Steve Sweeney

Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-3) and Senator Steven Oroho (R-24), members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, made this statement after hearing testimony before the committee about the governor’s proposal to charge residents of 89 municipalities extra fees for the cost of State Police protection:

“State Police officers aren’t just watching the streets of small towns. They patrol highways and help law enforcement in towns big and small with efforts to combat gangs, solve major crimes and keep streets safe,” Sweeney said. “If the governor wants municipalities to bolster the State Police budget, he should have all 566 communities contribute, not just take from small towns.”

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding Senate Republican attacks on Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts’ plan to move from a property tax rebate check to a credit on the State income tax:

“As long as I’ve known Joe Roberts, I’ve known him to be a dedicated public servant willing to stand up and fight for the needs of his constituents. Even though Republican lawmakers may be loath to admit it, the man has credibility when it comes to seeking to control the soaring costs of government in New Jersey. He has been in the trenches, with measures like the CORE plan, local property tax caps and a 20 percent reduction on the property tax bills of hard-hit taxpayers.

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney today said the depleted condition of the Unemployment Insurance Fund demonstrates the need for his bipartisan proposal, SCR-60, to seek voter approval to permanently ban raids on employer and worker generated State funds which have been skimmed over the years during budget crises.

“I support Governor Corzine’s proposal to replenish the UI Fund now and avoid a tax increase, but I think people would welcome a long-term ban on future raids that is backed up by the State Constitution,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland.

DEPTFORD – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, today released the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s proposed FY 2009 budget after a Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing held at Gloucester County Institute of Technology.

“This budget season is going to be difficult – I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. My goal as we make these tough, but necessary, budget cuts is to ensure that the decisions are as fair as possible. However, we need residents to know that we are working to make cuts that will still allow them to receive as much aid as possible. Residents don’t want their services cut, and we don’t want to cut them, but it’s something we’ll have to do to make ends meet.

TRENTON – The Senate today approved a bill, S-442, co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney, to authorize special education students who have attended four years of high school to participate in their class graduation ceremonies.

“Special ed students get federally mandated, individual education plans which often extend beyond the standard four-year high school period,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland. “This bill ensures special education students their right to experience the full high school experience while they continue their academic pursuits.”