RUIZ TEEN DRIVER SAFETY BILL ADVANCES IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – Senator Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, and co-prime sponsor, along with Senate President Richard J. Codey, of a measure to impose additional restrictions on drivers with probationary licenses, issued the following statement after the bill was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee today by a vote of 4-0, with 1 abstention:

“We’ve seen far too much tragedy in New Jersey recently in regards to motor vehicle accidents involving young drivers. Before one more family has to go through the loss of a loved one, we need to revisit the laws governing probationary licenses.

Gov. Jon Corzine and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura prepare to head the parade. 

NEWARK - Gov. Jon Corzine reveled with members of the 29th Legislative District at the 29th annual Portugal Day Festival in the Ironbound on Sunday.

The massive, two-day event, which was founded and organized by businessman Bernardino Coutinho, father of Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, featured the parade on Sunday afternoon and the participation of Portugal’s secretary of state.

Gov. Jon Corzine in Newark today 

NEWARK - Gov. Jon Corzine stood with Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D-Newark) and other lawmakers in the East Ward today and promised to back legislation to pay for new urban schools construction.

"We need action before June 30th, so that we can fulfill our Constitutional obligation to provide our children with a thorough and efficient education," said the governor, moments after taking a tour of the Oliver Street Elementary School.

Coutinho, an Ironbound native who cosponsored the legislation with Spencer, described dilapidated and overcrowded conditions in the facility.

Prominent, Diverse Group of Democratic Figures Signifies Broad Support

North Ward Democratic leader Steve Adubato, left, welcomes U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews to Newark. 

NEWARK - U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) today said he has so far heard no response from the campaign of Sen. Frank Lautenberg in response to his seven-debate challenge.

"I don’t think he has an obligation to me," said Andrews. "I think he has an obligation to the people of the state to do that, so we can have a real test of ideas and so we can see what people want to do."

SENATOR RUIZ STATEMENT ON BUDGET HEARING ON DEPT. OF HEALTH

TRENTON – Senator Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s panel hearing on the affect of the FY 2009 Budget on the State Department of Health and Senior Services:

RUIZ STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR CORZINE'S FY 2009 BUDGET ADDRESS

TRENTON - State Senator Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding Governor Jon Corzine's FY 2009 Budget Address, in which he outlined severe cuts to stabilize the State's long-term economic picture:

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who had to preside over meetings with his two Deputy Chiefs of Staff – Teresa Ruiz and Bill Payne, both candidates for the same State Senate seat.

READ THE POLITICKERNJ.COM 2007 YEAR-END REVIEW

At age 75, Stephen Adubato Sr. continues to accumulate political allies by working both sides of the aisle and carefully engaging in battles that he can win. His organization captured Sharpe James’ State Senate seat (with Teresa Ruiz, a key lieutenant), he took out Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo (as he promised to do in 2006), picked up an Assembly seat (the one held by Bill Payne), and he continues to secure enormous funding for his power base, Newark’s North Ward Cultural Center. Adubato’s electoral success in 2007 was extraordinary, even as Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s candidate lost a race to Ron Rice.

Adubato is well-liked by New Jersey’s Governor and two U.S. Senators, has influence over Booker, and exercises substantial clout over the Essex County Hall of Records and the Newark City Council. He talks to just about every powerbroker in New Jersey. And this year, when he announced his support of Hillary Clinton for President, his endorsement was viewed as important enough to make Hotline, one of the nation’s most important political publications.

And while he’s a Democrat, Adubato has cultivated close relationships with key Republicans, like U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, GOP State Chairman Tom Wilson, and State Senators-elect Bill Baroni and Kevin O’Toole.

SENATOR RUIZ SWORN-IN TO SERVE 29TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

TRENTON – Today, Senator Teresa Ruiz was officially sworn-in to serve as State Senator from the 29th Legislative District, and said she is looking forward to contributing a new voice to the issues affecting New Jersey.