Senate

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony Bucco and Senator Steve Oroho, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, criticize Governor Corzine for refusing to regularly update revenue numbers despite repeated requests for openness and transparency.

The Senate Republican caucus announced today that they have unanimously voted to keep their strong leadership team in place for the next year. In addition, the senators also unanimously agreed to cast their votes for Senator Kean as the next Senate president.

Nomination of Supreme Court Justice Albin to be Considered

           TRENTON – The full Senate will meet on Thursday, June 25, at 2 pm to consider a diverse package of bills, most notably the revised $29 billion FY 2010 Appropriations Act, which is constitutionally required to be signed into law by July 1, 2009.  A number of companion bills will also be voted on in order to administer the changes necessary to balance the budget.

            The Senate will also consider a wide-ranging list of bills designed to stimulate New Jersey’s economy, protect and preserve open space, improve mental health services, promote shared services and improve public safety.  Additionally, the Senate will exercise its advise and consent duties by considering the re-nomination of Associate Justice Barry Albin to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Resolution Will Also Honor Record-Breaking Feat of NJ Devil’s Martin Brodeur 

            TRENTON – The full Senate will meet on Thursday, June 18, at 2 pm to consider a diverse package of bills, most notably the $28.6 billion FY 2010 Appropriations Act, which is constitutionally required to be signed into law by July 1, 2009.  A number of companion bills will also be voted on in order to administer the changes necessary to balance the budget.

The public deserves an honest budget. Legislators can't produce one if Governor Corzine can't or won't provide a true picture of the state's fiscal situation, especially how much revenue is coming in to finance state programs.

MEDIA ADVISORY -- THURSDAY -- JT. SENATE & ASSEMBLY PANEL TO CONSIDER REVISED MEASURE TO REFORM SITE REMEDIATION, ESTABLISH LSRP PROGRAM

(TRENTON) - A joint panel of the Senate Environment and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committees will hold a Thursday afternoon hearing to consider a revised bill that provides for far-reaching reform in the site remediation process by expediting the clean-up of over 20,000 contaminated sites in New Jersey that pose a hazard to public health and the environment.

Through the various twists and turns of the Republican U.S. Senate race, so far there has only been one constant: Joe Pennacchio.

Over the summer, when Pennacchio announced that he was considering a run for the Senate seat, businesswoman Anne Estabrook and conservative Assemblyman Mike Doherty were also exploring the possibility. Since then, Estabrook and Doherty have dropped out, leading to a number of names floated and two new candidates: Goya heir Andrew Unanue and Ramapo College finance professor Murray Sabrin.

But Unanue, who was dubbed the favorite virtually the moment he stepped into the race last week, has suffered untold damage from several revelations about his personal life, business experience and residency. Meanwhile, Sabrin’s sometimes damaging attacks have stopped targeting Pennacchio in favor of Unanue. But Pennacchio has been shoring up his support from county organizations, while the controversy surrounding his 1991 writing called The Nationalist Agenda that emerged earlier this month has become yesterday’s news.

Pharmaceutical executive John Crowley would have been a formidable candidate, and many observers say he could have easily cleared the field. But his decision not to run this morning has left Pennacchio as, arguably, the man to beat in the June primary.

“I think Pennacchio is in the best position,” said Fairleigh Dickinson University pollster and political science professor Peter Woolley.

Several Republican leaders across the state are anxiously awaiting Goya Food heir Andy Unanue’s decision on whether or not to enter the U.S. Senate race.

State Sen. Joe Pennacchio may have won the county line for U.S. Senate in Bergen by a landslide earlier this month over hometown candidate Murray Sabrin, but if Unanue decides to run, things could change.

Bergen County Republican Chairman Rob Ortiz has been courting Unanue for some time. Unanue, who’s friends with Ortiz, is said to be interested, and plans to mull the prospect over the weekend and make a decision by Monday. He currently splits his time between his home in Alpine and an apartment on Manhattan’s Central Park West.

U.S. Senate candidate Murray Sabrin gave his new stump speech at the Bergen County Republican headquarters on Saturday, while representing Ron Paul at a straw poll. 

Newark, NJ 6/26/07 -  In a rare procedural move today, the United States Senate voted 64 – 35 to return to the immigration debate.  On June 7, the Senate failed to obtain the 60 votes needed for a cloture vote. New Jersey senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez voted in favor of reopening the debate.