Top Story - 7/2/2009

Sarlo Commends Judiciary Committee For Filling Backlog Of Vacancies
TRENTON – Sen. Paul A. Sarlo (D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today thanked the committee for its work in reviewing scores of nominees that have been presented by the Corzine administration to fill judicial vacancies and openings on various government boards and agencies.
“Just a few weeks ago, there were 38 vacancies on the Superior Court bench,” Sen. Sarlo said. “Thanks to the hard work of judiciary committee members from both sides of the aisle, the endless behind-the-scenes work by committee staff and the thorough preparation by the candidates themselves, we will have whittled that number down to 17 after the nominees, who have since been confirmed by the full Senate, are sworn in.”
Codey Statement On Signing Of FY 2010 Budget

TRENTON - Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today issued the following statement on the Governor's signing of the $29 billion FY 2010 Appropriations Act:
"Across the country, states are struggling to balance budgets. Many have been forced to make cuts much more drastic than what we have done here in New Jersey. This is thanks in no small part to the Governor's foresight in preparing New Jersey to weather this economic storm.
Senate Passes FY 2010 Budget

TRENTON – A $29 billion state budget that dramatically cuts spending, preserves funding for health and education programs and restores substantial property tax relief was approved in the state Senate today by a 22-17 vote.
“This has clearly been one of the most difficult budgets the Legislature and administration have ever had to deal with,” said Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. “Months of unrelentingly bad economic news on a global scale have informed our work as we have struggled to come up with a budget that is balanced and fairly shares the pain of drastically shrinking revenues. Every page of this budget reflects our efforts to make sure the necessary cuts we made were done with an eye treating the many competing interests with fairness and sensitivity while also recognizing the money to fund some very worthwhile programs simply isn’t available.”
Codey Statement On Passage Of FY 2010 Budget

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the $29 billion FY 2010 Appropriations Act:
“What we have accomplished here in New Jersey is nothing short of a minor miracle when you consider the drastic actions other states have been forced to take.
Sweeney Statement On Approval Of FY 2010 Budget

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, issued the following statement today regarding the Senate approval of the FY 2010 Budget, by a vote of 22-17:
“On Monday, when the Budget Committee passed the FY 2010 spending plan, I was quoted as saying – in some cases, out of context – that this budget stinks.
“Unfortunately, that’s a side-effect of the politically-charged environment that we live in. Honest admissions and plain talk can sometimes be misconstrued and warped to serve a political point.
Lesniak Economic Stimulus Bill Approved In Senate

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak which would jump-start New Jersey’s economy was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 23-14, receiving final legislative approval.
“Even before the national recession, New Jersey’s economy has lagged behind the national economy for nearly a decade, with in-State private-sector job growth underperforming national statistics in even the rosiest economic times,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “In the four year period from 2003 to 2007, private sector employment grew nationally by 6.5 percent. By comparison, during that same time period in New Jersey, the private sector job base grew by only 2.3 percent.






