Linda Greenstein

A view of the Senate Chambers from the 2010-2011 Senate Reorganization.

19 Sep: Gill-Weinberg Legislation To Provide Counseling And Treatment To Sexually Exploited Children Charged With Prostitution Clears Judiciary Committee

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill and Senator Loretta Weinberg that would ensure children under the age of 18 arrested for and engaging in prostitution or who are victims of human trafficking are treated as victims of sexual exploitation rather than as criminals unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

“The State must ensure protection and a safe environment for sexually exploited children who are charged with prostitution or who are victims of human trafficking,” said Senator Gill (D-Essex). “By treating these sexually abused children as victims and not criminals, we will be able to provide them with the services they need and deserve.”

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein News & Releases

15 Sep: Greenstein To Re-Introduce ‘Back To Work NJ’ Bill

TRENTON – Senator Linda R. Greenstein will re-introduced legislation that would allow New Jersey’s unemployed to receive on-the-job training to learn new skills and find employment. The “Back to Work NJ Program Act” would pair unemployed workers with New Jersey businesses in a six-week training program.

“Working families and businesses are looking for innovative ideas to jumpstart our economy,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “When job training can be combined with actual on-the-job experience, both employers and potential employees can win.”

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein News & Releases

17 Aug: Greenstein Praises Signing Of Farmland Preservation Bills

TRENTON – Senator Linda Greenstein today applauded the signing of legislation that will dedicate millions of dollars to farmland preservation efforts across the state, including in the counties of Middlesex and Mercer.

“New Jersey’s farmland preservation program is a model for the nation. With the support of our residents, we have been able to protect farmers from the pressures of development in the most densely populated state in the nation and to preserve an industry that contributes an enormous amount to our state economy,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “With the signing of these bills, we take another significant step forward in these efforts.”

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein News & Releases

05 Aug: Greenstein Measure To Preserve Open Space Among Three Bipartisan Bills Signed By Governor

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) to provide direct grants to numerous organizations for the preservation of open space and the acquisition or development of land for recreational purposes has been signed into law by Governor Chris Christie.

The measure (S-2858) was among three bills signed by the governor that will protect open space and recreational areas in the state through grants and loans to county and local governments and community organizations. Combined, the three bipartisan bills (S-2857, S-2858 and S-2859), which were approved unanimously by the Legislature, will provide $157 million in funding for projects across the state.

“New Jersey residents recognize the importance of preserving land for open space and recreation, and have demonstrated their support for these efforts by approving numerous referendums over the years for these purposes,” said Senator Greenstein, a member of the Senate Environment & Energy Committee. “With the signing of this legislation, we can continue the state’s long-standing tradition of protecting our open spaces and recreational areas by making available critical funding for local preservation efforts in our communities. This will go a long way toward ensuring that future generations of New Jerseyans are able to enjoy the rich quality of life that we do today.”

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein Richard J. Codey Steve Sweeney

11 Jul: NJ Senate Dems Respond to Republican Failure to Override Budget Veto, 07-11-11

In this video, New Jersey Senate Democrats respond to their Republic colleagues failure to muster enough votes to override the…

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein Loretta Weinberg News & Releases

11 Jul: Greenstein/Weinberg Blast Republican Refusal To Support Programs For Abused, Abandoned Children

TRENTON –Senators Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) today said the refusal of Senate Republicans to support a program that provides court-appointed advocates to children who have suffered abuse or abandonment is an indefensible act by the minority party.

The Senators sponsored a resolution, SCR-231, which would have restored $289,000 for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which the governor vetoed from the FY 2012 State Budget submitted by Democrats. The override failed by a vote of 24-15.

“This program provides a lifeline to our most vulnerable children by ensuring those who have been abused and abandoned, and have no one else to advocate on their behalf, are not left to fend for themselves. The court-appointed advocates ensure that children who are no longer under their parent’s care because of maltreatment are safe and are placed in a stable home,” said Senator Greenstein. “This loss of funding will deprive nearly 200 children of the ability to have an advocate standing with them in the courtroom when critical decisions are made regarding their well-being. There is no justifiable reason to vote against providing $289,000 in funding for this program, when the money is available. This is just indefensible.”

