Senator Joe Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic, said he will continue to monitor transparency in the spending of federal stimulus aid in New Jersey, after Governor Corzine announced that he has finally taken the first steps toward helping taxpayers track where their money is going.

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.

New Jersey was once the economic engine of the Northeast. Now it leads the region in joblessness. Governor Corzine should apologize to New Jersey, and call a special session immediately to come forth with a bold job creation plan that will begin to counter and then erase the disastrous economic policies of the last eight years.

Hearing Can't Mask Absence of Leadership and Competence That Has Left 300,000 New Jerseyans Without Health Insurance

ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) - Landmark legislation that takes a broad approach to jumpstarting local economic development projects and creating new jobs by maximizing New Jersey's federal stimulus investments and promoting growth and development efforts vital to repositioning the state for long-term prosperity was signed into law today by Gov. Jon Corzine.

Senator Joseph Kyrillos, senior Republican on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, said today's report that New Jersey's unemployment rate surged to 9.2 percent in June shows the state is paying a terrible price for Trenton's inexcusable neglect of economic development over the last eight years. Governor Corzine should be calling the Legislature into special session to reverse the anti-jobs policies he has helped champion, Kyrillos said.

“Governor Corzine’s federal stimulus Web site is very attractive, but almost useless to busy taxpayers,” Senator Joe Pennacchio says “Messages remind us that taxpayers have every right to know on a timely basis how their stimulus money is being spent, but where’s the beef? (more…)

LESNIAK ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL ADVANCES IN BUDGET COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak which would jump-start New Jersey’s economy was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 9-4, with 2 abstentions.

“While the nation and the world have been in a recession for a year, New Jersey’s economy has been lagging behind for years,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “Our nation’s economy expanded from 2003-2007 with private-sector jobs growing by 6.5%. During the 2003-2007 period, New Jersey’s private sector job base grew by only 2.3%.

“Clearly, New Jersey needs a change of direction, not only to climb out of the recession, but to lead the nation in job creation,” added Senator Lesniak. “My economic stimulus bill will do just that. It targets tax credits, suspends fees, paves the way for successful public-private partnerships and creates revenues for economic growth, jump-starting the State’s struggling economy.”

Senators Say Governor Isn't Telling Taxpayers Where He's Spending $17.5 Billion in Federal Stimulus Funds

SWEEPING STATE ECONOMIC STIMULUS MEASURE
CLEARS ASSEMBLY BUDGET PANEL
Would Place Moratorium on Nonresidential Development Fee,
Expand Transit Hub Tax Credit, Fuel Redevelopment,
Allow Colleges to Partner with Private Firms To Build Infrastructure

(TRENTON) - Landmark legislation that would maximize New Jersey's federal stimulus investments, promote economic growth and development efforts vital to pulling the state out from the current recession and positioning it for long-term prosperity was released today by the Assembly Budget Committee and sent to the full Assembly for a floor vote.