April 28, 2006

BODINE AND CHATZIDAKIS TO CORZINE: SELF-SERVE GAS IS NOT THE ANSWER TO CURRENT GAS PRICES SPIKE

SHIFT TO PERMITTING SELF-SERVICE WILL NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON LOWERING GAS PRICES

Assemblymen Francis Bodine and Larry Chatzidakis today said that Governor Corzine’s proposal for eliminating New Jersey’s ban on self-service gas stations will do little to lower gas prices and that the Governor should consider taking action on other fuel bills that could help control price spikes in the future.

“Governor Corzine’s proposal to permit self-serve gas in New Jersey is a flawed attempt to lower gas prices,” said Assemblyman Bodine, R-Burlington. “Gas prices are almost entirely dictated by the commodities market and therefore a shift to self-serve is not going to have a major impact on lowering those prices.”

While New Jersey is one of only two states that do not permit self-service gas stations, often times the state has lower gas prices than neighboring states with the self-service option.

Bodine and Chatzidakis suggested that instituting self-serve gas would greatly increase the inconvenience for seniors who would now have to get out of their car to pump gas in poor weather and late at night.

“If we allow self service in New Jersey, I believe motorists will end up paying full service prices for self serve, while those accessing full service will end up paying more,” said Assemblyman Chatzidakis, R-Burlington. “We should be exploring ways to deal with the long-term impacts of fuel consumption instead of proposing short-term fixes that would have a minimal impact, at best, on prices while inconveniencing our citizens.”

Bodine and Chatzidakis said that Governor Corzine should be looking at a long-term approach to fuel consumption and fuel prices in New Jersey including a number of bills they have introduced on the topic.

Some of the bills that Bodine and Chatzidakis have introduced on the subject include:

·  A-421, prohibiting price gouging in the sale of fuel oil. The bill would make it an unlawful practice for any person to sell, or offer to sell, fuel oil for a price that constitutes an excessive price increase. The bill defines "excessive price increase" as a price that is more than 10 percent higher than the retail dealer 's net cost of the fuel oil plus all selling expenses.

·  A-359, allowing a gross income tax credit for the incremental cost of an alternative fuel vehicle.

·  A-358, allowing a credit against corporation business tax or gross income tax for 50% of cost of constructing facilities for sale of certain alternate fuels.

·  A-422, creating a task force to study, evaluate, and develop recommendations on creating state controlled gasoline, diesel fuel and heating oil reserves for use during periods of disrupted supplies due to an emergency situation or during periods of tight supplies and heavy demand for these fuels, and the most effective means of the creation and maintenance of such reserves.

·  A-2071, requiring NJ refiners and suppliers to establish gasoline, diesel fuel and heating oil reserves.

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April 28, 2006

BECK AND PALAIA TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION FRAUD

PACKAGE OF BILLS IS A RESPONSE TO SCI REPORT ON WASTE, FRAUD AND CONSUMER PROTECTION IN NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS

Assemblywomen Jennifer Beck and State Senator Joseph Palaia today announced that they will be introducing a package of more than two dozen bills designed to combat waste and fraud in the new home construction business that was exposed in a report last year by the State Commission of Investigation (SCI).

“The report by the SCI provided a startling look inside the world of new home construction highlighting the many cases of consumer fraud and poor oversight in that business,” said Beck, R-Monmouth and Mercer. “It is unacceptable that a family believing they are finding the ‘American Dream’ would move into their new home and instead find this nightmare.”

Beck will introduce the package of bills in the General Assembly and Senator Palaia has agreed to introduce an identical package of bills in the State Senate.

“New homes in New Jersey are very expensive and are quite likely the biggest investment that people will make in their lifetimes” Palaia stated. “When making an investment of this magnitude young families need to know that their investment is protected.”

The SCI issued a 51-page investigative report last spring that outlined a systemic pattern of “shoddy and deficient construction practices, lax regulatory oversight and poor remediation options” that routinely plague new-home buyers in New Jersey.

The report cited numerous examples of new-home buyers finding structurally unsound ceilings and roofs, unstable walls, cracked pipes, sewage leaks, flooded crawl spaces and collapsed porches.

“We must act now to reform this system by boosting government oversight and providing more consumer protections for new home buyers,” said Beck. “This legislative package will accomplish these goals.”

There will be more than two dozen bills in the legislative package including bills to:

·  Enact a “Lemon Law” bill to protect new home purchasers;

·  Require the Bureau of Homeowner Protection to create a “New Home Buyer’s Bill of Rights;

·  Increase the duration of warranties for new home purchases;

·  Authorize the DCA to maintain a list of builders that have accumulated confirmed violations under the “State Uniform Construction Code Act;

·  Extend the “Consumer Fraud Act” to include fraud and items of new residential construction;

·  Establish a Code of Ethics for licensed municipal code officials, provide for a hearing in the event of an alleged ethics violation by construction and subcode officials, and make construction code officials guilty of official misconduct when failing to perform inspections or conducting inspections in a reckless manner;

·  Authorize the DCA commissioner to suspend the license of certain construction code officials under certain circumstances.

The bills are largely based on the recommendations included in the SCI report last year and Beck and Palaia are hoping there will be quick action on the proposals in both houses.

“Most homebuilders take pride in their product and work diligently to correct any and all problems that occur,” Palaia said. “Unfortunately, some don’t and the SCI has done a valuable service by pointing out the need for reform.”

“I look forward to working with commissioner Levin and her staff to ensure that this package moves through the legislative process without delay,” Palaia concluded.

Of the 25 bills in the legislative package, 16 have been drafted and another 9 are in the process of being drafted. They will be formally introduced at the next quorum calls of the State Senate and General Assembly on May 4 and May 11 respectively.

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April 28, 2006

DOHERTY TO FARBER: ILLIGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE ILLIGAL

Washington—Assemblyman Michael J. Doherty (R-Warren, Hunterdon) criticized Attorney General Zulima Farber for her participation in last Sunday’s Newark rally in support of illegal immigration.

   “Attorney General Zulima Farber took an oath to uphold all of the laws of the United States and the State of New Jersey, not just the ones that she agrees with.

“This sets a terrible precedent to have the top law enforcement officer in New Jersey criticizing immigration laws, or any duly enacted law for that matter. And, it sends a terrible message that New Jersey will tolerate and even welcome illegal immigrants.

“I would like to remind Attorney General Farber that her job is to enforce laws that are passed by elected officials with the consent of the governed. If she doesn’t like the immigration laws of the United States, she should run for Congress or the U.S. Senate and introduce legislation to change those laws,” Doherty stated.

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April 28, 2006

DeCROCE SAYS SELF-SERVICE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE GAS CRISIS

Says Governor Should Call the Legislature into Session to Consider a Temporary Gas Tax Rollback or Suspension

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today Governor Jon Corzine’s response rising gas prices – a self-service pilot project – will not appreciably lower price of motor fuel but will cost the state jobs and inconvenience many senior citizens who are unfamiliar or unwilling to pump their own gas.

   “If the governor is serious about easing the financial burden of motorists who are reeling from rising gas prices, then he should summon the Legislature into special session to consider emergency legislation authorizing a temporary suspension or rollback of the state’s gas tax,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic.

“People are hurting. We should try to provide them with real help if we can. There’s enough waste in the budget to cover the cost of an emergency relief effort.”

DeCroce said he opposes self-service stations because of the impact they would have on employment.

“Whether they are hired to pump gas full- or part-time, for many this is their only livelihood,” the Republican Leader said. “Besides, senior citizens don’t need the hassle of trying to pump their own gas, especially at night. Any relief motorists would see in the price of fuel by the imposition of self-service would be minimal, fleeting and not worth the cost in terms of lost jobs and safety concerns."

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April 27, 2006

GREGG AND BARONI OPPOSE NEWARK’S PLAN TO DIVERT BUDGET MONEY TO PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

LEGISLATION WILL IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE STATE COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION

Assemblymen Guy Gregg and Bill Baroni today encouraged Governor Jon Corzine to continue with plans to halt the transfer of $80 million from the city of Newark’s budget to a private fund for redevelopment projects. The legislators said Newark has repeatedly exercised poor financial judgment and the Governor needs to intercede and stop all actions involving the money.

   ““Taxpayers were shocked to learn that Newark has spent homeland security money on garbage trucks and transportation dollars on decorative bridge lighting,” said Gregg, R-Sussex, Morris, and Hunterdon. “Now we learn Newark is trying to funnel $80 million from its budget for two non-profit organizations where Senator Sharpe James sits on the board of trustees. I doubt the integrity of a program that, once again, benefits Senator James.”

According to newspaper accounts, city council members agreed to take a portion of Newark’s settlement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey over a lease agreement and establish an off-budget financing program for several redevelopment projects.

“The state of New Jersey is experiencing a very difficult financial period and we need to exercise great discretion in how we spend taxpayer dollars,” added Baroni, R-Mercer and Middlesex. “Newark is in a position to assume a greater share of their budgetary costs, including educational expenses. Sadly, Newark has recklessly spent special state aid, as well as money collected through local taxes.”

Baroni and Gregg questioned the financial and ethical consequences of the proposal.

“This proposal is going forward at a great cost to taxpayers,” Gregg said. “This plan seems to be a way for Senator James to go on a spending spree before leaving office as mayor. It is also appears to be a way for him to interject himself in the redevelopment process.”

“Governor Corzine needs to stand up to Mayor/Senator James and other local officials who support the diversion of $80 million in public funds to private organizations,” said Baroni. “Newark has repeatedly abused taxpayer generosity and it is legally and fiscally appropriate for Governor Corzine to prohibit this deal from going forward. It is time for Newark to be held accountable for its financially and ethically irresponsible behavior.”

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April 26, 2006

DeCROCE SAYS ‘FAILURE’ SUMMARIZES CORZINE’S POLL NUMBERS AND HIS FIRST 100 DAYS

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says Governor Corzine’s tanking poll numbers proves people are disenchanted with his record of broken promises on property taxes, ethics reform and fiscal management.

   “Jon Corzine set high expectations, and he has failed to meet them,” said DeCroce in reaction to a Quinnipiac Poll that shows only 35 percent of New Jerseyans approve of the governor’s performance in office during the first 100 days of the new administration.

“It should come as no surprise that taxpayers consider him a disappointment,” maintained DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. “He has broken every major promise he made in his campaign, and the people are reacting accordingly.

“There’s been no movement on property tax reform, which is the number one priority of the people,” DeCroce explained. “There’s been no action on top-to-bottom pay-to-play reform – or any real ethics reform. The only thing Governor Corzine has delivered is more taxes, more spending, and more debt.

