October 29, 2004

DeCROCE EXPRESSES OUTRAGE OVER POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ATTEMPT TO SCARE SENIORS IN LETTER SENT FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today expressed outrage that McGreevey administration officials have used taxpayer funds and state letterhead as part of a deliberate political attempt to scare New Jersey seniors in the final days of a presidential campaign.

"This certainly proves that the sleaze factor in the McGreevey administration can never be underestimated," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "The most corrupt administration in New Jersey history is now attempting to scare senior citizens in the final days of a political campaign and they are using taxpayer funds and a state office to do so."

DeCroce was responding to a letter from Human Services Commissioner James M. Davy sent this week to New Jersey seniors, in which Davy inaccurately leads seniors to believe they will be losing prescription drug coverage or possibly paying more for prescription drugs under the new federal prescription drug assistance program.

The letter tells seniors to "write the White House" and tell them "we don’t need a medical crisis."

In reality, the Medicare modernization law passed by Congress was specifically structured so that New Jersey was not penalized for having a pre-existing drug program that is one of the most comprehensive and generous drug-assistance programs in the country.

As part of the program the state was provided with $4 billion in savings over the next ten years to help with the conversion and to ensure seniors would not lose any existing coverage. Ironically, it was McGreevey who sought to divert some of this money from its intended purpose to plug a budget hole this year.

DeCroce called on U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie to look into this illegal use of state taxpayer funds for unauthorized political purposes. He said he would not call on Peter Harvey to do so because the Attorney General’s Office appears to have no interest in pursuing corruption in the current administration.

"Why would the Commissioner of Human Services send this letter, with misleading, inaccurate information about this program, just six days before an election?" DeCroce asked. "Anyone who doesn’t believe this is an attempt to scare seniors and politically harm the president, must be naive enough to still believe that Jim McGreevey wants to reform Trenton.

"I know that Jim McGreevey and the Democrats are nervous about John Kerry losing New Jersey and that is why they have to stoop to scaring seniors. This behavior is nothing new.

"This is just the latest in what has been a continuing, coordinated, systematic effort by this administration to use taxpayer dollars for political purposes," DeCroce said. "Somebody needs to put a stop to it and they need to do so now."

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October 28, 2004

PENNACCHIO SAYS IT IS TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PRICETAGS

Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio today said that someone in state government needs to take a closer look at the amount of money being spent on school construction projects with reports of $100 million-plus projects in some Abbott Districts.

"First it was the $100 million high school in Newark and now a $123 million high school renovation project in Trenton," said Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic. "If you look at the school renovation or construction projects in non-Abbott districts, the pricetags are nowhere near these costs."

The Star Ledger today reported that the state’s school construction program approved $480 million of projects in Abbott Districts yesterday including a $123 million renovation of Trenton Central High School.

Pennacchio said he fears money is being spent without adequate oversight on the school construction projects in the Abbott districts and that this is why the funding is beginning to dry up.

Last month The Star Ledger reported that the New Jersey school construction program was running low on funds and that some districts feel the state will need to allocate additional dollars to meet their needs. The story indicated that $5 billion of the original $8.6 billion allocated for the program has already been spent or pledged.

Pennacchio noted that the total state commitment for the 13 school construction bond issues voted on this September was $98.2 million. These bond issues included renovations to dozens of schools and the construction of at least one new school.

"While there may be some factors justifying additional costs in some of the Abbott Districts, it is hard to believe that these projects have to be that expensive," Pennacchio said. "The Legislature should hold hearings to determine if these funds are being spent properly."

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October 28, 2004

DeCROCE SAYS REPUBLICANS LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING ELECTION REFORM PACKAGE DETAILS

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today issued the following statement regarding the 18-point election reform package unveiled today by Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts Jr. and members of the Democrat caucus:

"We in the Republican caucus fully support the stated goals of improving accuracy, accessibility and accountability in the election process. It is important that New Jersey take steps to modernize its election system and to ensure voter participation.

