News & Releases

SECAUCUS – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, a proponent in the State Legislature of a plan to establish a public-private partnership to operate the New Jersey Turnpike, issued the following statement today after testifying at an Assembly Transportation Committee, saying that under his proposal the New Jersey Turnpike Authority could continue operating New Jersey’s toll roads:

“While my colleagues in the Legislature have every right to scrutinize my Turnpike proposal, I hope that, at the end of the day, they will give us a chance to improve upon it and help solve our current fiscal needs, while investing in our future through more mass transit opportunities, better roadways and more open space.

TRENTON – Senator John H. Adler today made the following comment after Governor Corzine signed the bill he sponsored in the Senate, A-17/S-9, to streamline teaching mandates and school procedures.

“It’s all good if it enables us to fight public corruption and find more ways to contain property taxes.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would prohibit any State or local public agencies from making campaign contributions using public dollars was unanimously approved by the Senate State Government Committee today.

“We need to ensure that public dollars go towards public interests, not private campaign accounts,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, a leading ethics advocate in the State Senate. “The idea that government agencies feel they need to influence lawmakers with campaign donations to receive favorable treatment is ridiculous. The public budgets of governmental organizations are not intended to subsidize the political process.”

TRENTON – The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee unanimously approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono that would encourage the rehabilitation of historic properties in the State by offering tax credits for a portion of the cost of the rehabilitation.

“There are many historic buildings in New Jersey that have seen far better days,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex and Chair of the Committee. “These buildings form the core of our older neighborhoods and through their rehabilitation, we can breathe new life into these communities and combat sprawl.”