“The taxpayers are tired of broken promises and higher taxes. Corzine is making New Jersey an unaffordable place to live.

“Governor Corzine promised the voters something different. But all they are getting is more of the same. This is just a continuation of the McGreevey administration.”

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April 25, 2006

O'TOOLE AND BARONI UNVEIL NEW LEGISLATION TO CRACK DOWN ON SALARY AND PENSION ABUSE BY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

LEGISLATION WILL IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE STATE COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION

Assemblymen Kevin O’Toole and Bill Baroni today announced they would be introducing legislation to implement the recommendations made by the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) to crack down on the misuse of taxpayer dollars by many school administrators for extravagant salaries, reimbursements and benefits.

“At a time when aid to school districts has been frozen and property tax bills are soaring it was a slap in the face to property taxpayers to learn how many school officials were manipulating the system for personal benefit,” said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen. “The SCI has given us a blueprint to stamp out these abuses and we would be derelict in our duties if we did not pursue those recommendations.”

In a report issued last month the SCI revealed numerous instances in which top school administrators collected total monetary compensation – some of it obscured from public view – in excess of substantial salaries set forth in contracts. This included the cashing-in of inordinate amounts of unused sick, vacation and other leave both on an annual basis and at the time of retirement.

The Commission also found instances in which questionable, if not patently improper, steps have been taken to inflate pensions by padding earnings throughout the course of employment, or in the years immediately preceding retirement, with an assortment of base salary add-ons, including cash stipends, bonuses and redemption of unused leave.

“New Jersey families are struggling to make ends meet as their property tax bills become more and more unaffordable,” said Baroni, R-Mercer and Middlesex. “Yet these school administrators have been padding their salaries and creating golden parachutes. The legislation we are introducing, and which the SCI recommended, would put a stop these abuses and save taxpayer dollars for the right reasons – like educating our children.”

Baroni and O’Toole introduced two bills, one increasing oversight and disclosure requirements for public school district employment practices and financial affairs. Under that bill a school district would be required to submit proposed employment contracts for superintendents of schools, assistant superintendents of schools and school business administrators to the Department of Education prior to execution of the contract.

The other bill limits leave and supplemental compensation benefits for school district superintendents, assistant superintendents, and school business administrator; provides procedures and penalties for enforcement of Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund provisions.

Specifically, the bill limits a superintendent, assistant superintendent, and school business administrator to:

·  not more than 15 working days of paid sick leave in a calendar year;

·  supplemental compensation for accumulated unused sick leave of not more than $15,000 only at time of retirement;

·  not more than 25 working days of paid vacation leave in a calendar year;

·  supplemental compensation for accumulated unused vacation leave only at time of retirement; and

·  not more than three working days of administrative leave for personal reasons in a calendar year.

The bill also would prohibit school board members from paying one of these school officials for overtime or providing compensatory time off for overtime.

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April 25, 2006

WITH PRICES SCALING $3 A GALLON, BIONDI SAYS TALK OF RAISING THE GAS TAX IS ILL-ADVISED

With the price of gasoline shattering the $3 mark at many New Jersey service stations, Assembly Republican Conference Leader Peter Biondi says the chairman of the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee’s continued push for a hike in the state gas tax is misguided and would be disastrous for motorists.

Biondi was reacting to a news report today on NJ 101.5 FM radio in which Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, the transportation committee chairman, renewed his call for an increase in the gas tax.

"Right now we have the money through the restored Transportation Trust Fund, but down the road we need to look at other revenue sources….whether it be an enhancement in existing revenues through a gas tax or some other vehicle we have to start considering how we're going to do this for the long run," Wisniewski was quoted as saying on the radio report.

When asked if now is the time for a gas tax hike with prices at the pump for regular, unleaded gas near, at or above $3 a gallon, Wisniewski replied, "The need for our transportation infrastructure will be there regardless of the price of gasoline."

“This response is just typical,” said Biondi, R-Somerset. “It apparently doesn’t make much difference who gets hurt. The only remedy the Trenton Democrats seem to come up with for every problem is to tax their way out of it.”

Biondi noted that the Corzine administration just pushed through a five-year Transportation Trust Fund borrowing plan to keep funding road projects over the next five years, so it is not apparent why there would be a rush to increase the gas tax now.

“Higher gas taxes is not the answer – not for already overtaxed motorists who have no choice but to drive their car to work, not for truckers whose livelihoods are in jeopardy even now, and not for the state economy which depends heavily on tourists, many of whom may think twice about making a day trip to the Jersey shore this summer if gas prices remain sky high.”

Last month, Biondi and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce offered a comprehensive 12-step plan that would give the state’s Transportation Trust Fund the ability to sustain a $950 million annual capital construction program without raising the gas tax and or requiring massive new bonding. It is embodied in A-2836.

Major components of the DeCroce-Biondi plan would:

·  Dedicate the remaining one-and-a-half cent in gas taxes that is not now used for transportation-related purposes;

·  Develop a much more accurate accounting procedure to measure gas tax revenues on an annual basis;

·  Recapture all revenues statutorily dedicated to the Transportation Trust Fund that are routinely diverted to the general fund.

·  Dedicate $300 million in surplus fees and fines collected by the Motor Vehicles Commission each year that are now skimmed for non-transportation related needs;

·  Limit annual bonding to 50 percent of the maximum amount authorized by statute, and

·  Constitutionally dedicate all revenue streams.

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April 25, 2006

BODINE SAYS STATE LEGISLATION NEEDED TO STABILIZE GAS PRICES, SUPPLY

With crude oil prices topping $75 a barrel and gas prices at the pump already exceeding $3 a gallon in parts of the Garden State due to geopolitical and technical factors, Assemblyman Francis Bodine is calling on Governor Jon Corzine to take action that would require New Jersey refiners and suppliers to establish gasoline, diesel fuel and heating oil reserves.

Bodine, R-Burlington, is the primary sponsor of bill A-2071, which states that “it is in the public interest to establish gasoline, diesel fuel and heating oil reserves in this State for use during periods of tight supply and heavy demand for these fuels.” He sponsored similar legislation in 2005.

In addition to the record-setting cost of gasoline, parts of the Northeast, including New Jersey, are experiencing shortages of gas due to the switch from using MTBE as a fuel additive to more expensive blends mixed with ethanol, which is in short supply.

“Last year, I called on the Codey administration to enact legislation that would require New Jersey refiners and suppliers to establish strategic oil reserves. Had they taken action then, it could have alleviated the dilemma our residents are now facing,” explained Bodine.

“For the past few years, we’ve seen spikes in the price of crude and gasoline,” he continued. “It is our duty as legislators to help stabilize the price of gasoline in our state to the best of our ability. As a result, I am calling on Governor Corzine and the Legislature to take action on A-2071. We have already wasted a good six to eight months. Due to inaction, many residents are facing spot shortages and exuberant prices. The time for action is long overdue.”

Bodine noted that in 2000, the federal government established the Northeast Heating Oil Reserve as a way to protect consumers and the economy in the event of a major fuel disruption. “Instead of waiting for the federal government to tap into national strategic reserves, New Jersey should take the lead and create our own,” he said. “New Jersey is in a unique position along the pipeline. We have infrastructure in place to establish these reserves and provide more immediate relief to our residents.”

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April 25, 2006

CHATZIDAKIS RECEIVES NJLM ENDORSEMENT OF SHARED SERVICES LEGISLATION TO HELP OFFSET PROPERTY TAXES

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities has thrown its support behind shared services legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis that would provide property tax relief for municipalities and taxpayers.

Chatzidakis is the sponsor of bill A-2799 which appropriates $11 million from the General Fund for the purpose of providing Regional Efficiency Aid Program (REAP) aid in the same amount and to the same municipalities that received aid in fiscal year 2002.

“The League Legislative Committee wholly supports adoption of A-2799,” said William Dressel, Jr., NJLM Executive Director, in a letter to the Assemblyman. “Municipalities are grateful for your sponsorship of legislation that will provide some relief to our beleaguered municipalities and property taxpayers.”

“I appreciate NJLM’s support of this legislation,” said Chatzidakis. “As we are all painfully aware, New Jersey taxpayers have been overwhelmed with runaway property taxes for the past five years. Sharing local government services is one means of lowing property taxes. I encourage my fellow legislators to vote for the release of this bill.”

REAP rewards local government units that participate, either as providers or receivers, in consolidation, regionalization and shared services efforts. REAP aid that is awarded and distributed to a local unit is applied as a property tax credit against each parcel of residential property within that local unit.

The REAP program has been eliminated from Governor Jon Corzine’s FY 2007 budget. In fiscal years 2003 through 2006, REAP aid was only awarded to those municipalities that had a $100 or greater average residential property tax credit per parcel in FY 2002. Chatzidakis’ bill would restore funding to the REAP program for the purpose of making payments to those municipalities that became ineligible to receive aid because of the $100 property tax credit requirement. The $11 million aid award was determined to be the difference between the FY 2002 REAP appropriation of $20 million and the FY 2003 REAP appropriation of nearly $9 million.

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April 21, 2006

DeCROCE SAYS ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS ARE READY TO GO TO WORK ON PROPERTY TAXES

TELLS CORZINE 'JUST GIVE THE WORD AND WE'LL BE THERE'

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today all Governor Corzine has to do is "give the word" and his caucus is ready to begin working on property tax reform immediately.

  DeCroce was reacting to a story in The Star-Ledger of Newark today that stated Corzine was becoming inpatient with the Legislature's inaction on the issue.

"Over the course of the past four years, Assembly Republicans have repeatedly asked three consecutive governors to summon a special session of the Legislature to deal exclusively with property tax reform, always to no avail," recalled DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic.

"If anyone has a right to be impatient it's the taxpayers, who have seen their property taxes explode during this time. A 30 percent rise in just four years is intolerable. It's time for the Democrats to get serious. Speaking for members on my side of the political aisle, we're ready to roll up our sleeves and stay in session as long as it takes to get the job done."

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April 21, 2006

McHOSE CALLS FOR SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS PROPERTY TAX CRISIS NOW

STAR-LEDGER ARTICLE SAYS ANY ACTION NOT LIKELY BEFORE 2008

Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose again called on Governor Jon Corzine and the Democrat Legislature to convene a Special Session of the Legislature to address New Jersey's property tax crisis and work through the summer if necessary.

  Responding to an article in today's Star-Ledger, which said it is unlikely that Corzine or the Democrats will take any action on the issue before 2008, McHose, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon, said the Democrats' delaying tactics are unconscionable.

"It's obvious that Governor Corzine and the Democrat majority have no real interest in solving this very real problem of exorbitant property taxes. The clock is ticking and the longer we stand by and do nothing, the more it costs our taxpayers," she said. "Now, for the fifth consecutive year, property taxes will once again increase, this year an average of eight percent. The bleeding of the taxpayer has to stop and it's the governor's and the Legislature's responsibility to step up to the plate."

McHose noted that taxpayers sent the governor and Legislature a clear message Tuesday when they rejected nearly half of the state's school budgets.

According to the article, Corzine's spokesman said the governor favors a constitutional convention to address the issue. State Senate President Richard Codey, D-Essex, is supposedly open to the idea, but only after the 2007 legislative elections. Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, D-Camden, a convention advocate, was quoted as saying he would prefer a more expedited timetable, but if there must be a delay, that's better than nothing. This means a convention is unlikely to happen before 2008. If that's the case, any tax reforms proposed by the convention would not be effective until at least 2009. The Democrats also support a convention that only addresses revenue issues, not state spending.

"That's just not acceptable," said McHose. "This state and its taxpayers cannot afford to wait another three years for relief. We need a forum where we can have open and honest discussion and develop a plan that provides a permanent solution. We need to address both revenue and state spending issues. A Special Session is the best venue for that because it is timely."

McHose said taxpayers will never see permanent relief until the Legislature revisits the criteria for Abbott School designations and overhauls the Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) which is mired in waste, fraud and abuse. "It's time to reform these programs, cut the waste and start holding accountable any individuals who may have abused state funds."

   Last year, McHose co-sponsored legislation calling for a Special Session to address property taxes along with Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean, both R-Monmouth. However, the Democrats tabled the resolution.

"The Republican caucus has tried on several occasions to convene a Special Session," McHose noted. "Each time, the Democrats stonewalled our efforts. So how serious can they be about resolving this crisis?"

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April 20, 2006

TALES OF WASTE, FRILLS, FRAUD AND ABUSE POSTED ON ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN WEBSITE

TAXPAYERS BEWARE! 2006 EDITION OFFERS MORE CHILLS THAN LAST YEAR'S VERSION

It's not for the fainthearted. But if you think you're tough enough to withstand another shock after seeing your tax bill this year, then check out "Tales of Waste, Frills Fraud and Abuse" on the Assembly Republicans' website today. Simply go to www.NJAssemblyRepublicans.com and click on the link.

   The 2006 edition provides a different answer to the question "Can the state budget be balanced without raising more taxes?" than Governor Jon Corzine gave when he presented his "painful choices" budget, complete with nearly $2 billion in higher taxes, to the Legislature last month.

"Yes, Virginia, you don't need to move to Virginia to escape higher taxes, providing the Legislature has the backbone to cut waste and control spending," quipped Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic.

"The aim of our website is to debunk claims that we can't balance the budget without breaking the backs of the taxpayers. Anyone who says the budget is as lean as it can be is living in a fantasy world. Hardly a day goes by without another startling revelation of how millions of tax dollars are being squandered. I have no trouble predicting that the list of examples posted on our website will – unfortunately for the taxpayers – grow before the budget process is over. So check frequently for updates."

DeCroce noted Assembly Republicans identified more than a billion dollars in potential budgetary savings last year, but not a single suggestion was accepted by the Democrats who control the process. "Governor Corzine did accept some of our recommendations before presenting his budget to the Legislature," DeCroce said. "Hopefully the Democrats on the budget committee will be open to some of our ideas as well."

Unlike the tote board assembled by Republicans last year, DeCroce said the new web list is not strictly limited to specific budget cuts. "It can best be described as a collection of stories that show, in chilling detail, just how much tax money is routinely wasted," he explained. "But there is a lesson to these stories, and that is we can, and must, do a much better job making sure tax dollars are spent wisely and responsibly."

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April 19, 2006

BECK AND HANDLIN: OUTCOME OF SCHOOL BUDGET VOTES SHOWS VOTER ANGER OVER PROPERTY TAXES

SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEARING BRUNT OF VOTER ANGER OVER TRENTON'S FAILURE TO ACT ON PROPERTY TAXES

Assemblywomen Jennifer Beck and Amy Handlin today said that the overwhelming rejection of school budgets during yesterday's school board elections demonstrates just how angry voters are about soaring property tax bills and highlights the need for immediate action to address the problem.

   "Voters are rejecting these school budgets because this vote is the only control they have over these burdensome property tax bills," said Beck, R-Monmouth and Mercer. "The Governor and the Legislature need to get the message that New Jersey taxpayers cannot afford any more increases in their property tax bills and something needs to be done to address this problem."

In Monmouth County, 33 of 54 school budgets were defeated in yesterday's elections, including Middletown, Freehold, Red Bank and Wall. The Monmouth County outcomes seemed consistent with the statewide trend where more than half of school budget proposals were rejected in many counties.

"When more than half of the school budgets being voted on are turned down, it is clear that the voters have had enough," said Handlin, R-Monmouth and Middlesex. "They've had enough of runaway government spending, they've had enough of their schools being under-funded, and most of all, they've had enough of the high property tax bills that are chasing them from their homes."

Beck and Handlin pointed out that because state aid to school districts has been essentially frozen for the past five years, school boards have had to pass the costs of enrollment growth and inflationary costs onto the local property taxpayer.