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October 26, 2004

PENNACCHIO: GOVERNOR’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL NEEDLE HANDOUT ONLY ADDS TO QUESTIONABLE LEGACY

Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio today said that he believes Governor McGreevey has exceeded his constitutional authority with an executive order authorizing municipal programs that would provide needles to heroin addicts.

"Somebody needs to tell the governor that just because he is leaving office in three weeks doesn’t mean he has the authority to ignore the state constitution," said Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic. "Only the Legislature can enact laws governing the powers afforded to municipalities. It cannot be done through executive order."

Pennacchio was responding to news that Governor McGreevey has signed an executive order permitting municipalities to provide needle handouts to heroin addicts. Legislation that would have permitted these programs is currently stalled in the State Senate where members of both parties are opposing the proposal as bad public policy.

"These programs do not reduce the spread of disease, and they only encourage drug addicts to continue this self-destructive behavior," Pennacchio said. "Dirty needles will continue to be exchanged and lives will continue to be destroyed, but now it will be done with the endorsement of the state."

Pennacchio said he expects the governor’s executive order to be challenged in court as unconstitutional, and pointed out that a spokesman for McGreevey’s own attorney general was quoted on May 14 as saying that such programs violate current state law.

"It becomes increasingly clear that the governor’s decision to stay in office after announcing his resignation is having dangerous consequences for this state," Pennacchio said. "He is now abusing the power of his office and attempting to assume the powers of the Legislature."

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October 25, 2004

GREGG: EVEN DEMOCRAT APPROACH TO PASSING ETHICS BILLS IS A BREACH OF ETHICS

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October 25, 2004

O’TOOLE AND BARONI EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT THAT DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO BLOCK REAL PAY-TO-PLAY REFORM

Assemblymen Kevin O’Toole and Bill Baroni were voted down by the Democrats today in their attempt to substitute a comprehensive ban on pay-to-play at all levels of government for a weaker pay-to-play bill put forward by the Democrat majority.

"Today the Democrats had an opportunity to correct the mistake they made last June in failing to approve a comprehensive pay-to-play ban," said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen. "By rejecting our motion today to enact a complete ban on pay-to-play, they have again failed New Jersey taxpayers."

O’Toole and Baroni had introduced a new bill, A-3442, in response to a nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services legal opinion on pay-to-play stating that it is possible to ban pay-to-play at all levels of government if the law is rooted in a compelling government interest such as preventing corruption.

The Democrats today put forward legislation that would ban contributions from state vendors only to some political committees. The ban does not affect local governments or legislative leadership PACs.

Baroni made a motion to substitute the language of his comprehensive bill for a weaker Democrat-sponsored bill, but the Democrats voted to table that motion.

Baroni responded to Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein’s comment on the floor of the Assembly that she feared there were some people who "would never be happy," with these reform measures.

"Assemblywoman Greenstein is correct," said Baroni, R-Mercer and Middlesex. "We will not be happy with these half-measures, and we will not be happy until we have complete, comprehensive reform."

"I believe it is essential to restoring public trust in government that we not permit the corrupt culture of pay-to-play to continue to thrive through the next election cycle," Baroni added. "Unfortunately, the Democrat majority today once again chose to move forward legislation that falls well short of comprehensive reform."

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October 22, 2004

O’TOOLE INTRODUCES BILL CREATING CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION WHEELING

October 21, 2004

O’TOOLE AND BARONI INTRODUCE LEGISLATION BANNING PAY-TO-PLAY AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

October 21, 2004

BLEE BILL INCREASING SAFE HAVEN AWARENESS ADVANCES

A bill sponsored by Assemblyman Frank Blee that would establish the “Safe Haven Awareness Promotion Task Force” was released from committee today.  The task force created by Assembly Bill 3262 will be responsible for studying and evaluating the efficacy of existing efforts to promote awareness among the general public of the provisions of the "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act."

“Safe havens have existed in New Jersey for nearly four years and too many people still do not know about them,” explained Assemblyman Blee (R- Atlantic).

