Senator Stephen Sweeney

MONROE – At the annual New Jersey YMCA State Alliance Awards Dinner held last night at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney received a “Friend of the Y” award in recognition of his personal involvement with the YMCA organizations in the State and his commitment to the values and principles of the Y.

“I’m proud to stand alongside the State’s YMCA chapters as we work towards the realization of their mission of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Thorofare. “New Jersey’s 44 YMCA branches fulfill many vital needs in our State’s neighborhoods, whether it’s access to health and wellness programs, child care, swimming lessons, or family bonding activities. I’m happy to support the Y in its various programs benefitting kids, families, adults and seniors in the Garden State.”

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney today issued the following statement in response to Sen. Marcia Karrow’s criticism of the city of Bridgeton:

“At last week’s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing, I was troubled by Senator Marcia Karrow questioning the appropriateness of the City of Bridgeton receiving Special Municipal Aid from the state while the city still maintains a free zoo. Her statement that the Corzine administration ‘pampers’ Bridgeton and other distressed cities is not supported by the facts.

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem) issued the following statement following today’s adoption of emergency rules by the Civil Service Commission giving state and local governments the ability to impose mandatory furloughs:

“Today’s action by the Civil Service Commission will give state and local leaders the flexibility they need to maneuver through the worst financial crisis in recent memory. The commission’s finding today that an emergency exists allows us to immediately move forward with plans for temporary furloughs in the current budget and in the budget that will take effect July 1.

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney today urged his legislative colleagues to study the Corzine Administration’s toll road-debt reduction plan , accept it as it is, offer changes or come forth with a workable alternative.

“It’s not acceptable to condemn the proposal and then just walk away from the problem” said Senator Sweeney. “Criticism’s easy, but finding a solution is the hard work that has to get done.”

State Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney today vowed to fight any attempt by the State to move violent sexual predators into South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton.

Once word gets around, opposition to such a move will be “aggressive, intense and committed� by local officials and concerned parents, Senator Sweeney said.

State officials say no final decision has been made, but if such a move advances, Sen. Sweeney told Corrections Commissioner George W. Hayman he would do “whatever is in my legislative and political powers to block your plan.�

TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney today grilled Department of Corrections Commissioner George Hayman about ongoing plans to consolidate several facilities holding civilly committed sex offenders into a single, large facility.

            TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem and member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, made the following statement today rebutting claims by Republican Senator Nicholas Asselta that the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 had a major and lasting effect on the unfunded liability facing the State’s pension system: