Bob Smith

TRENTON – Two measures sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would promote shared services in New Jersey schools and develop an enhanced 9-1-1 public safety answering system, among other reforms to cut the cost of government in New Jersey, were approved today by the Senate.

“With the passage of these bills today, we’re one step closer to more efficient government in New Jersey,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Service, the legislative panel that recommended the reforms. “New Jersey’s taxpayers pay the price for overlapping services, unending bureaucracy, and inefficiency and waste in the system. Through these bills, we can streamline services, and put downward pressure on property taxes in the Garden State.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would establish a municipal consolidation commission to recommend mergers and shared services in order to cut the cost of government in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 35 -2.

“In New Jersey, we have more government than we can afford, and tiny fiefdoms serving minimal people only drive up our property taxes higher and higher,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of a panel to review regionalization and shared services during the Legislature’s Special Session. “We need a panel of planning experts, who will be able to light the path towards cost savings from shared services and municipal consolidation. This bill will ensure that New Jersey adapts to the changing needs of our people, and operates at the highest level of efficiency.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would require a higher recycling standard for plastic packaging sold in New Jersey to promote recycling, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease our dependence on foreign oil was approved today by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee today by a vote of 4-2, with one abstention.

“Global warming is a proven scientific phenomenon, aggravated by our increased dependence on the production of petroleum products, like plastics,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee. “Without a greater emphasis on the re-use and recycling of plastics, we will continue feeding into the global warming problem in New Jersey.”

TRENTON – Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today on the approval of three measures that originated with the Consolidation Committee’s recommendations:

“The bills approved today by the full Legislature are an important first step towards sustainable property tax reform. The measures, which have bipartisan sponsorship from myself, Senator Ellen Karcher and Senator Joe Kyrillos, are the result of months of hearings and will play an important part in streamlining government in the State of New Jersey.

TRENTON – Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today on the panel’s public hearing on specific legislation crafted from the Committee’s recommendations:

“Today’s hearing demonstrated that, while we received some pushback on different consolidation and shared services proposals from special interests, the major players are willing to come to the table and recognize the need to stabilize property taxes by cutting the costs of government in New Jersey.

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to hold a public hearing and allow for public comment on shore protection projects was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 39-0.

“This past summer, the Senate Environment Committee held a public hearing on beach replenishment in Toms River, and we were able to learn a lot by taking the hearing to the people of the Jersey Shore,” said Senator Smith, the Chair of the Environment panel. “Those who testified let us know that, other than our hearing, they were never given a chance to have public input on shore protection projects, even when those projects were taking place in their own back yards. As a matter of fundamental fairness, we need to give property owners and beach advocates the chance to let their voices be heard before we begin major shore protection projects.”