Established in 2000 the "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act" allows parents, who might otherwise abandon their babies, to leave them at specifically designated locations while ensuring those parents anonymity, confidentiality and freedom from prosecution. 

“Over just a three week period in January of 2004 three newborn infants were unlawfully abandoned, instead of being dropped off safely as provided under current law,” said Blee. “Statistics like this make it is obvious that the public does not know about safe havens.  The more the general public is aware of this program, the more young lives we will be able to save.”

A-3262 was released from Assembly Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 11-0, it now moves onto the Assembly for consideration.

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October 20, 2004

ASSEMBLYMAN ROONEY DECLARES OUTRAGE AT FLU VACCINATION DEBACLE

Assemblyman John Rooney called for the Governor to explain why the Department of Corrections had begun to administer nearly 4,400 flu vaccinations to inmates yesterday while senior citizens and others considered ‘at risk’ had to wait on line.

“This is an outrage,” exclaimed Rooney (R- Bergen). “Hard working, productive members of our society are being told to hold off on getting vaccinated but the Department of Corrections has stockpiled a supply to be used on criminals and convicted felons. Somebody has some explaining to do.”

It was reported today that various state and county correctional facilities began administering shots to their inmates.  The belief is vaccinating inmates will prevent the spread of the flu throughout the prisons.

“The employees of the correctional facilities can’t even get vaccinated, but the inmates can,” Rooney said. “I think somebody has the priorities backwards; since when did criminals warrant better medical treatment than the general population?”

After a nation wide vaccination shortage off the Flu vaccine it was recommended that the only people who should get vaccinated were the sick and the elderly.

“Jim McGreevey and the heads of the Department of Health need to address the public and tell us how something like this could happen,” stated Rooney.  “Seniors shouldn’t be risking serious health consequences by foregoing flu shots when prisoners are being well taken care of by the state.”

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October 20, 2004

DeCROCE SENDS LETTER TO McGREEVEY CALLING FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON PAY-TO-PLAY

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today sent a letter to Governor McGreevey asking that he call a special session of the Legislature to once and for all deal with the issue of pay-to-play reform.

"The Democrats in the Legislature want to punt on this issue instead of standing up and doing their jobs," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "They need to have the courage to pass a bill that bans pay-to-play from top-to-bottom and they should do so immediately. Otherwise all of their rhetoric about supporting this cause is nothing more than hot air."

DeCroce sent a letter to McGreevey asking that he convene a special session of the Legislature in the wake of a new legal opinion from the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) holding that the recently signed executive order banning pay-to-play is unconstitutional.

In his letter DeCroce says a special session to deal with pay-to-play would be an historic opportunity and it would prove to the public that government can reform itself.

"Governor, Assembly Republicans agree with your stated position that Pay to Play must be banned on every level of government in New Jersey," DeCroce writes in his letter. "With your forceful support, both houses have the opportunity to pass broad Pay to Play reform."

DeCroce said he sent the letter because he believes the Democrats in the Legislature are not sincere about acting on the issue.

"Maybe the governor can use his power to convince them to do what they have thus far been unwilling to do," DeCroce said.

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October 20, 2004

O’TOOLE AND BARONI: DEMOCRATS TAKING WRONG APPROACH TO CURBING PAY-TO-PLAY DEFECTS

Assemblymen Kevin O’Toole and Bill Baroni today said Democrats are taking the wrong approach in attempting to respond to the news that Governor McGreevey’s executive order banning pay-to-play is likely to be held unconstitutional.

"We should not pass any legislation that abdicates our authority to the executive branch to do something that we already can and should be doing through statute," said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic, and Bergen. "We simply need to live up to our responsibilities as legislators and pass a law that will put an end to this corrupt practice."

"Why are we continuing to go around in circles on an issue that is very straightforward?" O’Toole asked. "Let’s stop the delaying tactics and the political gamesmanship and pass a law banning pay-to-play with no loopholes and no exceptions."

Two new nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services opinions released by Republicans yesterday declare that an executive order signed by Governor McGreevey banning pay-to-play is unconstitutional, but that it is possible actual legislation banning pay-to-play at all levels of government would be upheld by the courts if the law is rooted in a compelling state interest.

In response, some Democrats have suggested that they will introduce legislation giving the governor the authority to accomplish his goal through an executive order.

"I do not believe it is wise for the Legislature to pass a law handing over to the executive branch its responsibility to deal with this issue," said Baroni, R-Mercer and Middlesex. "That type of short-sighted thinking is what got us here in the first place."

"The public is demanding that we stop pay-to-play and put an end to the culture of corruption in Trenton," Baroni added. "It is the obligation of the Legislature to listen to those concerns and act to clean up this system."

O’Toole and Baroni will be introducing legislation this week that will ban pay-to-play at all levels of government, clearly stating the compelling state interest for doing so, which OLS has indicated will be required for the bill to be constitutional.

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October 19, 2004

GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON PAY-TO-PLAY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT LEGISLATION COULD PASS THE TEST

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today joined two sponsors of pay-to-play reform legislation, Assemblymen Kevin O’Toole and Bill Baroni, to call for immediate action on legislation banning pay-to-play in the wake of two new legal opinions from the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS).

The new OLS opinions declare that an executive order recently signed by Governor McGreevey banning pay-to-play is unconstitutional, but that it is possible actual legislation banning pay-to-play at all levels of government would be upheld by the courts.

"These legal opinions have reopened the debate on this issue," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "We now know the governor’s executive order is insufficient, and that contrary to claims by the Democrats, legislation banning this corrupt practice at all levels of government may in fact be constitutional."

According to the OLS legal opinions, the governor does not have the statutory authority to ban pay-to-play by executive order, and the order would be superseded by the watered down pay-to-play legislation set to take effect in 2006.

As for legislation banning pay-to-play, a separate OLS legal opinion found that its constitutionality would hinge on whether it meets a "sufficiently strong government interest." The opinion notes that eliminating politically corrupting influences has justified campaign contribution bans in past instances.

"There can be no question that government has compelling interest in eliminating corrupting influences and the appearance of corruption from the political process," said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen. "My legislation would ban pay-to-play at all levels of government, and I am confident it would be upheld by the courts."

Baroni said that with the governor’s executive order being declared unconstitutional, there should be renewed emphasis in the Legislature on passing a comprehensive pay-to-play ban.

"These two legal opinions provide us with a strong impetus to move forward on this issue," said Baroni, R-Mercer and Middlesex. "We can’t afford to go into another election year under the same campaign finance rules that have fostered the culture of corruption here in Trenton."

If the executive order is void, as OLS suggests, Baroni said it would have been better had the Assembly Democrats not passed their watered down bill this spring.

"Ironically, a watered down law has superseded a stronger executive order," Baroni noted.

O’Toole noted that the Democrats have blocked his comprehensive pay-to-play ban claiming they had an OLS opinion stating that it would be unconstitutional

"If this is the OLS opinion to which they were referring, then they either misread the opinion or were misleading the public," O’Toole said. "Nowhere in this opinion does it state that my bill would be unconstitutional. In fact it provides evidence that the bill might very well be constitutional."

DeCroce, O’Toole and Baroni all pledged to make renewed efforts to have comprehensive pay-to-play reform brought to the floor of the Assembly before the end of this year.

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October 18, 2004

GREGG AND DOHERTY: STATE’S ANTI-BUSINESS ATTITUDE CONTINUES TO STIFLE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY

October 18, 2004

ASSEMBYLMAN MERKT HELPS REVISE UNFAIR DOCUMENTATION FINES

Three bills were combined and released from the Assembly Transportation Committee today. Assembly Committee Substitute for A-2984, A-2806 and A-2209 decreases certain motor vehicle fines and lengthens the time to provide proof of insurance.