This has resulted in property taxes increasing on average by nearly 30 percent in the past four years, with another massive increase projected this summer.

"The Governor and the Legislature have been in office for four months now and we have seen no relief for taxpayers," said Beck. "We need to reform the property tax system and we need to do so now."

"Our caucus has proposed a special legislative session where the Legislature would meet for the sole purpose of addressing the state's property tax crisis," Handlin said. "These school budget votes should send a message that the time for us to sit down and come up with a solution is long overdue."

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April 10, 2006

PENNACCHIO: BETTER OVERSIGHT OF PRESCHOOL FUNDS COULD SAVE STATE MILLIONS

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT DETAILS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WASTED STATE PRESCHOOL FUNDING

Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio today said that until the state gets a grip on how its money is being spent by non-profit preschool programs around the state and exercise better oversight of those funds, no extra funds should be provided for these programs in the proposed state budget.

   Governor Corzine's proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget would add $50.8 million in Department of Education preschool funding over what was proposed in the Fiscal Year 2006 budget, but a published report has determined that tens of millions of dollars have been wasted.

"Clearly much of the taxpayer money allocated to these programs is being wasted or inappropriately spent," said Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic. "When taxpayer dollars are being used to fund Caribbean time-shares for preschool directors, luxury car rentals and Godiva chocolates, the time is long overdue for a crack down."

Pennacchio was responding to a story in this weekend's Record of Hackensack detailing numerous examples of waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars in New Jersey's preschool program for low-income, disadvantaged children.

The story cites a Jersey City preschool owner who charged state taxpayers for a Caribbean time share two years in a row, a Hoboken center that collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funds without telling New Jersey that the federal government had already paid for the same preschoolers, and an Irvington preschool being run by a director who had her same program in Newark shut down for mismanagement.

"Not only are the taxpayers being hurt by this abuse of state funds, but the children who this program is designed to help are getting lost in the shuffle," said Pennacchio. "If we have a preschool program that is providing more personal benefit for the administrators than it is an educational benefit for the kids, it is time to clean-house with the oversight of that program."

The Record analyzed audits of more than 100 state-funded preschools in New Jersey's poorest communities, reviewed tax returns, financial documents and contracts and interviewed dozens of state and local officials, owners and teachers in an effort to detail the fiscal workings of the program.

The results of that audit revealed payments for luxury car leases, Omaha steaks, shrimp, Godiva chocolates, wedding gifts, motorcycle insurance, even cat food were buried in the books. Inflated rents, six-figure salaries and $900,000 in personal loans, while some schools shortchanged teachers' wages and benefits, were also uncovered.

"When Governor Corzine said he had made all the cuts he can in his budget, I don't think he accounted for the waste buried within many of these programs," Pennacchio said. "I think it is a fair standard that before we raise taxes on New Jersey families we need to make sure the state has stopped paying for fancy chocolates and resort island time-shares."

Pennacchio said the actions reported by The Record should have resulted in legal action by the state. He faulted the Department of Education and the Attorney General's Office for allowing these deeds to go unpunished.

Preschool funding provided through the Department of Human Services budget has been reduced by $17 million in the Corzine budget proposal – not by cutting wastes, but as a result of forcing some parents to pay a portion of the costs for their children.

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April 6, 2006

KARROW SAYS HIGHLANDS MASTER PLAN DELAY WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT LANDOWNERS

Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow said today that the Highlands Council's decision to delay the adoption date for its regional master plan until December will result in six more months of limbo for landowners.

"This delay violates the intent of the law," said Karrow, R-Hunterdon and Warren. "In effect, the Council is telling thousands of people their lives will continue to remain on hold. It is unacceptable that homeowners and property owners won't know the true value of their land or the specifics on how they can develop it for another six months."

While Council officials blame the complexity of the plan as the reason for the delay, Karrow contends the Council should follow the law and hold the public hearings as scheduled in fairness to landowners who have anxiously been awaiting the master plan.

"The Council has merely found a loophole," she said. "While I vehemently oppose the legislation, the fact of the matter is the Council needs to abide by it. The residents and farmers in the Highlands continue to have their lives interrupted by the uncertainties that are in the Highlands Act – questions which only the master plan can answer."

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April 6, 2006

OLS REVENUE PROJECTIONS PROMPT REPUBLICAN BUDGET MEMBERS TO CALL FOR MORE SPENDING CUTS

NEW REVENUE PROJECTION DATA INDICATES MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE CUTTING MUST BE DONE

The four Republican members of the Assembly Budget Committee today called on Governor Corzine to submit more fiscally responsible spending cuts in response to a report from the Office of Legislative Service's (OLS) showing revenue projections for the next two years that are nearly $200 million below what is anticipated in the governor's budget proposal.

"The public outrage about this budget is growing and these new revenue numbers are very troubling news," said Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joe Malone, R-Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth and Mercer. "This revenue shortfall again emphasizes that we cannot rely on tax increases to straighten out this budget. We need to cut spending."

According to the OLS revenue report delivered today to members of the Assembly Budget Committee, state revenues will come in $27 million lower than projected by the administration in the FY2006 budget and $159 million below the estimates for FY2007.

With public opinion polls showing that taxpayers are already skeptical of the Governor's budget proposal, the Republican budget committee members said this latest news will only make the public more distrustful of what is being proposed.

"We all know that New Jersey's budget picture is bleak and these numbers demonstrate that it may be even worse than the Governor expected," said Assemblyman Frank Blee, R-Atlantic. "This is all the more reason why we need to start looking at this budget with an eye toward where we can find savings and efficiencies."

The OLS projections anticipate the state will lose $110 million in estimated income tax revenue this year, although some of that will be offset by higher-than-projected revenues from other major taxes and fees. In FY2007, OLS projects income tax revenues to be $245 million less than administration projections – again only partially offset by higher revenues from other taxes.

"The revenue projections indicate that a significant portion of the modest surplus projected by the Governor may not exist," said Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen. "This places our budget in a precarious position as we head into the next budget cycle. We need to be more responsive to the realities of our current fiscal condition."

The OLS revenue estimate was presented to the Budget Committee Thursday afternoon, after State Treasurer Bradley Abelow appeared before the committee in the morning to answer questions about the Governor's budget proposal.

"Regardless of the discrepancy in the revenue numbers, it is evident that we need to cut spending," said Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon. "If we are going to be successful in rolling back the Governor's tax hike proposals we need to start cutting wasteful spending from this budget immediately. Government must live within its means just as every family must."

The Republican members noted that it is possible to reduce the size of the state budget, pointing out that three times during the 1990's, when Republicans controlled the Legislature, they actually reduced the size of the budget. The budget reductions took place in Fiscal Years 1993, 1995, and 1997.

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April 5, 2006

DeCROCE ANNOUNCES SERIES OF TOWN MEETINGS STATEWIDE
TO BE HOSTED BY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS

WILL HELP RALLY SUPPORT FOR AN ANTI-TAX PETITION DRIVE

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today announced that he and members of the Assembly Republican caucus will be holding a series of town meetings throughout New Jersey over the next two months to solicit input and ideas from New Jersey taxpayers about Governor Corzine's proposed budget and will be launching a statewide anti-tax petition drive.

"We will be hosting town meetings in all of our legislative districts to speak with taxpayers and hear their concerns," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "We also will be asking taxpayers to sign a petition sending a message to Governor Corzine that the people of New Jersey cannot afford any more tax hikes."

DeCroce made the announcement at the State House, just a short walk from the Delaware River separating New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He noted that many New Jersey families are fleeing the state and heading to Pennsylvania to escape the taxes that have made New Jersey unaffordable.

Annual population growth has declined year-by-year from 71,000 people in 2002 to 33,000 in 2005. Meanwhile, in 2005, almost 57,000 more people left New Jersey for the rest of the country than moved here.

"This state is becoming more and more unaffordable every day for our families, and lawmakers need to listen to those families and hear how this budget is impacting them," DeCroce said. "We also could probably learn a thing or two about how to budget responsibly from the families who have to do so every day of the week."

DeCroce, who was joined at the news conference by Republican Conference Leader Peter Biondi, encouraged New Jersey taxpayers to sign a petition opposing Governor Corzine's new tax hikes through the Assembly Republican website, njassemblyrepublicans.com, where taxpayers can also download a copy of the petition.

"We want to give the people of New Jersey ample opportunity to be heard on this budget," DeCroce said. "Through these town meetings and our website we will make sure that every taxpayer has their voice heard on this proposal."

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April 4, 2006

CORODEMUS AND KEAN SEND LETTER TO CORZINE ON HOMELAND SECURITY DOLLARS

CALL FOR HALT TO DISTRIBUTION OF HOMELAND SECURITY DOLLARS
UNTIL MERIT-BASED SYSTEM ADOPTED

In the wake of a lawsuit filed by a private citizen challenging the politically motivated distribution of state grant monies, Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean today called on Governor Corzine to put a halt to the distribution of more than $11 million still remaining in a homeland security grant program – funds that were earmarked primarily for Democrat legislative districts with no apparent merit-based award process.

"We applaud David Robinson for taking action to stop this abuse and we applaud the Governor's decision to stop distributing these funds," said Corodemus, R-Monmouth. "But now we have learned that there are additional homeland security funds awaiting distribution through this flawed, politically motivated process. We must not allow that to happen."

Last week a private citizen, David Robinson, filed a lawsuit to stop the expenditure of $26 million of funds that have been awarded through an illegal grant process riddled with conflicts of interest. The Corzine administration put a halt to the distribution of these funds through the Treasury department pending an investigation of the grant program.

Corodemus and Kean note in their letter that another $11.5 million of taxpayer funds remain with Department of Law and Public Safety in a Domestic Security and Preparedness Equipment Grant program that previous administrations outrageously manipulated for partisan gain.

"In many ways it is a good thing that these dollars have not yet been spent," Kean said. "This allows the administration to do a reassessment of where these dollars are truly needed instead of handing them out based on the politically motivated decisions made more than a year ago."

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March 30, 2006

DeCROCE ASKS CORZINE ADMINISTRATION TO DETAIL
ITS $2 BILLION IN 'SPENDING CUTS'

Responding to Corzine administration comments that the Governor has made $2 billion in cuts while legislators have only provide him with $500 million in suggestions, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today called on the administration to detail its $2 billion in spending cuts.

 "The Governor obviously thinks the Legislature is not doing enough to cut wasteful spending, but his own proposal increases state spending by $2.8 billion," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "If the Governor is going to take credit for making $2 billion in spending cuts, I think he needs to provide a detailed explanation as to what he has actually cut."

