TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the projected budget deficit for the current state fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2010.

“The information released by the administration this week as part of a bond prospectus updates the status of our current state budget, specifically, the size of the projected deficit. While the Corzine administration has already disclosed a $190 million shortfall at the end of the first fiscal quarter – and identified cost savings to more than make up the difference – the projections going forward continue to be troubling.

TRENTON – Sen. Jeff Van Drew said the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Marine Fisheries Council should establish a free recreational saltwater fishing registry to comply with federal law aimed at improving the management of the nation’s fisheries.

Sen. Van Drew (D-Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland) is the prime sponsor of a bill (S2194) that would require the state to implement a saltwater fishing registry pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. His bill differs from similar proposed legislation in that registration would be free.

TRENTON – Senators Fred H. Madden and Sandra Bolden Cunningham recently introduced two measures designed to clarify some of the specifics of the current “One Handgun a Month” law, which prohibits the sale of more than one handgun per person, within a 30 day period.  The bills would implement recommendations from the initial report of the Governor’s Firearms Advisory Task Force. 

            The Task Force was created by Executive Order on June 25, 2009 – the day the “One Handgun a Month” bill was approved by the Legislature.  The bill was signed into law on August 5, 2009.

            “These bills are designed to take some of the recommendations of the Task Force, and clearly outline the circumstances under which a person would be exempt from the one-handgun-a-month limitation said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, a former State Trooper.  “As the Vice Chair of the Task Force, we found a few issues that could have caused potential problems, and these bills would clarify the provisions of the ‘One Handgun a Month’ law, without compromising the intent or effectiveness of the original legislation.”

SWEENEY BILL TO ENHANCE NEW JERSEY INVESTMENT STRATEGY SIGNED

New Law Will Authorize Pension Funds and Cash Management Funds to Help Support NJ Businesses, Make Safer Long-Term Investments

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney to give the State Division of Investment more options in terms of how they invest State cash management and pensions funds was signed into law last week by Governor Corzine.

“The current national economic crisis has demanded that we be more flexible with how New Jersey invests its money,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “With enhanced authority, the State Investment Council can invest funds in New Jersey bank and credit union accounts, which will help encourage lending to State businesses, small and large. This law will allow the Investment Council to immediately begin to reshape our State’s investment portfolio to increase the return while helping to rebuild New Jersey’s economy.”

GORDON-WEINBERG BILL TO PROTECT VULNERABLE ADULTS FROM ABUSE ADVANCES

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Bob Gordon and Loretta Weinberg which would require certain public officials to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation against vulnerable adults suffering from physical or mental illness or disability was unanimously approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee yesterday.

“New Jersey needs to do a better job protecting its most vulnerable population,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen, and a member of the Senate Health Committee. “Unfortunately, under current law, reporting of suspected abuse or exploitation of vulnerable adults is entirely voluntary, even among public servants sworn to protect the community. This bill codifies what should be considered common sense, and helps abused individuals get access to the help they need.”

SCUTARI - RED LIGHT CAMERAS STILL WRONG FOR NEW JERSEY

Senator Denounces Decision to Move Ahead with Programs in Newark, Brick and East Brunswick

TRENTON – Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, D-Union, an opponent of a pilot program that uses traffic signal surveillance cameras to catch people who run red lights, issued the following statement today regarding the fact that three New Jersey municipalities – Newark, Brick and East Brunswick – appear ready to go live with their red light camera systems:

“I’ve said in the past that red light cameras are a mistake, and I’m disappointed that three municipalities in the State are moving forward with the program. Simply put, these cameras are nothing more than a money-grab for municipalities, and will result in more traffic accidents than if we did nothing at all.

SCUTARI - RED LIGHT CAMERAS STILL WRONG FOR NEW JERSEY

Senator Denounces Decision to Move Ahead with Programs in Newark, Brick and East Brunswick

TRENTON – Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, D-Union, an opponent of a pilot program that uses traffic signal surveillance cameras to catch people who run red lights, issued the following statement today regarding the fact that three New Jersey municipalities – Newark, Brick and East Brunswick – appear ready to go live with their red light camera systems:

“I’ve said in the past that red light cameras are a mistake, and I’m disappointed that three municipalities in the State are moving forward with the program. Simply put, these cameras are nothing more than a money-grab for municipalities, and will result in more traffic accidents than if we did nothing at all.

SWEENEY-SARLO BILL TO CUT EMPLOYER TAXES AND DISCOURAGE RAIDING OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman, Senator Paul A. Sarlo, which would reduce employer taxes paid to the unemployment insurance (UI) fund when the fund’s reserves exceed a certain cap was signed into law last week by Governor Corzine.

“New Jersey’s UI fund has been tapped in good times and bad to pay for a variety of unrelated programs, and over the last few years, the tab has come due,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “It’s only through massive cash infusions by the State Legislature and a tax increase on employers this fiscal year that we’ve kept the fund solvent. This cycle of diversion and emergency infusion is bad public policy, jeopardizing the fund’s long-term fiscal integrity and costing taxpayers billions.”

SWEENEY BILL ESTABLISHING FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which creates a three-year pilot program to provide high school students with financial literacy education was signed into law last week by Governor Corzine.

“This bill represents a significant step forward in making sure New Jersey’s students get the education they need in personal finance to make good financial decisions later in life,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “Whether it’s personal credit history, interest rate calculations or planning for retirement, too many students leave high school without an understanding of even basic financial concepts. For many, this ignorance has directly contributed to an epidemic of living and spending beyond their means, and it’s time we do something to counter the credit card culture mentality that has forced so many of our State’s youth to be saddled with crippling and massive debt.”

CRYAN STATEMENT ON ELECTION OF
STEPHEN SWEENEY AS NEXT SENATE PRESIDENT
AND SHEILA OLIVER AS NEXT ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

(TRENTON) – Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan today issued the following statement as Democrats voted to elect new Leadership in the Legislature: