MORIARTY:  REMINDER TO SENIORS, DISABLED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EXPANDED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

Deadline to Apply to the Expanded Senior Freeze Property Tax Relief Program June 1

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty today issued a multimedia package reminding senior citizens and disabled residents of the state's recently expanded Senior Freeze property tax relief program and its June 1 application deadline.

The expansion, signed into law in December, would increase the program's household income eligibility limits from $53,000 to $80,000 over the next three years. Moriarty (D-Gloucester) was a lead sponsor of the legislation, which was part of the comprehensive economic relief package approved by Gov. Jon S. Corzine and legislative Democrats.

MORIARTY/ALBANO UNVEIL BILL REQUIRING
SOBRIETY TESTS FOR ALL DRIVERS IN FATAL ACCIDENTS
Measure Introduced in Response to 2007 Wreck that Killed Evesham Teen

(TURNERSVILLE) - Assemblymen Paul Moriarty and Nelson Albano have introduced legislation to enhance the ability of police to identify drunk or drug-impaired drivers involved in fatal traffic accidents and prevent them from returning behind the wheel of their vehicle.

South Jersey Democrats have picked Bill Collins, a popular former high school track coach and the local School Board President, to replace Sandra Love as their candidate for State Assembly in the fourth district.  This is the second time Collins will seek to replace Love; in 2006, when she stepped down as mayor of Gloucester Township, Love became the Camden County Democratic organization candidate to replace her in a non-partisan race, but he lost to Republican Cindy Rau-Hatton.  His running mate in that election, then-Councilman Eugene Lawrence, was also defeated.  Lawrence switched parties last month and will be one of Collins' opponents in the fall Assembly contest.

Petitions were circulated on behalf of Collins and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Township) today.

MORIARTY / CRYAN / LOVE BILL CODIFYING ANTI-NEPOTISM RULE IN SCHOOLS ADVANCING

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Paul Moriarty, Joseph Cryan and Sandi Love sponsored to codify in law a state Department of Education (DOE) regulation against nepotism in public schools has passed the Assembly.

“Property taxpayers deserve every assurance that the people charged with educating their kids got their positions because of what they know, not who they know,” said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). “With local schools making up the majority of local property tax bills, we need to ensure that we are investing in the absolute best candidates to lead our schools.”

LOVE/MORIARTY/VAINIERI HUTTLE BILL ELIMINATING ALIMONY, INHERITANCE RIGHTS FOR MURDERERS & ABUSERS CLEARS LEGISLATURE

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Sandra Love, Paul D. Moriarty and Valerie Vainieri Huttle sponsored to block alimony payments to convicted killers and eliminate inheritance rights for parents who abandon or abuse a child has received final legislative approval.

Former Gloucester Township Councilman Eugene E.T. Lawrence will switch parties and run as a Republican for State Assembly in the 4th district.

Camden County Republicans have picked up a former Democrat to run for State Assembly in the 4th district.

At a rally tonight, the party plans to announce that former Gloucester Township Councilman Eugene E.T. Lawrence will switch parties and run as a Republican against incumbent Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Twp.) and whomever Democrats pick to replace outgoing Assemblywoman Sandra Love (D-Gloucester Township). Lawrence's candidacy has been kept under wraps by Camden County Republicans, but they hyped it as a "game changer" last week.

In a statement, Lawrence aimed squarely at Governor Corzine's budget proposals, criticizing him for eliminating the property tax deduction.

"The people of Gloucester Township and the 4th Legislative District are suffering today, and they are suffering because Jon Corzine has decided to try to balance his budget on the backs of middle class families," said the former Camden County Chamber of Commerce and NAACP leader.

NEW JERSEY CLOSER TO BECOMING 11TH STATE WITH 'SILVER ALERT' SYSTEM FOR MISSING ELDERLY

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Appropriations Committee today released legislation sponsored by six Assembly Democrats to make New Jersey the 11th state with a "Silver Alert" system to notify the public about missing elderly people.

Will John Custodio run as a Republican for State Assembly in the 4th district?

Camden County Republicans have given the Inside Edge a rather firm and deserved slap for speculation yesterday that former Black Horse Pike Regional School District President John Custodio, a Republican, could be an outside-the-box pick for Democrats when they replacing retiring Assemblywoman Sandra Love.  The GOP says that Custodio, a longtime governmental affairs executive who is held in very high esteem by both parties - in Trenton and in South Jersey - is too principled to switch parties.

Shelley Lovett, a Gloucester Township Councilwoman who was the GOP State Senate candidate in the fourth district two years ago, says that Custodio "would be a great representative in the Assembly," saying he is a fiscal conservative who "would stand up to Jon Corzine and fight for taxpayers in South Jersey."

"Unfortunately, John would never fit in with the Democrats in Trenton because he holds his fiscal conservative principles so strongly," Lovett added. "We know from the recent incident with Assemblyman Greenwald that those who speak up against Jon Corzine will be muzzled."

Two GOP chairmen also dismissed the idea that Custodio might run as a Democrat.

John Custodio, Democrat for Assembly?

Gloucester Township Councilwoman and former Senate candidate
Shelley Lovett says Custodio would be great in Trenton,
would stand up to Jon Corzine and fight for taxpayers

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP -- Councilwoman Shelley Lovett of Gloucester Township has responded to recent rumors that John Custodio, a former President of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, may be recruited to run as a Democrat for the General Assembly in the 4th Legislative District this year.

"As someone who has run in the 4th Legislative District before, I know that John would be a great representative in the Assembly," Lovett said. "John and I are both strong fiscal conservatives who would stand up to Jon Corzine and fight for taxpayers in South Jersey."

"Unfortunately, John would never fit in with the Democrats in Trenton because he holds his fiscal conservative principles so strongly," Lovett added. "We know from the recent incident with Assemblyman Greenwald that those who speak up against Jon Corzine will be muzzled."

Local Republican leaders also commented on the rumors of Custodio's potential candidacy.

"This is insane," said Gloucester Township GOP Chairman Ray Polidoro. "It's more likely that Dan Hutchison would run as a Republican--again--than John Custodio would run as a Democrat. It's clear to me that the Democrats are just nervous and desperate."

"I know John Custodio," said Camden County GOP Chairman Richard DeMichele, Jr., said. "And John Custodio is no Democrat. He wouldn't be caught dead on a ticket with a tax-hiker like Paul Moriarty."

ASSEMBLY OK’S LOVE/GREENSTEIN/CRUZ-PEREZ/MORIARTY BILL TARGETING UNSAFE JEWELRY

Measure Comes After Minnesota Boy Died After Swallowing Lead-Tainted Bracelet

(TRENTON) – The Assembly today approved legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Sandi Love, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty targeting unsafe jewelry.

Under the bill, no one may sell, distribute, import or manufacture jewelry in New Jersey that contains materials classified as unsafe The bill also includes stricter restrictions on materials used in children’s jewelry and body piercing jewelry.

Love crafted the legislation (A-2877) after a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy died of lead poisoning from swallowing a tainted charm bracelet.

“Buying a necklace or a charm bracelet shouldn’t bring about fears of lead and mercury poisoning, yet the health and safety of New Jerseyans are at risk,” said Love (D-Gloucester). “It’s time these harmful products are taken down from store shelves for good.”