Senator Shirley Turner

TRENTON –  A bill, S-1950, sponsored by Senators Sandra Bolden Cunningham and Shirley K. Turner, to create two new Superior Court judgeships to help expedite a State program to rehabilitate non-violent drug offenders and make them employable citizens has been signed into law by Governor Corzine.

            “Warehousing drug offenders wastes taxpayers’ money and prevents such offenders from gaining the skills they need to cope in the work world,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Drug addicts need job training, education , positive reinforcement as well as supervision.”

TRENTON – The Senate Transportation Committee today approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, to urge President Bush to release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to provide emergency relief to families seeking short-term relief from the soaring price of gasoline at the pump.

            “New Jersey families are planning vacations as children get out of school for the summer, but they are struggling to find the money to pay for gasoline,” Senator Turner said. “This won’t solve the problem long term, but it should give families some immediate breathing room.”

TRENTON - Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer and a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, made the following statement today after Governor Corzine's annual budget address:

"It's clear that we need to take drastic action to right the State's financial ship. At the same time, we need to make sure that these cuts target waste and excess and not New Jersey's working families.

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner made the following statement today following a Senate Budget and Appropriations hearing on the Governor’s State financial restructuring plan:

            “I applaud the Governor in his attempt to reduce spending and get our financial house in order.  We have ignored our financial problems for far too long.

TRENTON – Vowing to “continue fighting until all of our communities are free from the scourge of street gangs,” Senator Shirley K. Turner announced two new pieces of legislation today aimed at allowing law enforcement to better solve and prevent future gun crimes.

“We need to be constantly vigilant in our fight to curb the threat of street gangs,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “These criminals are always looking for new ways to avoid getting caught, and we need to provide law enforcement with the latest tools to protect our communities.”

Ewing (October 23, 2007) – Bob Martin, Republican State Senate candidate in the 15th district, today called on incumbent Democrat Shirley Turner to finally follow through on her promise to debate. After countless changes in date and location, it appears that Turner has no intention of following up on her agreement to debate the issues in front of the voters.

TRENTON – Following today’s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing on the State Pension Fund and its accounting and investment practices, Senator Shirley K. Turner announced that she will introduce legislation to constitutionally require the State to fully pay its annual pension fund commitments.

TRENTON - Senator Shirley K. Turner today said New Jersey should require firms who receive subsidies and tax incentives to pay back the money if they fail to uphold commitments to create jobs and remain in the State.

“We’re the stewards of taxpayers’money, so we really have to hold these companies accountable,� said Senator Turner. “I don’t blame the firms for taking advantage of the system. I don’t expect them to bite hands that keep feeding them. The problem is that when the feast is over, they leave for another state.�

TRENTON - Senate President Pro Tempore Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, Senate sponsor of A-100/2-2438, "The Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project," made the following statement today after the bill did not gather 21 votes to pass the house:

"We can not delay on this critical reform effort any longer. The Democrats provided 17 votes today. I can't believe that not one single Republican was willing for vote for clean elections. I call on my Republican colleagues to join me to pass this legislation.

TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner to permit spouses of armed forces personnel who are forced to relocate outside of the State to collect unemployment benefits was approved by the full Senate.

"Our military families are regularly forced to move to bases in other states and countries as orders change," said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. "These moves can wreak havoc on their financial well-being and extending unemployment benefits to spouses affected by these moves can bring peace of mind to those who protection our nation."