NJ Assembly Majority Office

Prieto: Energy Tax Shortfall Adds to Christie Budget Woes

Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement Wednesday on news the Christie administration is actually facing a revenue shortfall of at least $351 million for this fiscal year, perhaps significantly higher:

"It's disturbing to hear the Christie administration is now facing at least a $121 million shortfall in energy tax collections atop the $230 million shortfall revealed on Tuesday. Apparently, the more we look the less likely we are to find this mythical 'New Jersey Comeback' the governor continues to oddly tout amid 9 percent unemployment and a net 20 percent property tax hike..."

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5th District Legislators Applaud Action on Urban Hope Act

Senator Donald Norcross and Assemblymen Angel Fuentes and Gilbert "Whip" Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester) have issued the following statement upon the adoption of a Request for Proposal (RFP) document by the Camden City Board of Education for the construction of new public schools under the Urban Hope Act. The Board has begun seeking proposals from non-profit entities to build and operate renaissance schools:

"The Urban Hope Act allows our state to change the face of education by creating a new type of school," added Assemblyman Wilson. "The Board of Education has taken an important step toward these schools becoming a reality..."

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Greenwald: A To-Do List for a Governor Running Scared from Middle-Class & Senior Property Tax Relief

Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington) offered the following to-do list for Gov. Chris Christie Wednesday when he arrives in East Hanover:

"Gov. Christie is clearly in panic mode and running scared from the Assembly Democratic plan to provide middle-class families with up to $2,000 in property tax relief and senior and disabled citizens with up to $2,500. He's obsessed with trying to talk his way around his opposition to middle-class property tax relief and his support for tax cuts for millionaires, but our plan is the responsible approach, especially amid the governor's failed economic policies…"

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Albano & Milam Bill Upgrading Penalties for Harming, Threatening Law Enforcement Animals Approved by Assembly Panel

Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam upgrading penalties for anyone that threatens or harms a law enforcement animal was approved by an Assembly panel on Monday.

"Often times, law enforcement animals are on the front lines, putting themselves in harm's way right along with their human counterparts," said Albano (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). "They are highly trained and a tremendous asset to police operations. Any intentional harm inflicted on these animals is not only cruel, but it impedes law enforcement operations and negates the enormous time and effort put into training these highly specialized animals."

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Sarlo & Prieto: Treasurer Must Be Prepared to Detail Plans to Deal with Christie Revenue Shortfall

Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo and Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto on Wednesday sent a letter to the state treasurer advising him they expect him to be prepared to specify how the Christie administration will deal with its budget shortfall.

"Given that we are now in the middle of May and there are but a few short weeks left to the end of the fiscal year, it is imperative that we know your plans to deal with this shortfall," the chairmen wrote in their letter to Treasurer Andrew P. Sidamon-Eristoff...

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RAMOS INTRODUCES HEALTH LITERACY EDUCATION BILL

Schools would incorporate health literacy into existing health education curriculum.
(HOBOKEN) - Last Thursday, Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. introduced legislation to expand health literacy education in public schools.

"Healthcare is something everybody needs, but not everybody understands," said Ramos (D-33). "This bill will help equip teens and young adults with essential knowledge about how to best manage their health needs and seek out the best care possible."

The bill, A2904, would require that health literacy content be incorporated into the Core Curriculum Content Standards. The goal is to get students to learn how to communicate with healthcare professionals about their symptoms and how to read and comprehend instructions for medical care. Most importantly, students will be provided with a basic understanding of how to navigate the country's healthcare system.

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Oliver: Revenue Shortfall Requires Responsible Steps Forward

Notes Assembly Dem Prop Tax Relief Plan Built on Strong Foundation

Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) released the following statement Tuesday on Christie administration revenue figures that show a $230.3 million shortfall for this fiscal year:

"We must move forward responsibly, and that means doing so with a reliable property tax relief plan premised on economic fairness and significant help for the middle-class and senior and disabled citizens…"

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Greenwald: Revenue Report Latest Example of Failed Christie Policies

Revenue Problems Reveal Christie's Shaky Fiscal Foundation

Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington) released the following statement Tuesday on the latest revenue figures that show collections $230.3 million behind what Gov. Chris Christie forecast for this fiscal year:

"Not only does the Governor's plan to shower $7,000 in tax break handouts to millionaires while giving crumbs to the middle-class, but it's now becoming clear the governor has built his plan on a shaky foundation. New Jersey's middle-class families need more than fuzzy math, a hope and a prayer. They need real property tax relief they can count on..."