"In 2003 the fines were raised to $150 for every document a motorist fails to present to a police officer or judge; this includes driver's license, insurance card and registration," explained Assemblyman Richard Merkt, prime sponsor of A-2209. "'These bills seek to correct an unfair result of the steep hike in fines signed by Gov. McGreevey last year to pay for his bloated state budget."

The new legislation reduces the penalty for failing to present proper documentation to $75 per violation.  Additionally the bill increases the time a violator has to provide proof of documentation from 24 hours to 48 hours.

"The current law can result in huge fines up to $500 (including court fees) for drivers unlucky enough not to have their license, registration, and insurance card on them when stopped by the police," Assemblyman Merkt (R- Morris County) said. "'No one should have to pay a fine like that just for forgetting his or her wallet."

"Current law treats not carrying credentials as a more serious offense than failing to yield to a pedestrian, which is a real safety issue.  We need to get New Jersey's priorities straight," Merkt stated. "Heavy fines should be reserved for dangerous behavior as a driver, not for forgotten paperwork."

Assemblyman Merkt's bill was combined with similar legislation sponsored by Assembly Republican leader Alec DeCroce and Assemblyman Kip Bateman. The Assembly Committee Substitute was released from the Assembly Transportation Committee by a vote of 13-0.

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October 13, 2004

ASSEMBYLMAN MERKT QUESTIONS GOVERNOR’S HIRING PRACTICE

 Following published reports that members of the McGreevey administration lied about their job qualifications and falsified resumes, Assemblyman Richard Merkt today called on the governor to explain what background checks, if any, were conducted on job applicants.

During the governor’s tenure in office the qualifications of appointees have been brought into question by legislators and news organizations.

“If a leader is truly only as good as his support staff, Jim McGreevey should definitely start worrying about his coveted legacy,” said Assemblyman Merkt (R-Morris).  “It appears our governor is transforming the front office into a state funded placement agency for cronies who have misrepresented their credentials.”

The Home News Tribune recently revealed that one of Governor McGreevey’s hires lied about his qualifications on his resume. Albert Harris Jr., whose father was an operative for the Democrats in the 1980s, was hired to orchestrate road events for the governor. His resume claimed that he graduated from Rider University with a B.A. in political science.  When questioned about Mr. Harris’ degree, Rider University officials said he had attended for only one semester in 2003.

“Jim McGreevey’s record of hiring qualified employees is far from acceptable,” Assemblyman Merkt explained. “Now we see cases where he is hiring people who were not only unqualified but whose resumes were inflated to justify their hiring.”

According to a story in The Record of Hackensack James Gee, a deputy chief of staff  for the governor, claimed on his resume that he has a degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta.  Morehouse officials confirmed that Mr. Gee did attend the college but said he never graduated.

“We now have two more cases of McGreevey placing campaign loyalists in positions of power for which they may not be qualified,” Merkt stated.

“Our governor had the nerve to sign off on the most bloated budget New Jersey has ever seen while he was wasting millions of taxpayers dollars to ensure that personal acquaintances had cushy, high paying state jobs,” said Assemblyman Merkt “The least he should have done is have their resumes checked.”

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October 13, 2004

DeCROCE CALLS FOR REFORM, NOT RHETORIC

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce issued the following statement today regarding the Senate President's announcement on campaign financing:

"If the Senate President believes state vendors should not be able to contribute money to his own legislative leadership PAC, then he should support our effort to ban vendor contributions to all legislative PACs.

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October 12, 2004

GREGG TO McGREEVEY: ENOUGH WITH THE SELF-PROMOTION ALREADY!

October 8, 2004

AZZOLINA-THOMPSON BILL SEEKS TO AVERT NEXT YEAR’S IMPENDING SCHOOL BUDGET CRISIS

Assemblymen Joe Azzolina and Sam Thompson have introduced legislation that seeks to avert what many school officials believe will be a statewide school budget crisis next spring in the wake of the newly imposed spending caps for school districts.

