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Senator Sweeney Reacts To the State Of The State

News & Releases Steve Sweeney

Increasing the Minimum Wage is a Necessity for Working Poor

TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, issued the following statement today, regarding Acting Governor Richard J. Codey’s comments on working to increase the State’s minimum wage in his 2005 State of the State address.

“During today’s address Governor Codey touched on the important subject of the State’s inadequate minimum wage. New Jersey has one of the highest costs of living in the nation, but at $5.15, our minimum wage ranks among the states with the lowest cost of living.

“Residents are having to work two and three jobs just to make ends meet and provide the very basic necessities for themselves and their families, and when this happens there is no chance for advancement.

“Last November I introduced a bill, S-2065, to increase the State’s minimum wage to $7 because I believe that New Jersey owes its residents a chance to earn more while working more reasonable hours. I am committed to working with the Governor and New Jersey’s labor unions to pass this measure and help improve the quality of life for the nearly two million workers living below the poverty level.”

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Sweeney/Kyrillos Shared Services Reform Legislation Clears Senate Committee

TRENTON: Legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem) and Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) that would promote taxpayer savings through the creation of greater efficiencies within government cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.

“If governments don’t wish to run their towns more cost-effectively, there is no reason the taxpayers of New Jersey should have to foot their bill,” said Sweeney. “It is time we start providing the necessary incentives to get us moving on shared services. Towns can share services with each other while not losing their individual identity or the uniqueness of their communities. The bottom line is that the taxpayers of this state need a break and shared services is one way to give it to them.”

19 Nov 2012
Shared services will save money, boost efficiency

By Steve Sweeney In New Jersey, the economic burdens for middle-class families and working people continue to make life hard….

03 Dec 2013
Senate Leaders Promise Swift Action On Bipartisan Pension Reform Bills

TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Republican Leader Thomas Kean announced that bipartisan legislation to complete the unfinished business of reforming the state’s public employee pension and benefits system first begun nearly four years ago was formally introduced last night in the Senate.

The four bills would return the pension and benefits system to its original goal of ensuring the retirements of rank-and-file public employees and constitutionally require government to meet its annual pension obligations.

09 Feb 2010
Sweeney/Kyrillos Shared Services Reform Legislation Clears Senate

TRENTON: Legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem) and Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) that would promote taxpayer savings through the creation of greater efficiencies within government cleared the full Senate today.

“If governments don’t wish to run their towns more cost-effectively, there is no reason the taxpayers of New Jersey should have to foot their bill,” said Sweeney. “It is time we start providing the necessary incentives to get us moving on shared services. Towns can share services with each other while not losing their individual identity or the uniqueness of their communities. The bottom line is that the taxpayers of this state need a break and shared services is one way to give it to them.”

29 Nov 2012
Committee OK’S Bipartisan Pension Reform Bills; Sweeping Package To Be Voted On By Senate Monday

TRENTON – A bipartisan package of legislation that would complete the unfinished business of reforming the state’s public employee pension and benefits system first begun nearly four years ago was today unanimously released by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.

The four bills would return the pension and benefits system to its original goal of ensuring the retirements of rank-and-file public employees and constitutionally require government to meet its annual pension obligations.

18 Feb 2010
Senate Embraces Bipartisan Pension Reforms

TRENTON – The full Senate today overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan package of legislation to return the state’s pension and benefits system to its original goal of providing for the retirements of rank-and-file public employees and ensure the its long-term viability.

“These reforms are necessary to restore New Jersey’s long-term fiscal footing and return sanity to a pension and benefits system that was allowed to spiral out of control,” said Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “Without these changes, the state would soon have no option but to break its promise to career public servants.”

22 Feb 2010