Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement regarding the Beacon Hill Institute’s state competitiveness rankings. New Jersey was ranked 42 overall and was the lowest ranked state in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions. Additionally, it was reported today that New Jersey lost 6, 000 jobs in October driving the state’s unemployment rate up to 6 percent.
It’s the Perfect Time to Reopen the Budget and Pass Real Reform
Senator Steve Oroho (R-24), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today urging Governor Corzine to immediately provide specifics about the savings he expects from state departments and agencies to help eliminate a $1.2 billion budget shortfall. A recent bond prospectus indicates that the governor is counting on $625 million from various state departments to balance the budget this year (fiscal 2009) and in fiscal year 2010.
Senate President Richard J. Codey and Senator Jennifer Beck today sent a letter to Governor Jon Corzine urging him to convene a panel of experts and interested parties to discuss the long term stability and funding of the horse racing industry in New Jersey.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce sent a letter to Governor Corzine asking him to launch an investigation into what appears to be another politically manipulated grant program, the Extraordinary Aid Program. The Extraordinary Aid Program is administered by the Department of Community Affairs.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement regarding last week’s $1.1 billion bond sale:
“The Corzine Administration’s $1.12 billion in new state debt that was issued last week will actually cost the taxpayers of this state $3.5 billion. In contrast, the state borrowed $1.17 billion or $500 million more, in September 2007 at a total cost of just $2.3 billion.
Senator Diane Allen, the Deputy Minority Leader issued the following statement supporting the efforts of Public Advocate Ronald Chen calling for changes in state laws governing redevelopment and relocation assistance:
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Issued the following statement on the resignation of United States Attorney Chris Christie:
“Chris Christie, the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has served the citizens of the state with honor and distinction. His unwavering commitment to ending the culture of public corruption will be held up as a model to future U.S. Attorneys and Attorneys General. His pursuit of arms dealers and terrorists has made New Jersey a safer place to live and raise a family. I wish Mr. Christie the best in his future personal and professional endeavors.”
Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, sponsor of Senate Bill 2292 to reform unworkable “affordable” housing regulations, announced that the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services estimates the annual unfunded cost to communities of complying with these rules will be as much as a $2 billion.
The Lehman case “represents the worst example of the fraud committed by modern-day robber barons of Wall Street, who targeted public entities to finance their risky practices and then paid themselves millions of dollars in compensation while their companies deteriorated.”i
– From San Mateo County’s lawsuit against Lehman Bros.
Senator Joseph Pennacchio, R-Duistrict 26, issued the following statement after learning that the San Mateo County Investment Pool in California filed a lawsuit seeking to recover its $150 million in losses because of alleged misrepresentations by Lehman Brothers executives:
Measure Approved by Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Now Awaits Full Senate Vote
Legislation co-sponsored by Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder that increases the funding of The Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Program has moved closer to becoming law.
