Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce SAYS CORZINE OWES RESIDENTS AN APOLOGY FOR SUGGESTING THEY MOVE TO NORTH DAKOTA

CORZINE SAYS NORTH DAKOTA IS THE PLACE TO BE, NOT NEW JERSEY, IF YOU WANT A STATE WITH LOW UNEMPLOYMENT

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce on QUINNIPIAC POLL FINDING THAT VOTERS WANT GOP ASSEMBLY

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Trenton, NJ - Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today released the following statement in response to the Quinnipiac poll results showing voters wanting the state legislature in Republican control after the November election 46 – 40 percent:

“For nearly eight years under a Democratic State Assembly New Jerseyans have seen their taxes skyrocket, their tax dollars get squandered, jobs leave our state and their property tax relief eliminated. Jon Corzine and a Democratic controlled State Assembly have given us the highest property taxes in the nation.

“These poll results mirror what we are seeing in our own polling within several legislative districts held by Democrat incumbents. Clearly, the people of our state can no longer afford a Democratic majority in Trenton. People want change.

“Republicans running for the State Assembly this year are the agents of change who have offered solutions to the affordability crisis facing our state. When elected, a Republican majority will enact a Common Sense Plan to move our state in a better direction.”

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: COURT RULING ON COAH IS ANOTHER SLAP AT TAXPAYERS AND WILL HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today assailed Monday’s appellate court ruling that local zoning laws could be overturned in the interest of building affordable housing, despite the fact that a town may already have received certification from the state as having met its obligation under the law.

“The impact of the court’s ruling is a devastating blow to middle class taxpayers who are struggling to survive,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. “Once again the judicial system has overstepped its bounds and is setting public policy. The Legislature needs to address this immediately and protect our residents from courts that are obsessed with destroying their quality of life.

“The consequences of this outrageous decision will result in higher taxes, hurt the environment, and drive infrastructure costs out of control,” continued DeCroce. “It is just another example of what makes New Jersey unaffordable for hard-working people and causes them to move to another state.”

DeCroce said that he supports the call for a special legislative session that corrects the erroneous court ruling.

“Governor Corzine should be railing against the court’s decision and calling for legislative action to restore and strengthen a municipality’s right to enact appropriate zoning laws,” said DeCroce. “It is not surprising that he won’t step forward to protect taxpayers. Once again, his leadership is lacking at time when it is needed the most.”

TEN MORE MUNICIPALITIES ENDORSE SENATOR PENNACCHIO’S “TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT ACT”

Morris Plains, NJ -- State Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Passaic) released a list of New Jersey municipalities that have endorsed S-445. The “Transparency in Government Act” would establish a State public finance website which retains and displays data and information on the State’s annual revenues, expenditures and total debt. The bill establishes an accessible, user friendly source of information to track State revenues and expenditures and to gauge its past and present levels of indebtedness.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: CORZINE TOUTS ONLY BROKEN PROMISES

NO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR MANY IN THE MIDDLE CLASS AND NO NEED FOR ETHICS REFORM

An interview with NJ Republican Chairman Jay Webber on Hall Institute Radio: NJ Gov 09 CLICK HERE

SENATOR JOE PENNACCHIO TO CORZINE: TRANSPARENCY IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT AGAINST CORRUPTION

State Senator Joe Pennacchio responded today to Governor Corzine’s reaction to the arrests on corruption of various elected officials by challenging him to once again open the books.

“Governor, it is always about money. If you want to find corruption, follow the money,” said Pennacchio. “It’s time that each and every single dime of money publicly spent should have total and open transparency. Let’s start with the $17 billion in Federal stimulus money whose designations still have yet to be explained.”

Pennacchio said that the Governors lamenting of corruption was somewhat specious in lieu of the fact that promises made to create a clear, timely and user friendly website to show where all state monies are being spent has yet to be done contrary to public promises.

The Governor was also chastised by Pennacchio for allowing the Division of Pensions and the Investment Council for stonewalling the Senator’s efforts to find out exactly why the state invested and lost $115 million with Lehman Brothers just before its bankruptcy.

