Steve Sweeney

TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney today predicted that comprehensive improvements in a new bill he has introduced will make the Smart Growth Law a national model for sensible development and preservation in the war against sprawl.

“I believe now – more than ever before – that the Smart Growth Law will prove incredibly instrumental to the public interest of preserving precious open space, fighting sprawl and focusing development on where it is needed,” Senator Sweeney said. “In fact, I have every confidence that New Jersey’s Smart Growth Law will be a model for the nation.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Stephen M. Sweeney which will allow New Jersey voters to vote by absentee ballot in a general election for any reason was signed into law today by Governor Codey.

“The democratic process is only successful when people are engaged in the voting process, but for many, the inconvenience of going to the polls, for whatever reason, keeps them away,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “Today’s bill signing will allow the people of New Jersey to exercise their right to vote, regardless of whether they can make it to their voting location or not. Through greater access to absentee ballots, New Jerseyans will have an increased opportunity to be a part of the democratic process.”

TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, and a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee released the following statement today following the passage of the Fiscal Year 2006 budget:

“This budget is a victory for the people of New Jersey. It spends less than last year’s budget, without raising the sales tax. We got it right – the taxpayers won, not any political party or individual.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney that would ban the sale of gasoline additive Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) in New Jersey was approved today by the Senate.

“MBTE has been banned in other states because of the life-threatening health risks it poses to residents who are exposed to contaminated water and soil,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “By working eliminate the need for MTBE and other chemicals like it, we would be working to protect residents from developing life-threatening diseases like cancer from their drinking water, while helping the State maintain its place in the forefront of environmental technology.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney that would prohibit the use of scanning and re-encoding devices that are often used to gain illegal access to encoded information on ATM, credit, debit and other electronic payment cards was approved today by the Senate Commerce Committee.

“According to the Federal Trade Commission, credit card fraud is the number one type of identity theft reported by New Jerseyans,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “”This measure is designed to go after thieves who prey on unsuspecting patrons. Consumers should be able to use their credit cards and other electronic methods of payment without running the risk of having their bank accounts cleaned out or identity stolen by a dishonest waiter or store clerk who scans their card for personal use while the consumer isn’t looking.”