State Sen. Paul Sarlo remains in the hospital, although he’s miffed that his chief of staff, Chris Eilert, took away his cell phone.

Eilert said that Sarlo, 40, is still undergoing tests.  Doctors still don’t know what happened, he says, although Sarlo is “back to normal.” 

“In terms of his functioning and personality-wise, he’s back to normal.  He’s Paul -- he wants to run the world form his hospital bed,” said Eilert.  “He just called me half an hour ago.  He’s upset at me because I won’t give him his cell phone”

Sarlo was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center at approximately 2:00a.m. Monday morning after reporting difficulty breathing.   

State Sen. Paul Sarlo is stable, conscious and breathing on his own, according to a close friend who called the emergency this morning "very serious."

State Sen. Paul Sarlo, 40, is hospitalized. Developing story.
State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) has been hospitalized at Hackensack University Medical Center since early this morning, according to Wood-Ridge Police Chief Joseph Rutigliano.

Sarlo, 40 complained last night of difficulty breathing and was transported to the hospital at approximately 2 a.m.

"He did have a medical emergency and we did transport him to the hospital," said Rutigliano. "the speculation is it might be a cardiac problem, but they just honestly don't know. They're running tests on him."

Developing story.

SARLO REACTION TO GOVERNOR CORZINE’S ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN

TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, the Chair of the Senate Labor Committee and Vice Chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to Governor Corzine’s economic stimulus proposal, which was delivered to the Legislature at a joint session today:

“As a pro-business legislator, I think the Governor hit the ball out of the park in terms of his economic stimulus proposal announced today. At a time when New Jersey’s families are dealing with the fallout of an historic economic crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Great Depression, Governor Corzine laid out a measured, reasonable approach to handle our short-term and long-term economic needs.

State Sen. Paul Sarlo, who last year was subpoenaed during a federal probe of “Christmas tree” items, today called for an investigation of the tax status of the farm where U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett’s brother grows actual Christmas trees.

Garrett (R-Wantage) lives on a large estate in Wantage that is mostly classified as farmland – earning Garrett a large property tax break. The campaign of Democratic rival Dennis Shulman has been mocking that classification for weeks and using it in television advertisements.

Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) said that Garrett told the state that his farm produced more than $520 in revenue in order to get the tax break, but he didn’t report any farm income on his federal financial disclosures. Garrett has defended the charge by saying the income goes to his brother.

"Ordinary taxpayers know they can't play a 'get out of taxes free' card with their local assessor, and they have a right to be confident that their elected representative is no different,” said Sarlo, who’s also the mayor of Wood-Ridge. “We need to make sure that the Wantage Township Tax Assessor is complying with the law, can justify her decision to give Scott Garrett this enormous tax break, and is not giving Garrett special treatment because he is a Congressman."

SARLO PROUD OF WORKERS COMP REFORMS

LYNDHURST – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, the Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee which initiated the reforms of the workers compensation system, today said their enactment by Governor Corzine expedites a “fairer, more efficient and more responsive program” for both workers and employers.

Senator Sarlo, D-Essex, Passaic and Bergen, credited The Star-Ledger for “exposing the need for fine-tuning and reforming a basically good system” designed to pay workers who are injured on the job while protecting the interests of business to flourish in New Jersey. He issued the following statement after Governor Corzine ceremonially signed five reform bills at Frank’s Pontiac/GMC at 325 Orient Way.

“Today, we are witnessing a positive response to changing a basically good system to make it even better. We gave workers comp judges the power they need to crack down on the bad players in the system while ensuring greater fairness to both workers and employers.

SENATOR SARLO VOWS TO RENEW PUSH FOR DIGITAL MEDIA TAX CREDIT

Lawmaker Says Tax Credit Incentive a Good Move in Bad Economy

RUTHERFORD – Citing the faltering national economy and fiscal uncertainties here at home, Senator Paul A. Sarlo announced today at the opening of the Bergen County Film Festival at the Williams Center for the Arts in Rutherford that he would renew his push for a bill he sponsored last session which would offer tax credit incentives to digital media production companies seeking to relocate to New Jersey. A scaled-back version of the bill was signed into law in January after Governor Corzine expressed concerns.

“With Wall Street in crisis and New Jersey reeling from a national recession, now’s the right time to talk about encouraging economic growth and private investment in the Garden State,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge. “At a time when we need to be seeking ways to grow our State’s economy, an incentive program for a booming high-tech industry makes sense. In the next few weeks, I will renew the push for the digital media tax credit to keep New Jersey economically competitive and at the cutting edge of today’s high-tech marketplace.”

One important battleground in the election of 2008 is in South Bergen, an assortment of blue collar, politically competitive municipalities with a long history of ticket splitting.  The towns south of Route 4 are critical for John McCain (Republicans have never won statewide in New Jersey without carrying Bergen County) and for the Republicans seeking to break the 7-0 Democratic majority on the Board of Freeholders.  South Bergen is also the political base of the lone Republican remaining in county government, County Clerk Kathleen Donovan. 

In a section of Bergen County where EnCap and the Meadowlands have dominated local politics in recent years, there are also key municipal races -- with control at stake -- in Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford, Hasbrouck Heights, and Elmwood Park; and important contests in Bogota and South Hackensack.

Rutherford (pop. 18,110) has a Republican mayor and a Borough Council that has three Republicans and three Democrats.  Last year, John Hipp ousted incumbent Bernadette McPherson by a massive 69%-31% margin, and the GOP ousted two incumbent councilmembers.  In 2008, Democratic Councilmen Joseph Sommer and George Fencanin are not seeking re-election.  Democrats Jack Boyle and Kimberly Birdsall will try to stop the Republicans from taking control of the Council.  A split among local Republicans caused a contested primary; Hipp's candidates, Joseph DeSalvo and Frank Wilson, handily defeated two candidates backed by GOP Municpal Chairman John Daub in the primary.  McPherson is also on the ballot, as a candidate for re-election to the Bergen County Board of Freeholders. In 2007, Democratic State Sen. Paul Sarlo won 43% in Rutherford.  In 2004, John Kerry carried the borough by 509 votes (53%-47%).

Bergen County Democratic Vice Chair Kay Nest, who’s filling in while indicted Chairman Joe Ferriero takes a leave of absence, said tonight that the party will not make any decision on its permanent leadership until after the November 4th election. 

That decision was the product of a  discordant meeting of the Bergen County Executive Committee members that took place this morning. 

“The Executive Committee of the Bergen County Democratic Organization met today regarding the future of the party.  Though there were clearly differing opinions on a variety of topics, all in attendance agreed to move forward as one united party.  A unanimous vote was taken, and all in attendance agreed to postpone any discussion regarding the change in leadership and focus on electing Democrats in the upcoming November election.  I am humbled by the confidence the Executive Committee has shown in me, and I will not let them down,” said Nest in a prepared statement. “I have no doubt, that a united Democratic Party will be successful in November, from the bottom to the top of the ticket.”

SARLO STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

WOOD-RIDGE – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, issued the following statement regarding the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, in which terrorists hijacked planes and used them to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers rushed the cockpit in order to thwart the terrorists’ plans:

“Seven years ago, the world we knew changed dramatically. The myth of American invulnerability was shattered when our enemies from across the globe launched a deadly assault on American soil. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11 attacks, with thousands more injured.