"We want to encourage fiscal responsibility in these school districts, but we need to do so in a way that makes sense," said Azzolina, R-Monmouth and Middlesex. "It is not sound fiscal management to so severely limit the amount of surplus school districts can maintain. They must be able to keep some money on-hand to deal with unexpected funding needs and maintenance emergencies."

The legislation, A-3382, seeks to strike a middle ground between the draconian steps taken as part of the school spending cap bill signed by the governor in July.

School districts have complained that the new law does not represent sound fiscal management and that they may be forced to make severe budget cuts that may result in reduced staff, increased class sizes and fewer course offerings and extracurricular programs.

Under the old law districts were permitted to keep a six percent surplus, but that was reduced under the law signed in July to three percent this year, and will drop to two percent next year. The Azzolina-Thompson bill would maintain the school surplus at three percent.

The new law also restricted school districts from asking voters to approve raising additional funds, separate from the budget, for additional spending needs. The Azzolina-Thompson bill would permit those questions to be presented to voters.

"Ultimately, not permitting these questions takes an option away from the voters," Thompson said. "Particularly if they are faced with budget cuts next year, the voters should have the right to decide if additional funds need to be raised."

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October 8, 2004

McHOSE SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE STATE TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT SPENDING RESTRAINT

Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, today called on state officials to begin showing some real concern about a looming budget crisis that could result in a $4 billion deficit going into the next budget year.

"Every year we hear the administration talk about the need to rein-in spending, but state spending keeps increasing," said McHose, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon. "It is time that the administration stop talking about fiscal responsibility and actually demonstrate that they know how to restrain spending."

A story in today’s edition of The Record of Hackensack reported that state agencies and departments are being ordered by Treasurer John McCormac to cut spending by 10 percent. In response to that report, an unnamed state official was quoted as saying, "This is the normal gloom and doom."

The story notes that "past efforts have been largely symbolic, more valuable for setting a tone of austerity than for actual savings."

The non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) is already warning of a budget deficit that could be as high as $4 billion. This comes on the heels of a budget where Democrats increased spending by 17 percent, including the borrowing of $1.9 billion just to bring the budget into balance.

"It is misleading to tell the public you are cutting spending in state departments, and then to increase the size of the budget by record amounts," McHose said. "If state officials don’t get serious about cutting back on state spending soon, I am afraid they will be hitting us with significant tax increases in next year’s budget."

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October 7, 2004

GREGG SAYS NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM IS ANOTHER STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR NEW JERSEY

October 7, 2004

MUNOZ OPPOSES NEEDLE EXCHANGE BILL AND HOPES COLLEAGUES WILL VOTE AGAINST THE MEASURE

October 6, 2004

PENNACCHIO AND DeCROCE ISSUE REPORT ON EDUCATION SUMMIT AT PARSIPPANY HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio today announced that he has compiled a report on the Morris County Education Summit that he and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce hosted on September 13 at Parsippany Hills High School.

"The testimony that night was thoughtful and informative," said Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic. "This report reflects what we heard from school district officials, parents, teachers and state education officials."

The report concludes that based on the testimony presented that evening, the recently imposed school spending caps are having a negative impact on school district operations and on taxpayers in New Jersey.

Legislation passed in June imposed a 2.5 percent cap on spending increases in New Jersey school districts and limits the amount of surplus they are able to keep on hand, hampering efforts to deal with unexpected emergencies such as facility maintenance problems.

"I think there was widespread agreement at this meeting that school districts need to exercise fiscal restraint and responsibility in budgeting," Pennacchio said. "However the manner in which the state has imposed spending caps is clearly not the best approach to that problem."

School officials testifying at the hearing were unanimous in agreeing that as currently constructed, this law will eventually result in reduced staff – including classroom teachers, increased class size, fewer course offerings, curtailed extracurricular activities, and postponed capital improvements.

Pennacchio also pointed out that his district suffers from the inequities of the current school funding formula.