Pennacchio is challenging the Governor to direct the Attorney General to have a complete, open and public investigation of this failed investment scheme. “Do we always have to depend on the FBI and the United States Attorney to vet out corruption in this state?” asked Pennacchio.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD FOCUS ON THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE ALREADY LOST JOBS

PRESIDENT VISITS NEW JERSEY TODAY INSTEAD OF WORKING ON HISTORICALLY-POOR UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT HE EXPECTS TO RISE

With the national economy in tatters and unemployment reaching a 26-year high, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce questioned why President Barack Obama is not hard at work in Washington trying to find ways to help the millions of middle class Americans who have lost their jobs.

“Just this week President Obama said he expects unemployment to continue to worsen, yet he comes to New Jersey in hopes of protecting a single job held by a man responsible for New Jerseyans losing 155,000 jobs since December 2007,” DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, said. “The president has called job creation the ‘single biggest challenge’ for our nation’s recovery. If he believes that he should be hard at work trying to rebuild this economy for the millions of families without an income right now.”

New Jersey has endured 17 consecutive months of job loss under Governor Corzine. Its unemployment rate for June stood at 9.2 percent compared with the national 9.5 percent. It topped the nation in June in terms of new unemployment filings.

“If President Obama insists on visiting our state, instead of hanging out with the man responsible for New Jersey’s ruined economy, he should meet with real families, and their employers, to learn just how difficult it is to afford the state they love,” DeCroce said.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: ENJOY THE JULY 4TH CELEBRATIONS BECAUSE THE NEXT HOLIDAY WILL COST YOU MORE.

GOVERNOR CORZINE’S LIQUOR TAX KICKS IN AUGUST 1

Statement By GOP Chairman Jay Webber On Governor Corzine Signing The 2010 State Budget

Chairman Jay Webber: "This budget marks the latest in a long line of spectacular failures"

“Governor Corzine has proven once again how out-of-touch he is. He has raised taxes $2.8 billion in the middle of a recession, and driven more of our relatives, friends, and neighbors out of state. Rather than provide the property tax relief he promised four years ago, today the Governor smacked the average New Jersey property taxpayer with a $1,200 increase for next year. This budget marks the latest in a long line of spectacular failures by the Governor. The good news for New Jerseyans is that, come November, we can make sure that this is his last such failure.”

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Rooney ASSAIL NEW YORK MTA TOLL HIKES

NO E-ZPASS DISCOUNT FOR DRIVERS WHO REGISTER IN NJ

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman John Rooney said the announcement by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority that it will raise tolls 10 percent and that drivers who registered for E-ZPass in New Jersey will no longer be given a discount is patently unfair and is another example of how New Jerseyans are left to pick up the slack for New York.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce : CORZINE STILL HAS OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER CALLS ON GOVERNOR TO USE LINE-ITEM VETO TO SPARE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES FROM $1,200 INCOME LOSS

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today called on Governor Corzine to use to his veto powers on the budget approved by the Legislature Thursday in order to restore property tax relief for all middle income families.

“In the waning hours before Governor Corzine signs another budget, which was not unanimously supported by his own party and is filled with tax increases for the state’s middle class that can least afford them, New Jerseyans can only hope that their governor reconsiders continuing the same reckless policies that have placed this state in a disastrous direction,” DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, said. “Instead of remaining intractably partisan, the state’s middle class needs the governor to embrace and enact the cuts we have recommended before it’s too late.”

Republican lawmakers have proposed $783 million in cuts to the budget proposal that Corzine has said was scoured clean and cut to the bone. The cuts include removing political appointees, reducing special aid given to select cities without oversight or criteria and eliminating government’s unnecessary cars and wireless devices.

“When the governor got his latest bailout – a one-shot infusion by rewarding tax scofflaws – he said he was restoring property tax rebates, but there will still be 1.2 million families losing much needed relief this fall,” DeCroce said. “The governor thinks that a family earning more than $75,000 doesn’t need relief from the nation’s highest property tax bill. We hear from New Jersey families every day who say they struggle and can’t afford the $1,200 that Corzine’s rebate elimination will cost them.

