TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen and Passaic, who Chairs the Senate Oversight Committee released the following statement today following Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee hearings with representatives of Rutgers’ Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, the State Office of Legislative Services Revenue Board and State Treasurer John McCormack.
“It is imperative that New Jersey does all it can to increase revenue and attract job growth.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Paul A. Sarlo which would change language in the Fiscal Year 2005 budget to provide more funding for medical day care providers was signed into law today by Governor Richard J. Codey.
“The State’s medical day care providers offer New Jersey’s residents an invaluable service, providing top notch care for those who would otherwise be without,” said Senator Sarlo. “Whether caring for disabled adults or children with unique medical needs, medical day care facilities extend critical care to an underserved population, and the State must provide the support and resources necessary to help them fulfill their mission.”
TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo commented that his first meeting today as Chairman of the newly formed Senate Legislative Oversight Committee is a “good first step towards a more cooperative industrial climate in New Jersey.”
“The Legislative Oversight Committee is going to be at the front of the charge, leading the way for a better regulatory process and environmentally safe manufacturing growth in New Jersey,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic. “Today’s hearing and testimony is a good first start to identify the key issues undercutting industrial viability in the Garden State. We will explore every possibility that allows our manufacturers to continue to participate as important partners in New Jersey’s economic success.”
TRENTON – The Senate today approved a bill, S-1831, sponsored by Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, to create the Hackensack Meadowlands Transportation Planning District.
“It is heartening to see the Meadowlands Region taking control of its own destiny,” said Senator Sarlo. “This legislation represents a tremendous effort by those in the business community to recognize our long-term transportation needs.”
TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo announced today that on Monday, the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee will have its first meeting to focus on business and manufacturing interests in New Jersey at 10:00 A.M. in Committee Room 1 in the Statehouse Annex.
“We need to foster and cultivate New Jersey’s manufacturing industry, and the new Senate Legislative Oversight Committee will examine how best to meet the industry’s unique needs in the Garden State,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, who will serve as Chairman of the new Committee. “Despite manufacturing’s prominent role in our economy, providing 350,000 jobs to the State, New Jersey has been consistently rated poorly by business advocacy groups. We will look for ways to turn that reputation around.”
TRENTON – A measure by Senators Paul A. Sarlo and Joseph Coniglio to prohibit the use of fax machines to transmit unsolicited advertisements received committee approval today.
“Unwanted advertisements are like weeds – just when you think you’ve gotten rid of them, they sprout up one more time,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen. “While we’ve made great strides in empowering the public to free themselves of telemarketers, our fax machines still provide companies with a means to sneak their unwanted ads into our homes and businesses. This bill addresses this growing nuisance.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Paul A. Sarlo that would establish the New Jersey Hall of Fame to honor New Jerseyans who have made substantial contributions to society in the arts, sciences and other areas was approved today by the Senate Economic Growth committee.
“New Jerseyans have made huge contributions in nearly every field of human endeavor,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen and Passaic. “Think about it, Thomas Edison was from New Jersey, as was Paul Robeson. Meryl Streep and Buzz Aldrin were also born in New Jersey. Our state’s heritage is too rich not to have a museum honoring these individuals who contributed so much and left their mark on American culture.”
TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen and Passaic, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today after attending Acting Governor Richard J. Codey’s budget address, to a joint session of the Legislature:
“Today’s message was an honest and direct assessment of the budget process that has been set before the Legislature. I know Governor Codey well; I’ve worked with him since 2002, when I was first elected to the Legislature as an Assemblyman. I know him to be an honest, no frills kind of guy, which has carried over to his Legislative career and now to his role as Acting Governor.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Paul A. Sarlo which would require State regulation of pharmaceutical wholesalers to protect the health and safety of New Jerseyans was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today.
“Without State regulation of pharmaceutical wholesalers, New Jersey is vulnerable to attack from counterfeit and possibly dangerous and lethal knock-off drugs,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “If we allow this industry to continue to operate unchecked, we could potentially be putting the lives of our State’s residents at risk.”
TETERBORO – Senators Joseph C. Coniglio and Paul A. Sarlo said today’s runway crash of a corporate jet at Teterboro Airport shows the need to build a “crash wall” to protect nearby drivers and warehouse workers at one of the busiest airports in the country.
“As horrible as today’s accident was – it could have been a whole lot worse,” said Senator Sarlo. “We want to see what the investigators find out, but it’s obvious that a fence and a snowdrift can’t stop a missile loaded with jet fuel.”