Steve Sweeney

TRENTON — Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem) released the following statement after Governor Christie proposed additional reforms to the public employee pension and health benefits system:

“For years, I have been concerned with the growing magnitude of the crisis that has left the pension system on the edge of collapse. Obviously, the Governor shares that concern.

“The Governor is halfway there. We do need further reform to keep the public pension system afloat, but we also need to show we are committed to making the system work for the lifelong employees who are relying on it for a secure retirement.

(TRENTON) — Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver today announced the formation of a new Business Task Force that would work to craft reforms to make the state more business-friendly and reposition New Jersey’s economy for long-term growth.

The task force, led by leaders in private industry, will be given the broad leeway to propose reforms to state regulatory policy, grants and incentive programs, and business tax law.

“Especially now, when our economy continues to lag, we need to get past the notion that government always knows better than business,” said Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “The state’s business leaders know from their daily experiences what works and what doesn’t. It’s time we ask them to play a larger role in writing their own success story. A stronger business climate will lure new corporations to the state and spur new small business ventures, which in turn will create countless new job opportunities.”

TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem) today released the following statement regarding the series of reforms proposed by Gov. Chris Christie:

“The Governor’s proposals will be thoroughly reviewed and discussed by the caucus. At first read, there appear to be areas of likely agreement.

TRENTON – Democratic lawmakers will convene next week in the Meadowlands for the second meeting of the legislative gaming summit called by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver to examine the recommendations of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Gaming, Sports and Entertainment.

The hearing, to be held at Pegasus West in the Meadowlands, will provide lawmakers with an opportunity to solicit input from stakeholders on horseracing, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the stalled Xanadu project.

TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono sent a letter to Governor Chris Christie requesting that he apologize for the “disparaging and partisan attack on federal education officials” that he engaged in last week to rationalize the State’s error on the Race to the Top education funding application which ultimately cost New Jersey taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in federal school aid.

“I can understand that the Governor was upset about the prospect of losing hundreds of millions of dollars to help New Jersey communities which are reeling from his draconian state aid cuts in the FY 2011 Budget,” said Senate President Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “However, his comments about federal education regulators being ‘mindless drones’ was completely uncalled for, given that the State’s failure was ours’ and ours’ alone. It’s time for the Governor to man up and admit the mistake of his Administration, rather than engage in divisive rhetoric which only serves to damage our relationship with the federal government.”

TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, today praised an agreement between the New York-New Jersey Port Authority and Developer Larry Silverstein that will result in $1 billion committed to fixing the low-clearance problem at Bayonne Bridge which prohibits new super-sized cargo ships from entering Port Newark and Port Elizabeth:

“Today’s announced agreement between Mr. Silverstein and the Port Authority is good news for New Jersey’s economy, and will result in continued economic viability for our North Jersey ports. Our ports are the gateway to the world, allowing goods to come into New Jersey and beyond, and this agreement will guarantee funds so that we can be ready for the future of domestic and international shipping.