“There is clear disagreement between the governor and hard-working families of New Jersey. I tend to believe the people instead of a desperate governor,” DeCroce added.

Senator Pennacchio Measure Passes to force Tier III sexual parolees to pay for the cost of their electronic monitoring

Mandates Sex Offenders Pay for Monitoring

Trenton, NJ – S-2501 introduced by Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Passaic) and Senator Stephen Sweeney (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) to force Tier III sexual parolees to pay for the cost of their electronic monitoring was passed by the full Senate today by a vote of 37 to 1.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: CORZINE’S BUDGET WILL HURT TAXPAYERS MORE THAN HELP, DESPITE ‘WINDFALL’

SAYS THE DEMOCRAT’S REFUSAL TO CONTROL SPENDING OR RESTRUCTURE GOVERNMENT WILL SINK THE STATE & ITS ECONOMY

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce says the state budget Governor Jon Corzine and the Democrats are prepared to approve on Thursday will still take more money from middle class taxpayers than they will get back, even if every penny of the surprise windfall from the tax amnesty program is pumped into property tax rebates.

Message from Jay Webber -- Let’s go to work

Last night the New Jersey Republican State Committee elected me Chairman of our Grand Old Party. I am honored and humbled by the State Committee’s confidence in me and will do all that I can to reward it.

It is a special distinction indeed to represent the Party of Lincoln and Reagan. Sometimes I think we forget how proud we should be of our great Party. We’re the Party of strong leadership, great ideas, and mainstream values. We are dedicated to the best of America and its founding principles – freedom, fairness, opportunity, and accountability to the people. And this year, we call upon our rich and deep heritage of service to our country and our State to advance those cherished principles.

This is a crucial year for New Jersey. Our State is in crisis, and every day we watch friends, neighbors, and jobs flee to other states. Meanwhile, Governor Corzine and his Democratic allies continue their assault on New Jersey families and businesses with their toxic blend of higher taxes, reckless spending, and deeper debt – the same poison that has thrown our State into crisis in the first place. We need to change Trenton and take back our State, and we need to do it now.

And we will.

With a strong, principled, and talented leader in Chris Christie at the top of our ticket, there is newfound excitement and enthusiasm surrounding our Party, the likes of which we have not seen in a very long time. Republicans across the State are energized once again, and rightly believe that brighter days are just around the corner.

Although our Party is in the business of winning elections (and we expect business to be very good this November!) mere victory is not our ultimate goal. What the Democrats don’t understand, and what makes our Party so formidable, is that we do not compete to obtain power, but to give it back to the people. We want to win not for our own narrow interests, but to restore hope and prosperity to our beloved State.

This year, when we unite around our core Republican principles and champion them fearlessly and tirelessly, I know that the people of New Jersey will entrust us with the opportunity to bring New Jersey back to greatness. I hope you are ready to join Chris Christie and me in this vital effort. The future of New Jersey depends on us.

Let’s go to work.
Jay Webber
Chairman

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: GOVERNOR NEEDS TO RETHINK BUDGET

DeCROCE LOOKS FOR ALTERNATIVES IN UPCOMING MEETING WITH STATE TREASURER

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today said that unless there is a significant change in the proposed state budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year, Republican members in his caucus will be united in their opposition.

ASSEMBLYMAN WEBBER WILL INTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO BAR THE PLACEMENT OF TERRORISTS IN NEW JERSEY

CALLS ON NEW JERSEY TO JOIN OTHER STATES INREFUSING TO BECOME DROP-OFF DESTINATION FOR DETAINED TERRORISTS

MORRIS PLAINS—Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-26, Morris & Passaic) will introduce a Resolution to prohibit the transfer and relocation to New Jersey of enemy combatants presently housed in Guantanamo Bay.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: CUT PORK TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE

REPUBLICAN LEADER QUESTIONS WHY DEMOCRATS’ FIRST INSTINCT IS TO CUT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF INSTEAD OF PATRONAGE PAYOFFS

Governor Corzine and his Democratic allies in the Legislature should first cut waste and political slush funds buried in the budget before imposing more harm on property taxpayers, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today in response to reports that Democrats are considering further cuts to property tax rebates to restore healthcare cuts for the sick and disabled.

