TRENTON – Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s Committee hearing regarding ongoing State environmental projects and the direction that New Jersey’s environmental policies should take this year:
“I think we had a very productive dialogue today regarding where we are with the implementation of the State’s environmental priorities, and where we should be going in the coming year.
TRENTON – A pair of bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which will guarantee funding for municipal recycling programs and create a statewide electronics recycling initiative were signed into law by Governor Corzine over the weekend.
“Once upon a time, New Jersey was the national leader in promoting recycling efforts among its citizens,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “However, we’ve become far too lax in recent years, and have dropped to the bottom of the pack in terms of recycling success. With these laws in place, we’re poised to reclaim the crown, protect the quality of our natural environment, and preserve natural resources.”
TRENTON – A pair of bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would guarantee funding for municipal recycling programs and create a statewide electronics recycling initiative were approved by the Senate today.
“New Jersey was once a national leader in our efforts to promote recycling, but have since fallen to the back of the pack,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “We need to do more to reenergize our State’s recycling profile, and ensure sustainable, effective programs to deal with new trends in recycled waste. These bills would put the Garden State back on the right track, and ensure a greener legacy to impart to future generations of State residents.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Bob Smith that would allow New Jersey to participate in the carbon emissions cap-and-trade program of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today.
“The Global Warming Response Act we passed last year gave us a goal and timeline by which New Jersey can act to do our part in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and reversing global warming,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem. “Now we must take the actions necessary to reach those goals and participating in a cap-and-trade program under RGGI is a critical first step.”
TRENTON – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Barbara Buono that would revise the laws concerning electricity production in New Jersey to encourage expanded use of renewable energy sources.
“This puts financial incentives in place that will encourage New Jersey’s business community to install renewable energy systems,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “In order to make solar and wind power viable options for New Jersey’s power needs, they can’t be simply the environmentally correct choice, but also the economically prudent choice.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which will permit the creation of sick leave banks for school employees was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.
“New Jersey has consistently stood up for working men and women by adopting labor protections and other workplace safety measures,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “This new law is part of our State’s rich, pro-labor legacy, and will allow school workers to bank sick time in the event of a catastrophic illness or injury. This law provides the needed safety net for those school employees who worry about the financial securities of their families, should they become unable to work.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would propose a constitutional amendment to change the way certain municipal court judges are appointed was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 29-3, receiving final legislative approval.
“This bill is one of the products of months of hearings conducted during the Special Session on Property Tax Reform,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, who served as Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services. “We felt that, in cases when a judge has jurisdiction over multiple municipalities, that judge should be selected by local agreement, not the Governor. Municipalities seeking cost efficiencies by sharing judges shouldn’t be penalized with a loss of local control.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would permit the creation of sick leave banks for school employees was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-0, receiving final legislative approval.
“Often, when employees get sick or hurt, and are forced to take extended leave from their jobs, their families may face a serious economic crisis, trying to balance mounting health care bills against the lack of income,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “Sick leave banks give employees the added security that, should they need extra time, they have a tool to protect themselves and their families. New Jersey’s school boards should pave the way for the adoption of sick leave banks, and stand as an example for private business to follow.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Bob Smith that would allow New Jersey to participate in the carbon emissions cap-and-trade program of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today.
“New Jersey has become a national leader in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem. “We can’t affect real progress on our own, however. We must join with other states to act collectively to reduce carbon emissions and fight global warming.”
TRENTON – The Senate Economic Growth Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Barbara Buono that would revise the laws concerning electricity production in New Jersey to encourage expanded use of renewable energy sources.
“As a state, New Jersey needs to do more to rely on renewable energy sources for our electricity and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “With this bill, we provide economic incentives for both individuals and businesses to install renewable energy systems like solar panels and windmills and create a greater demand for the electricity produced by these systems.”