"You can't raise a spending account by five percent and call that a cut just because some department wanted a ten percent increase," he added. "Only in this administration's vocabulary can a spending increase be called a spending cut."

DeCroce and his staff presented Corzine with the list of $600 million in potential spending cuts in January and while some were incorporated in the Governor's budget proposal – most were ignored.

Tuesday, Corzine administration officials boasted to New Jersey 101.5 radio that they have made $2 billion in spending cuts while Republicans have only provided the Governor with about $500 million in possible cuts.

"Other than proposed cuts in higher education, on which the Governor has already backtracked, I'm not sure where he is making spending cuts," DeCroce said. "I'm staring at a budget proposal that increases spending by $2.8 billion and it looks to me like state government is growing – not shrinking. What are these cuts?"

DeCroce noted that the Assembly Budget Committee is working in a bipartisan fashion right now to try to identify areas for savings and that he anticipates the committee will come up with ideas for additional spending cuts as the budget process moves forward. 

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March 28, 2006

DeCROCE AND BIONDI: CORZINE MUST BE IGNORING
THAT SPENDING CUT ELEPHANT SITTING IN THE ROOM

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Republican Conference Leader Peter Biondi today said that despite Governor Corzine's claims to the contrary, he has been presented with some initial ideas on where the state can cut back on spending – and he has chosen to ignore many of them.

The comments were in reaction to a statement by Corzine on New Jersey 101.5 FM radio this morning that no legislators are suggesting ways to cut the budget.

"We presented Governor Corzine with a list of $600 million in potential spending cuts, less than half of which were included in his budget proposal," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "It is disingenuous for him to suggest that the Legislature is not providing him with ideas on where he can cut state spending when we have done so and he has ignored many of those suggestions."

DeCroce and his staff presented Corzine with the list of spending cuts in January and while some were incorporated in the Governor's budget proposal – most were ignored. Many of the cuts had been part of more than $1 billion in spending cuts Assembly Republicans had put on the table during last year's budget process.

Some examples include:

·  Corzine ignored a suggestion to modestly increase fees on state prisoners while his budget increased taxes and fees on ordinary taxpayers.

·  Corzine ignored a suggestion to lapse more than $1 million in the current budget and to completely eliminate the much abused Governor's Emergency Fund which has been used in the past for anything but emergencies, including an oil painting of former Governor McGreevey.

·  Corzine's budget failed to eliminate $8 million in aid awarded to four counties, Essex, Hudson, Camden and Mercer with powerful political machines.

·  Corzine's budget does, however, increase spending on public stem cell research and continues to provide dramatic increases to Abbott school districts that are no longer poor or that waste the funds they are provided. 

DeCroce and Biondi noted that their colleagues Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole have introduced a "deappropriations bill" that among other cuts would put a halt to any pork spending that was included in last year's budget, but has not yet been dispersed.

Corzine's budget ignored the suggestion that he immediately freeze all grants awarded last year for which no public notice, applications, or merit-based decisions were involved.  For example, $26 million remains in Treasury accounts for a grant program called the "Property Tax Relief and Community Development Grant Program."

"It has been just one week since the Governor made his budget proposal and we have already begun the process of suggesting potential savings," said Biondi, R-Somerset and Morris. "The Governor can expect that as we have more time to review his proposal, and as the budget hearings progress, we will have many more suggestions on where he can cut waste."

DeCroce said that he has raised the issue of these proposed spending cuts in each meeting he has had with the Governor.

DeCroce and Biondi said that given the amount of potential spending cuts offered by Republicans and ignored by the Democrats last year they are not optimistic that their proposals will be accepted by this Governor.

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March 24, 2006

GREGG: CORZINE BUDGET IS JUST MORE OF THE SAME
SAYS GOVERNOR IS IGNORING LESSONS FROM THE PAST

"The state, which has borrowed to balance its budget in each of the last three fiscal periods, has shown an apparent unwillingness to take appropriate actions to achieve structural balance."- Standard & Poors ( 07/27/04 )

Assemblyman Guy Gregg said today that he is extremely concerned that Governor Corzine's budget proposal relies on the same flawed fiscal policies of the past.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same," said Gregg, R-Sussex, Morris, and Hunterdon. "Governor Corzine vowed to change the way Trenton does business. However, it appears with the introduction of this budget, he is simply furthering the failed fiscal agenda of the McGreevey Administration."

Gregg said that he fears Governor Corzine has learned nothing from the last fours years and will fail to rein in government spending and bring financial integrity to Trenton.

"During the campaign, Corzine rejected the 'old politics of tax, borrow, and spend'," added Gregg.  "Yet, the first major legislative initiative sponsored by Governor Corzine is a plan to borrow billions to fix the deteriorating Transportation Trust Fund.  He has already asked the taxpayers to shoulder the massive increase in state debt and now has the audacity to ask them to accept billions of dollars in new taxes."

Gregg said the Quinnipiac University poll released in February shows that a majority of New Jersey residents agree that government spending should be cut instead of raising taxes.  According to the poll, nearly 60 percent of New Jerseyans oppose any tax increase.

"Make no mistake, the public firmly rejects the Corzine tax hike plan," said Gregg.  "The taxpayers have seen a plan like this in action before and want nothing to do with it.  It is time for a fresh approach to the budget process.  We need to focus on cutting state spending."

Gregg said that he is holding out hope that Governor Corzine considers possible spending cuts before passing a budget that is balanced on the back of taxpayers.