Richard J. Codey

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey, Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce today announced the formal launch of a Web site that will promote public awareness and participation in the Legislature’s special session to address New Jersey’s runaway property taxes.

The special session link is prominently displayed at the top of the Legislature’s Web site: www.njleg.state.nj.us. For direct access, Web users may type in the following address: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/PropertyTaxSession/specialsessionpt.asp.

ORANGE – Acting Governor Richard J. Codey issued the following statement today following the fatal shooting of Detective Keiran Shields, a five-year veteran of the Orange Police Department, who was gunned down last night while investigating reports of gunfire at a Taylor Street home.

“I want to offer my deepest sympathy to the family of Detective Shields. I personally knew the family, and I pray that they have the strength to get through this tragedy.

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, urged the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to jumpstart stalled negotiations with Exelon in their bid to acquire PSEG and work quickly towards a final decision as to whether or not a merger is in the State’s best interest..

“I am a firm believer in the art of negotiation and its ability to develop the best solution,” said Senator Codey, D-Essex. “In the end, further negotiations will either lead to an agreement or they will lead to no merger at all. But in my experience, if the resolution is one where both the BPU and Exelon are unhappy, the ratepayers of New Jersey are going to be the winners.”

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey issued the following statement today regarding Governor Corzine’s address to a joint meeting of the New Jersey Legislature, officially kicking off a Legislative Session to deal with the State’s property tax crisis:

“I thought the Governor gave a very thoughtful, comprehensive, and realistic address. He didn’t sugar-coat the situation, and he offered a broad vision of the long-term reforms he’d like to see enacted.

TRENTON – On Thursday, the Senate and Assembly State Government Committees will hold a joint hearing at 10:00 AM in Committee Room 13 to consider a constitutional amendment which would dedicate half of this year’s penny increase in the State sales tax to property tax reform.

Full votes on the proposal are scheduled in both Houses of the Legislature on Friday, after Governor Corzine’s morning address to open a special session focusing on New Jersey’s property tax burden.