"We have billions of dollars flowing into the 30 ‘special needs’ districts to fund $100 million high schools," Pennacchio noted. "There is little accountability for how that money is being spent in these Abbott Districts, while our districts are struggling to comply with arbitrary spending caps."

The summit was attended by local school officials, homeowners, representatives of the state education department and a number of lawmakers including Assemblymen Guy Gregg, Richard Merkt, Michael Patrick Carroll, and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose.

A copy of the report is available from Assemblyman Pennacchio’s district office.

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October 4, 2004

PUBLIC WANTS LEGISLATURE TO ACT ON PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole said that they are renewing calls for a special session of the Legislature to deal with property taxes in the wake of public testimony at today’s meeting of the property tax convention task force.

"While the property tax convention task force is doing important work, there is no reason the Legislature cannot step up to the plate on this issue at the same time," said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen. "I support calling a special session of the Legislature to deal solely with the issue of property taxes."

A number of citizens today testified in favor of immediate legislative action on the issue of property taxes at today’s meeting of the property tax convention task force. The testimony of several individuals focused on the need for legislative action while the constitutional convention process continues to creep forward.

Virtually the entire Republican caucus and a number of Democrats in the General Assembly have co-sponsored ACR-99, a resolution that would authorize a special session of the Legislature to deal with property tax reform.

"The idea of a constitutional convention to address property tax reform is worth studying, but that process does not preclude legislative action," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "I agree with those who said today that the Legislature has not done its job in addressing this issue. Now is the time to start doing that job."

"Property taxes are a primary concern for many New Jersey homeowners and they cannot afford to wait two years for a solution," O’Toole said. "Considering the merits of a constitutional convention approach is a good first step, but the Legislature should not abdicate its responsibility."

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September 28, 2004

McHOSE SAYS DECISION ON CIGARETTE BONDS SHOULD WAIT UNTIL AFTER McGREEVEY LEAVES OFFICE

September 28, 2004

PENNACCHIO QUESTIONS RAPID DEPLETION OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDS

September 27, 2004

GREGG SHOCKED BY DEMOCRAT COMMENTS ON FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDING INCREASES

September 27, 2004

O’TOOLE CALLS ON McGREEVEY TO HOLD OFF ON CIGARETTE BOND SALE

Assemblymen Kevin O’Toole, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, today called on Governor McGreevey to halt the state’s cigarette bond sale and urged Senate President Codey to reconsider issuing the bonds when he takes over as acting-governor after three rating agencies today rated the bonds just above junk bond status."The unconstitutional borrowing that these bonds are to support will leave this state with a significant budget crisis next year," said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic, and Bergen. "With the state facing a potential $4 billion structural deficit, I do not think it is wise to move forward with this bonding without first looking at whether we need to restructure the current budget."Three independent Wall Street rating companies today gave New Jersey’s pending October 14th sale of $1.4 billion of Cigarette Bonds a rating that is just two grades above junk bond status.The state is expected to sell more than $2 billion in bonds backed by revenue from the recent cigarette tax increase. This bond sale, scheduled to close on October 14, is the implementation of the $1.9 billion deficit bonding scheme the McGreevey administration used to balance this year’s free-spending state budget.

A recent analysis by the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) reported that next year’s budget could be in a $4.4 billion hole as a result of lagging revenues and the structural hole created by this year’s borrowing for operating expenses.

September 24, 2004

GREGG QUESTIONS SINCERITY OF DEMOCRAT CONVERSION ON PAY-TO-PLAY REFORM

September 23, 2004

THOMPSON AND MUNOZ SAY REDUCING THE SPREAD OF HIV AMONG INTRAVENOUS DRUG USERS BEGINS WITH PROVEN DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS

"There is no conclusive data that proves needle exchange programs work," said Munoz, R- Essex, Morris, Somerset, and Union, a member of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee. "Needle exchange programs fail to address the central issue. The most effective means to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS among intravenous drug users is to halt their use of drugs. Our focus must be on providing the public with prevention and treatment programs."