TRENTON – Senator Jim Whelan was sworn into the Senate today, vowing to focus his attention in the coming year to the State’s fiscal crisis, as the New Jersey State Senate commenced its 213rd Session.
“It is an honor to be sworn into the State Senate today. I look forward to continuing my service for the people of the Second District as their Senator. I am grateful for their confidence in my ability to represent them in Trenton,” said Senator Whelan after he was sworn in.
TRENTON – Senator Dana L. Redd today took the oath of office to represent New Jersey’s 5th Legislative District. The Senator pledged to focus on lowering property taxes as well as increasing the amount of State funding dedicated for Camden and surrounding areas.
“It is truly an honor to be able to serve the residents of the 5th District, and the people of New Jersey as a whole,” said Senator Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester. “My priority now is to get down to the business of fighting for the needs of the people who entrusted me with the task of representing them here in Trenton.”
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today issued the following statement on Governor Jon Corzine’s 2008 State of the State Address:
“I think the Governor did a great job of spelling out the state’s dire financial situation. Like he said, for years other governors have warned of looming financial trauma. Today, we’re in the emergency room.
Senator Sandra B. Cunningham was sworn in today to her first full, four-year term in the State Senate and pledged to focus her legislative efforts on educational opportunities for children, economic development for urban areas and job training programs for released offenders.
“I consider my role in the Senate to be a tremendous honor given to me by the people of the 31st Legislative District,” said Senator Cunningham. “But it is also a serious responsibility of mine to reflect the will and the needs of the communities in my district.”
JEFF VAN DREW SWORN IN AS 1st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT SENATOR
TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew was sworn into the Senate today, vowing to “hit the ground running,” as the New Jersey State Senate commenced its 213rd Session.
“I am honored to join this distinguished body today. I thank the people of the First Legislative District for bestowing this honor upon me,” said Senator Van Drew after he was sworn in.
TRENTON – Senator Brian P. Stack was sworn in today to a four-year term as State Senator and pledged to focus on “education reform, property tax relief and the needs of the people” of his 33rd Legislative District.”
“I’ll be monitoring the new school funding formula and working to improve it to make sure it helps all children and doesn’t pull back on serving the needs of Abbott Districts,” said Senator Stack.
TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and one of New Jersey’s chief advocates of healthcare reform and universal care, today issued the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s 2008 State of the State Address:
“Through the Governor’s comments today, it’s obvious that he recognizes that New Jersey’s finances are broken, and that we are in need of serious transformational change to fix the State’s many problem. However, the State’s health care system is just as dysfunctional, and we cannot put off the sort of reform that will protect the health and well-being for New Jersey’s citizens.
TRENTON – The state Senate today approved the “Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act,” a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex), which is aimed at catalyzing economic development in areas surrounding urban train stations. The act is designed to foster smart growth principles and would establish a tax credit program for capital investment and increased employment in targeted transit hubs.
“This bill will help break the logjam that often occurs in urban redevelopment and stimulate sizeable job growth,” said Sen. Codey. “Sometimes, despite the best efforts of a municipality, it’s just impossible to attract investors to a property if they don’t see the potential for profit. That’s sound business sense on their part. This is sound public policy on our part.”
TRENTON – The General Assembly today approved a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) to crack down on calling card companies that cheat consumers out of the advertised minutes by imposing hidden fees and restrictions. Bill S2887 would prohibit certain types of charges and fees and require that all charges and restrictions be clearly disclosed on the cards or packaging and advertising.
“There are a lot of smaller phone card companies out there that try to stay competitive by advertising what appears to be a great deal,” said Sen. Codey. “Then the consumer gets hit with all these hidden fees and they only end up getting 50 or 60 minutes when they thought they were purchasing 100. This has to stop. If I went to a gas station and said fill it up, I wouldn’t expect to drive away with half a tank of gas.”
TRENTON – The Senate today gave final approval to a bill, S-2940, to create a tough, new “gang criminality” statute to authorize trying teenagers as adults, imposing, consecutive and mandatory sentences, and subjecting gang members to racketeering statutes used to prosecute organized crime.
“The level of violence incurred by communities from street gang thugs requires swift and certain punishment,” said Senator John A. Girgenti, a prime sponsor of the bill. “It is proper for some juveniles to be tried as adults when the level of their violence against innocent victims requires incarceration.”