Acting Treasurer Eristoff demonstrated astonishingly deep knowledge of state finances though he has been on the job for only a few weeks. He answered question after question from senators with graciousness and candor.

After less than two months in office, the governor has come up with a plan to close a $2.3 billion budget gap without tax increases, furloughs or disruption of our state's schools. No other governor over the last eight years has proposed such a responsible and fiscally sound plan for closing a deficit.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said he is pleased by executive orders that Governor Chris Christie signed today to revive the state's economy, help businesses create jobs, and bring refreshing openness and accountability to government. "These steps show that New Jersey citizens have chosen well and voted in a man of character and decisiveness," Senator Kean said.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean's bill calling for a constitutional amendment to end raids on the state unemployment insurance fund advanced today in the Assembly Labor Committee. The bill calls for a statewide referendum on whether the state should be able to balance its budget or finance unrelated spending by raiding funds collected solely by taxes taken from employers or employees' paychecks.

The state treasurer said today that revenues have come in 3.1 percent below projections so far this year. If collections continue at that pace, the state will have a $1 billion deficit this year. The estimated budget deficit for next year is $8 billion to $10 billion. The governor is again doing too little. too late, then calling himself a man of action.

As a prime sponsor of legislation that would authorize Gold Star plates, I welcome the Star-Ledger's call to stop stalling and start honoring the parents of our fallen service men and women. These license plates will allow parents to express both their grief at heartbreaking losses and pride in the courage and honor of their sons and daughters.

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.

If these allegations are true, then it is very important that New Jersey find and aid any state patients victimized by political failures, Kean said. Governor Corzine should order the health commissioner to start her inquiry today.

The homeless, the unemployed and the underemployed deserve to know why Governor Corzine isn't using every tool at the state's disposal to combat this recession, says Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean. It's time for the governor to call a special session on job creation, or explain why this issue isn't important enough to take immediate action, the senator said.

Sadly, it took the indictment of another 44 people for Governor Corzine to move forward with one piece of the ethics reform New Jersey needs. The long suffering citizens of New Jersey can only hope the Governor will put partisan politics aside and call a special legislative session to close the remaining ethical loopholes that help foster corruption.