Republican Primary Update

A candidate has entered and is running against Jay in the June 2nd primary election. Jay is working hard to turn back the challenge, and can win again with your help. With just 40 days to go before voters head to the polls, supporters can volunteer here. or donate here. to help Jay’s campaign. Please check in with us today! Republican Primary Update!

Support Our Tax Revolt Tea Party

Rebel against high taxes, support Jay’s campaign efforts, enjoy a five-star all-you-can-eat dessert bar, and become eligible to win the door prize — a week’s stay at a vacation home in Cape Cod! The Tax Revolt Tea Party puts all those together in one event. Join us if you can! More information about joining in Jay’s Tax Revolt Tea Party on April 30 can be found here.

Lawless Lieutenant Governor

Mere months before NJ voters elect the state’s first Lieutenant Governor, there still are no rules covering how candidates would campaign or how the new position would operate. But new legislation by Jay and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon would fix that problem and bind candidates for Lieutenant Governor to the same ethics and campaign rules as their gubernatorial running mates. Read more about it here.

Senator Joe Pennacchio to Ask DEP Commissioner to Update Status of Politically Awarded ‘Livable Communities Grants’

Senator Joe Pennacchio, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, will ask Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) acting-Commissioner Mark Mauriello to testify on the status of the Livable Communities Grant program on Monday during a budget committee hearing at the State House.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: CONIGLIO CONVICTION UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR CHANGE IN TRENTON

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, issued the following statement following the conviction of former state Sen. Joseph Coniglio today on corruption charges:

“It’s a sad day when any public official is found guilty of betraying the public’s trust for the sake of his own financial enrichment. New Jersey has had far too many of these ‘sad days’ in the past few years. It demonstrates why we need to usher in a ‘new day’ in Trenton, one that finally ends the flagrant abuse of tax dollars for personal profit.”

Pennacchio: Out-of-Touch Corzine Administration Thinks Property Taxes ‘Finally Under Control’

State Treasurer David Rousseau testified that the Corzine administration has “finally brought property taxes under control.”

Senator Joseph Pennacchio Requests Exhaustive Hearings on Corzine Pension Re-Appointees

Senator Joseph Pennacchio, R-Passaic and Morris, is requesting that the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee agree to thoroughly question three members of the State Investment Council, which sets policy for state pension investments, before signing off on their reappointments by Governor Corzine..

Senator Joseph Pennacchio Says Corzine Lehman Lawsuit Leaves Too Many Questions Unanswered

Senator Joseph Pennacchio, a Republican member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, said the state's decision to file a lawsuit against the managers of Lehman Brothers and its accounting firm, Ernst & Young, was long overdue.

"I applaud the state for filing suit against Lehman Brothers. It is my sincere wish that the state's attorneys recover all of the $118 million lost because of this foolhardy investment into a Wall Street bank that few other investors would touch. The attorney general and U.S. attorney should also look into criminal prosecutions if the evidence shows that these executives or their representatives lied so convincingly that they were able to scam retirees and taxpayers out of a $180 million investment.

"This lawsuit doesn't provide the answers that taxpayers and retirees need to be certain that the state is competently managing the billions of dollars of hard earned money that is being placed in its care. I again call for immediate legislative hearings to determine whether the procedures governing state investment decisions are sound.

Assemblyman Jay Webber on this weekends Power & Politics

On this weekends Power & Politics program of News 12 New Jersey, Jay will debate Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman about the New Jersey Governor's race and upcoming State Budget. The show will air four times, so catch it if you can!