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein Loretta Weinberg News & Releases

11 Jul: Weinberg/Greenstein: GOP Vote On Family Planning Will Deprive More Women Of Critical Health Care Services

TRENTON –Senators Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer) today said the refusal of Senate Republicans to support a measure to override cuts to funding for family planning will deprive more women of critical health care services.

The Senators sponsored a resolution, SCR-210, which would have restored $7.5 million in funding for family planning services in the state budget, $1 million of which would have resulted in a $9 million federal match. The override failed by a vote of 25-14.

“Republicans have demonstrated repeatedly that they are more concerned with carrying out the governor’s right-wing conservative agenda than with representing their own constituents,” said Senator Weinberg. “We are already at a point of crisis when it comes to women’s health care in this state. Funding cuts under this governor have resulted in the closure of six family planning centers in New Jersey, and severe cutbacks in operating hours for those that remain. This action by the minority party will only serve to push more centers to financial collapse, resulting in a lack of access to basic health care services for thousands of women in this state. Additional cases of cancer will go undetected, sexually transmitted infections will go untreated and, because of an inability to access contraceptives, more unplanned pregnancies will occur.”

“Republicans have proven time and again that this issue is about nothing more than pure politics for them. This is truly disheartening, because for thousands of women in this state, this is about their health. This is an issue of access for thousands of low-income women who will now go without routine gynecological exams, cancer screenings, and testing for sexually transmitted infections,” said Greenstein. “Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will now have to explain to the people of New Jersey why they voted to deprive them of much-needed basic health care services that so many of us take for granted.”

By DMUAdmin Donald Norcross Linda Greenstein News & Releases

29 Jun: Lesniak-Norcross-Greenstein Millionaires’ Tax Approved

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Raymond J. Lesniak, Donald Norcross and Linda Greenstein which would expand the income tax rate for earnings in excess of $1 million a year in order to fund income tax relief for seniors on fixed incomes and fully fund suburban schools under the State school funding formula was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 24-15.

“Governor Christie has continually spoken about the need for shared sacrifice in the contexts of his budget, and this bill would force him to practice what he preaches,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “Through this legislation, we’re asking New Jerseyans with the most to contribute a little more to provide needed tax relief for retired seniors and to fully fund our schools. This bill epitomizes the notion of shared sacrifice, and will ensure seniors can continue to live in the Garden State and that students have access to an adequately funded education.”

Senator Linda Greenstein, D-Middlesex and Mercer, on the floor of the State Senate.

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein News & Releases

29 Jun: Greenstein Hails Democratic Budget As ‘Fair And Honest’ For Working Families And Seniors

TRENTON – Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) today released the following statement on the passage of the Democratic FY2012 budget plan and separate legislation to fully fund the state’s constitutional school funding formula through a surcharge on incomes over $1 million:

“After a year in which seemingly every promise made to our working families and seniors was broken, Democrats today stood together to reset our state’s priorities. After a year in which the very wealthiest residents were spared from any of the governor’s much-ballyhooed ‘shared sacrifice,’ Democrats today stood together to say that everyone must pitch in to correct the problems the face our state.

By DMUAdmin Linda Greenstein News & Releases

14 Jun: Greenstein: Megan’s Law Killer Only Seeks To Devalue Progress Made To Protect Children

MONROE TWP. – Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer), the Legislature’s leading proponent for strengthening Megan’s Law and sponsor of numerous laws to protect children from predators, today released the following statement on the appeals court ruling upholding the life sentence of Jesse Timmendequas, the man convicted in the 1994 murder of Megan Kanka, the inspiration of the law that bears her name.

“In the years since Megan Kanka’s brutal and tragic murder, New Jersey has been a leader nationally and internationally in the movement to protect children from the hands of sexual predators.

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