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Prieto: Governor Should Dump Faulty Numbers & False Promises & Get on Board with Assembly Tax Relief Plan

Assembly Budget Committee Chair Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) on Tuesday issued the following statement on the latest state revenue figures which show collections for April are $230 million below what the Christie administration had projected:

"This is further confirmation that the Governor's proposed budget for next year is based on shaky figures, at best.

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MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE Caputo & Lampitt on Bill to Prohibit Children under 18 from Using Indoor Tanning Beds

Assembly Democrats Ralph R. Caputo (D-Essex) and Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) issued a multimedia package Tuesday on their legislation to better protect teens from an increased risk of skin cancer by expanding New Jersey's current indoor tanning ban to any minor under the age of 18.

The bill (A-2142) would bar anyone under the age of 18 from using tanning beds in New Jersey, regardless of whether they have obtained parental permission. However, the bill would allow teens 14 years of age and older, with written permission, to use spray tanning, which does not expose them to UV radiation the way a tanning bed does.

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Schaer, Lampitt & Chivukula Bill to Maintain a Child’s Religious Upbringing in Adoption or Foster Care Approved by Assembly Panel

Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Gary Schaer, Pamela Lampitt and Upendra Chivukula that would require private adoption agencies, the courts, and the state to maintain a child's religious upbringing when placing a child with a guardian, into foster care, or into an adoptive home was approved by an Assembly panel on Monday.

"A child's religious and cultural backgrounds are significant aspects of determining the best interests of the child," said Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen/Essex). "That's why it's so important that the placement of a child into foster care or adoption should be consistent with their religious and cultural backgrounds, unless it's proven by convincing evidence that such placement is not in the best interests of the child."

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Greenwald: Christie Should Follow Chafee's Lead, Recognize Out of State Same-Sex Marriages

Today Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald released the following statement upon the news that Governor Lincoln Chafee (I-RI) has ordered, via executive order, all state agencies to officially recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in jurisdictions that have marriage equality:

"I applaud Governor Chafee's action, which moves his state one step closer to the full marriage equality that every family rightfully deserves under our Constitution. I call on Governor Christie to follow Governor Chafee's lead and immediately issue an executive order recognizing legally performed out-of-state same-sex marriages in New Jersey.

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Wagner Appointed Co-Chair of Joint Committee on the Public Schools

Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) has been appointed co-chair of the New Jersey Legislature's Joint Committee on the Public Schools.

Wagner will co-chair the joint committee with Senator Ronald L. Rice.

"I welcome the opportunity to serve on this important committee," said Wagner. "With so much uncertainty surrounding school construction projects, and funding reductions by this administration making it more and more difficult for our public schools to adequately educate our students, the work of this committee is essential. Every student in New Jersey deserves a quality education, and I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to see that they get it."

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Caputo & Lampitt on Bill to Prohibit Children under 18 from Using Indoor Tanning Beds (A-2142)

Caputo & Lampitt on Bill to Prohibit Children under 18 from Using Indoor Tanning Beds (A-2142) from NJ Assembly Democratic Office on Vimeo.

Assemlbyman Burzichelli on Prohibiting Employers From Asking for Social Media Passwords (A-2878 & A-2879)

NJ Assemlbyman Burzichelli on Prohibiting Employers From Asking for Social Media Passwords (A-2878 & A-2879) from NJ Assembly Democratic Office on Vimeo.

Assembly Majority Leader Greenwald: Obsessed with Lowering NJ's Property Tax Burden

Assembly Majority Leader Greenwald: Obsessed with Lowering NJ's Property Tax Burden from NJ Assembly Democratic Office on Vimeo.

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