Saturday 10:00am & 3:00pm

Sunday 10:00am & 3:00pm

ASSEMBLYMEN DeCROCE AND MALONE: WHO WILL HOLD CAMDEN ACCOUNTABLE AND WHEN?

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ANOTHER AUDIT FINDS POOR FISCAL RECORDS IN CAMDEN CITY, WHICH RECEIVED MORE THAN $120 MILLION IN STATE AID

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joe Malone have demanded a special hearing of the Budget Committee to figure out how to get Camden City to properly spend its public dollars.

For three straight years auditors have found the city’s fiscal records in such disarray that they can’t render an opinion about its fiscal health.

“If this happened in any other town in New Jersey, citizens would be out in force at the next council meeting demanding accountability from city leaders,” DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, said. “But in Camden, little is heard except for finger pointing between state and local officials. This cannot continue. On behalf of the state taxpayers, who sent more than $120 million to the city last year, we demand accountability, especially when the governor is considering large cuts to towns that efficiently spend their tax dollars.”

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: NO BACKROOM DEALS ON ELIMINATING REBATES AND RAISING TAXES

As Governor Jon Corzine and Democrat leaders emerged from a closed door meeting yesterday at the State House, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce criticized the governor for conducting a clandestine gathering that will result in eliminating tax rebates and raising taxes.

“In 2006 the governor guaranteed the public that raising the sales tax to seven percent would preserve property tax rebates,” said DeCroce. “After yesterday’s meeting it looks like he was lying to the taxpayers. It is of great concern when people cannot rely on the governor to keep his word. The public should hold onto their pocketbooks when Governor Corzine holds a backroom get-together with Democrat legislators.”

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: BUDGET PROBLEMS WON’T BE SOLVED BY ELIMINATING PROPERTY TAX REBATES

RELIEF IS NEEDED, NOT A TAX INCREASE

As the debate expands over Governor Corzine’s remarks that the state’s three decade old property tax rebate program may be eliminated or significantly reduced, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today that the governor is breaking a promise made to residents when he ran for governor.

“The governor claimed that he recognized that property taxes in New Jersey were high and needed reform,” remarked DeCroce. “No one interpreted that as eliminating or curtailing the only program that provides some relief to taxpayers. The ultimate effect of doing what the governor is suggesting is actually a tax increase. Even some members within his party recognize the impact this would have.”

DeCROCE ON FURLOUGH PLAN

The following statement was issued by Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce regarding Senate President Richard Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts’ support of the proposal for a two-day furlough for state employees, including those on staff in the Assembly Republican office:

“Assembly Republicans recognize that we all share the burden in addressing the challenges of the state’s budget. Taxpayers must know that the Legislature is willing to do its part. Nothing less should be expected. However, the only way make New Jersey more affordable for its citizens is to implement long-term fiscal reforms such as those outlined in the Assembly and Senate Republican Common Sense Plan for a More Affordable New Jersey.”

DeCROCE AND MALONE READY TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR TO TACKLE STATE’S DIRE BUDGET NEWS

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Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joe Malone on Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s latest “re-balancing” of the budget and the signing of the federal stimulus package:

“Today’s somber news from the governor shows how much we need to do to make New Jersey affordable again for its middle class families,” said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, who added that the federal stimulus money must be spent properly.

“For years, Democratic leaders in Trenton have spent taxpayers’ money with reckless abandon,” DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, said. “With the severity of the state and national economy, that is no longer an option with these federal funds.

Malone said it’s time for a drastic overhaul and reduction of state government.

“For years, Trenton’s leaders have allowed government to grow beyond its means and spend money we did not have making the state unaffordable for middle class families,” Malone, R-Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean, said. “Now that Washington has detailed its bailout plans, Republican lawmakers stand ready to work with Governor Corzine to identify how our governance can be made more efficient and affordable for taxpayers.

“While New Jersey’s residents continue to lose their jobs and homes, their elected leaders can no longer stand in the way of making tough decisions to drastically re-tool government,” Malone added.

“If Governor Corzine is serious about reducing the size and scope of government he will have willing allies with Republican lawmakers who have been fighting to make government more accountable in how it spends the people’s money,” DeCroce added.

