work tirelessly to reduce the tax burden on New Jersey families, to restrain government spending, and to declare New Jersey ‘open for business' once more," Gingrich said.  "New Jersey needs Domenick's leadership and good sense in Trenton."

QUIGLEY/CONNERS/MORIARTY ’VOTE BY MAIL’BILL HEADS TO GOVERNOR’S DESK

Measure Would Streamline Steps Voters Use to Cast Absentee Ballots in Elections

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Joan Quigley, Jack Conners and Paul Moriarty to create the state’s first vote by mail law today gained final legislative approval by the Assembly on a vote for concurrence with amendments made in the Senate.

“Choosing who to vote for can be a confusing and stressful process,” said Quigley (D-Hudson). “Casting a ballot shouldn’t. be. Moving to a true vote by mail system will make it easier for people to exercise their right to vote and increase public participation in the democratic process.”

MORIARTY: ‘HELPING SENIORS AMID AN ECONOMIC STORM’

(WASHINGTON TWP.) – Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) had the following published on www.newjerseynewsroom.com:

“As we battle this global economic recession, many senior citizens throughout New Jersey are struggling to make ends meet and bearing the brunt of higher costs on everything from utilities to groceries to health care.

“Households and government alike are facing extraordinary constraints in these historically difficult times, but one thing remains clear: providing senior citizens with the help they need to stay in their homes is a top priority of the Legislature.

“The centerpiece of that effort is the newly expanded Senior Freeze property tax relief program, which I sponsored and was a vital part of the state's economic assistance and recovery package backed by legislative Democrats and signed by Gov. Jon Corzine...”

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

MORIARTY/CONAWAY/GREENSTEIN/CRUZ-PEREZ ON PROHIBITING PAYMENT FOR PREVENTABLE MEDICAL ERRORS

Measure Would Protect Consumers through Enhanced Error Reporting; Prohibition of Payment for Severe Medical Mistakes

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Paul D. Moriarty, Herb Conaway, M.D., Linda R. Greenstein and Nilsa Cruz-Perez today issued a multimedia package on their legislation to protect New Jersey consumers from being billed for certain egregious medical errors.

The measure (A-3371) is designed to mitigate serious and preventable medical errors. It would prohibit hospitals from charging patients and their insurance companies for medical bills related to these errors and require public hospital-by-hospital reporting of certain errors.

*** THURSDAY’S ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ***

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES TO WEIGH FAIR DEBT COLLECTION, MEDICAL ERRORS, EXPANDING TRANSIT HUB TAX CREDIT

Panels Will Also Consider Regulating Bank Cards, N.J. College Savings Program

(TRENTON) – Assembly committees Thursday will consider legislation to combat harassing debt collection practices, require the state to publicly report hospital medical errors and expand a tax credit program designed to lure development to urban transit hubs.

Legislation (A-2493) sponsored by Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli, Matthew W. Milam and Wayne P. DeAngelo to combat harassing consumer debt collection practices will be considered by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.

MORIARTY: ‘SENIOR FREEZE HELPING TO THAW RECESSION’

(WASHINGTON TWP.) – The Asbury Park Press Thursday published the following by Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) on its Web site, www.app.com:

MORIARTY UNVEILS BILL TO PROTECT CONSUMERS
FROM UNFAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES
Bill Would Arm Consumers with New Tools to Fight Back Against Heavy-Handed Tactics

(TURNERSVILLE) - Assemblyman Paul Moriarty recently introduced legislation to ensure consumers who find themselves in debt are afforded greater protections when collection notices begin appearing in their mailboxes.