Joseph Vitale

TRENTON – Following Woodbridge Mayor Frank Pelzman’s call in his 2006 State of the Township Address for senior citizen homeowners to be exempt from construction permit fees, Senator Joseph F. Vitale has pushed through legislation to accomplish this on a Statewide basis, which was approved today by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee by a vote of 4-0.

“For so many seniors living on fixed incomes, and trying to balance a budget of high-cost medications and day-to-day living, home improvements can be next to impossible,” said Senator Vitale, D-Woodbridge. “By removing the permitting cost from the equation, we can do our part in promoting senior home improvements, and allowing them to maintain their quality of life and remain an important part of their communities. Mayor Pelzman deserves a lot of credit for pushing this important initiative in Woodbridge, and we think it will work well for the rest of New Jersey.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale which would prohibit the sale of flavored cigarettes in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 37-0.

“As more and more information comes to light about the health effects of smoking, tobacco companies rely increasingly on sales gimmicks to reach potential customers,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “However, where we once had cartoon spokespeople like Joe Camel and high-profile movie placements, we’re now seeing the tobacco industry turn to flavored cigarettes to bring in customers while they’re young. We need to outlaw this latest tactic from Big Tobacco, to allow our kids to see past the marketing gimmicks and realize that cigarettes kill.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would prohibit the sale of flavored cigarettes in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee by a vote of 6-0.

“Flavored cigarettes are an insidious marketing ploy from the tobacco industry to hook kids while they’re young,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “Just as we’re phasing out the cartoon spokespeople and high-profile movie placement that once targeted an early generation of potential smokers, flavored cigarettes are becoming more popular, and drawing in the next batch of customers. We need to block this threat before our kids are lured into a lifetime habit that will eventually kill them.”

TRENTON – New Jersey consumers are one step closer to having easy access to prescription drug prices as legislation sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Joseph Vitale that would create the “New Jersey Prescription Drug Retail Price Registry” was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today.

“Proactive price comparing is one of the best ways to help consumers save money on their prescriptions,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Other states like New York and Illinois have already developed prescription drug registries and their residents are reaping great savings thanks to those programs. The key is to make the registry easily accessible and user friendly.”