ASSEMBLYMAN JAY WEBBER: STILL NO LOCKBOX ON PAID-LEAVE FUND

ALMOST ONE YEAR LATER, PROMISE OF PROTECTION FOR TRUST FUND UNFULFILLED

Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-26, Morris & Passaic) today urged the Legislature to implement a lockbox for the paid-leave tax revenue that New Jersey began to collect on January 1 of this year.

“In this economy, the Democrats never should have burdened our workers and small businesses with another payroll tax that even Governor Corzine admits hurts the middle class,” said Assemblyman Webber. “But if the Democrats are not going to repeal it, at least let’s make sure the money collected doesn’t fall prey to a raid by politicians looking to get through another tough budget season.”

The new paid-leave tax parallels the State’s unemployment tax. The paid-leave tax is statutorily dedicated to its own segregated fund on the State’s books, much like the State’s unemployment tax is directed to its Unemployment Fund. Since 1994, $4.7 billion were siphoned out of the State’s Unemployment Fund to “balance” budgetary shortfalls and pay for programs having nothing to do with support for New Jersey’s unemployed. Now, with joblessness in New Jersey at a 15-year high and unemployed New Jerseyans most in need, the Fund is nearly exhausted, despite an emergency appropriation of $260 million last July. Nothing is stopping a similar raid of the paid-leave fund.

Last March, when the Legislature passed the paid-leave tax, the Assembly sponsor promised unequivocally that in a subsequent measure, the fund would be constitutionally protected from misuse by future Legislatures. Nearly one year after that promise, and more than one month after the State began collecting the paid-leave tax, there still is no such protection for the new paid-leave fund.



Assemblyman Webber said, “When the Legislature creates a trust fund, it represents a promise to the people of this State that their hard-earned money is only being taken from them to fund a specific and identified need. When some State officials divert those funds to other special interests, they break that promise to the people, expose programs to underfunding when people need them the most, and trigger tax increases to cover the shortfall. While we can’t recover the billions of dollars diverted from trust funds in past years, we can and should make sure that those kinds of raids never occur again. I urge the Legislature to put the ‘trust’ back in ‘trust fund’ and bring a constitutional amendment to the Assembly floor protecting the paid-leave trust fund before the Governor has the chance to propose a raid of the fund in his budget address on March 10.”

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce: TAX HIKES CANNOT BE ANY RESORT

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER CONCERNED THAT CORZINE’S REFUSAL TO RULE OUT TAX INCREASES MEANS MORE HARM COMING TO TAXPAYERS

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today that Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s refusal to take tax increases off the table shows that even in dire economic times, Trenton Democrats refuse to make the budget cuts citizens have been demanding.

“After Governor Corzine and his party have raised taxes more than 100 times since they’ve taken control of the state’s budget, raising taxes can no longer be a ‘very last resort action,’” DeCroce said. “Tax increases must be taken off the table and thrown outside where they can be buried deep underground.”

DeCROCE–RIBLE CITIZENS BAND RADIO BILL UNANIMOUSLY PASSES COMMITTEE

Click Read More below for more info...

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce responds to Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s pension-deferral measure being added to Monday’s agenda before the legislation was even prepared.

“Democrats in Trenton must know that allowing towns to defer their pension obligations will wind up hurting property taxpayers in the long run, or they would not have waited until late Friday afternoon to add it to Monday’s Budget Committee agenda without having a copy available to the public.

“This is yet another sign that Gov. Corzine and the Democrat-controlled Legislature do not want to give residents a chance to expose their economic-response plans as nothing but gimmicks and fraud.

“It would be common courtesy to show the public such serious legislation in a timely manner before it is voted on."

Bill to Mandate Sex Offenders Pay for Monitoring

Trenton, New Jersey – S-2501 introduced by Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Passaic) and Senator Stephen Sweeney (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) would mandate identified sex offenders released into our communities pay for the cost of their electronic monitoring.

