S15

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, and Chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Senate’s approval today of a bill to amend the FY 2009 Budget to help offset a massive shortfall in revenues caused by the national recession. The bill, S-15, was approved by a vote of 21-17:

“The bill which was approved by the Senate today is only a piece of the puzzle in re-balancing the FY 2009 Budget and making up for lost revenues as a result of the national economic crisis. While this bill represents a strong first step in responsible budgeting, we must be open to further cuts in order to maintain the essential services that New Jersey’s taxpayers have come to rely on.

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. welcomed Senate approval today of S-15, which would create the independent Office of the State Comptroller.

“I am pleased with the final outcome of the State Comptroller bill,” said Senator Kenny, D-Hudson. “We worked closely with Governor Corzine to create a bill that would enact strong new safeguards against waste and fraud while minimizing the impact of additional bureaucracy on local and county government.”