DeCROCE URGES MAYORS TO REJECT CORZINE’S PENSION-DEFERRAL SCHEME

CORZINE INSISTS ON COMPLICATED SCHEMES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY HURT TAXPAYERS INSTEAD OF TAKING SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE NEW JERSEY AFFORDABLE

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today urged local mayors to refuse Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s foolish plan to defer their towns’ pension obligations.

DeCROCE STATEMENT ON CORZINE’S STATE-OF-STATE ADDRESS

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today issued the following statement in response to Governor Jon Corzine’s State-of-the-State address:

Pennacchio to Investment Council:

What are you Hiding?

So much for transparency in government...

Senator Joe Pennacchio Joins Budget and Appropriations Committee

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean announced today that Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R-26)will fill a vacant spot on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee where he will join Senator Kevin O'Toole (R-40), who also represents part of Passaic County. Other Committee members are Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R-25), Senator, Senator Philip E. Haines (R-8), Senator Steve Oroho (R-24).

“Senator Pennacchio is an articulate, intelligent and dedicated addition to this key committee,” Senator Kean said. “This is an important appointment at a time when New Jersey needs experienced and creative minds to help close multibillion dollar deficits. I’m confident that Senator Pennacchio will work diligently to help the state through these troubled times.”

“I thank Senator Kean for his support in winning this committee assignment, and look forward to the opportunity to serve New Jersey and the residents of my district at a critical moment in state history,” Senator Pennacchio said. “My goal will be to work with senators from both parties to solve our state’s fiscal problems and create the conditions needed to ensure a prosperous future for our children and grandchildren.”

Senator Joe Pennacchio say's "Corzine’s Treasurer Hides Truth About Lehman With

His ‘Magic’ Marker"

CORZINE HAS WAITED LONG ENOUGH TO REVEAL HIS BUDGET PLANS

GOVERNOR WANTS TWO MORE WEEKS TO PREPARE BUDGET IN HOPES OF BAILOUT FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce released the following statement to news that Gov. Jon S. Corzine plans to push the budget introduction deadline from Feb. 24 to March 10 because officials are behind schedule trying to plug a $1.2 billion deficit and are waiting to see how much money New Jersey may get from a federal stimulus package.

ASSEMBLYMAN ALEX DeCROCE: STATE WILL PERMIT DEFERMENT ON PENSION PAYMENTS, BUT NOT FOR AID TO COLLEGE STUDENTS?

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY REQUIRING PAYMENTS BEFORE GRADUATION

$115 Million in Failed Lehman’s Investment Documents for $79.50?

After Losing $115 Million in Failed Lehman’s Investment Treasurer wants $79.50 from Senator Joe Pennacchio for Limited OPRA Request

ASSEMBLYMAN JAY WEBBER: YES, GOVERNOR, PAYROLL TAXES ARE “ONEROUS” & “REGRESSIVE”

GOVERNOR CORZINE SHOULD HEED OWN ADVICE AND PUT MORATORIUM ON NEW PAYROLL TAXES DUE ON JANUARY 1ST

Senator Joe Pennacchio announces press conference for Monday, December 8 at 12:00pm

Broad support for “Transparency in Government Act"

With a growing budget deficit, New Jersey needs common-sense solutions to get more value out of every dollar spent. The “Transparency in Government Act” would establish a State public finance website which retains and displays data and information on the State’s annual revenues, expenditures and total bonded indebtedness. The bill establishes an accessible, user friendly source of information to track State revenues and expenditures and to gauge its past and present levels of indebtedness. Similar legislation has been successful in Texas and Kansas. An example of such a website can be viewed by Clicking Here.

SENATORS PENNACCHIO & RICE WORK WITH STATE POLICE TO PROTECT GREENWOOD LAKE

NJ State Police to coordinate routine patrolling

PENNACCHIO/RICE INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT GREENWOOD LAKE

Legislation aims to enhance security of lake and its drinking water

Morris Plains, NJ -- State Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Passaic) and State Senator Ron Rice (D-Essex) have joined forces and introduced