FY2010 STATE BUDGET

FAST FACTS

Total Appropriations: $28.9 billion

Anticipated Surplus: $500 million

A Fiscally Responsible Budget
-$3.9 billion less than last year’s budget as signed.
-$2 billion less than the budget passed three years ago.
-$850 million less than the budget Governor Corzine proposed in March.
-Over the past four years, slowest rate of growth in modern state history.

Maximizing Property Tax Relief
-More than half of the entire budget – $15+ -- will go to property tax relief.
-$12.9 billion for schools and municipalities; $1.7 billion in direct relief to taxpayers.
-Maintains property tax rebates averaging $1,295 for senior citizens and residents with disabilities.
-More than 168,000 seniors and disabled – including roughly 40,000 first-time recipients – will benefit from $173 million in expanded Senior Freeze.
-520,000 non-senior households will receive property tax rebates.
-Maintain property tax deduction for all senior citizens and residents with disabilities, as well as all non-seniors with incomes up to $250,000.

Protecting Health Care
-$950 million in total aid to hospitals.
-$605 million for charity care.
-Eliminates proposed Medicaid and AIDS Drug Distribution Program prescription drug co-payments.
-Ensures NJ FamilyCare will provide health insurance and doctor visits for more than 300,000 children.
-Funds more than 10 million patient days at nursing homes and 2 million medical day care days at facilities across the state.

Investing in Education
-$276 million more going into New Jersey’s classrooms.
-$2.2 billion in funding to colleges and universities.
-Responsibility funds new school aid formula – the first such funding law to be ruled constitutional by the New Jersey Supreme Court in three decades.
-Restores $10 million in funding for adult education.
-$364 million in direct assistance for more than 67,000 college and university students (Tuition Aid Grants, NJ STARS, EOF) – an increase of $34 million.

Repositioning New Jersey for Economic Growth-invests $1.1 billion in federal stimulus money to protect core programs and values.
-$3.6 billion in transportation capital programs – putting people to work to create stronger infrastructure.
-$194 million in BEIP grants for businesses to retain and attract new jobs.

Connolly Tenant Meeting: Progression-in-the-Making

After attending last night’s meeting with tenants from Connolly Properties, it has given me the opportunity now to sit down with the Department of Community Affairs, as well as the Administration and council, to create long-range plans and solutions to their problems.

Unfortunately, when one is dealing with an issue of this magnitude, it is sad to see that the current policies and laws that we have are not strong enough for such a rental market in New Jersey, especially in the City of Plainfield. This is why we are going to have to sit down and come up with new policies, regulations, and laws to deal with this issue in moving forward.

Currently, I am working with the State and the City to deal with some of the immediate crises we are facing with Connolly Properties. There are three major players in this process: the courts, which I am handling through receiving legal advice from Trenton in closing loopholes that allow high-priced lawyers to maneuver through the system, the State via the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) who set policies and fines dealing with some of these issues, and the third party being the City of Plainfield.

The Department of Community Affairs inspects buildings that have more than four units. The inspection then, applying code regulations, really fall under their jurisdiction. The information I have gathered will help us move forward, encouraging hand-in-hand teamwork, avoiding duplication.

Through my research throughout the State, I have seen situations where towns would inspect 4+ unit buildings, and six months later, the State would come in and perform an inspection. The property owner then, wants to know which inspection he/she should honor. In the spirit of progression, I want to avoid these sorts of problems, which breed confusion.

Thus moving forward, I want to work with the State and Plainfield to deal with the immediate problems that the public brought to our attention last night, allowing us to create long-term plans and solutions, disarming such problems that may arise in the future.

As I stated last evening, this is not the time to point fingers. The time now is for ALL parties to come together and do RIGHT for the City of Plainfield. Anyone who has ideas, recommendation, and/or suggestions, I would be happy to sit with you and put those good ideas to use.

The issue of rent control came up last night, and I shared with the public that rent control is an issue that the Mayor and Council should deal with; it is not a State issue. I chose not to comment one way or the other because that task should be left to the local officials.

Also, it was mentioned by one of the bloggers recently, that there was a plan and a taskforce put together to deal with these problems and that I took part in dismantling it. That is not true. I am looking forward to working with everyone on this. However, let us stop pointing fingers and making assumptions, but let us move forward with fact-based conversations toward strengthening our City.

The tenant association the Mayor suggested the tenants create is not a direct solution to the problem itself, but is a giant step in the right direction. The association would give residents the chance to meet and discuss issues uniformly. This structure thus sets a vehicle in place that would defeat the problem tenants have in not knowing how to communicate their concerns to local and State officials. There is a huge lack of communication, but such a vehicle will defeat this problem.

A Letter From Vera Greaves

Dear 4th Ward,

I would like to extend my deepest measures of appreciation and gratitude to all who supported me during my 4th ward campaign. I want you all to know that your efforts did not fall on blind eyes, nor did they rest on deaf ears. The time you dedicated to helping me fulfill a vision I had in advancing this City was priceless. You volunteered your time, money, cars, and resources to a vision I had in running for 4th ward council member.

I assure you that the vision, ideas, and promises I had while campaigning did not perish on June 2nd. The motivation I have in empowering the 4th Ward is still a driving force in my life and will continue to be as long as I am a resident of the City of Plainfield. I also would like to congratulate Ms. Rivers upon her being elected to the 4th Ward Council seat.

Again, I thank you the residents of the 4th Ward for your dedication and commitment. I appreciate you, and I appreciate our community. I look forward to working with you as we rebuild the 4th ward to the awesome ward we know it can be.

Sincerely,

Vera Greaves

Jon Corzine Endorsed for Governor by New Jersey State AFL-CIO

Delegates at the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Legislative/COPE Endorsement Conference offered key endorsements for the 2009 election and for the national AFL-CIO presidency.

Atlantic City – “In the race for Governor,” announced New Jersey State AFL-CIO President, Charles Wowkanech, “the endorsement of the state’s largest labor organization goes to Governor Jon Corzine.” That same day, conference delegates offered endorsements to a full slate of Assembly candidates and 64 rank-and-file union members seeking office through the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Labor Candidates Program. The success of the Labor Candidates Program is unsurpassed nationally, and to date 551 union members have been elected to public office through this comprehensive political program.

“In leading our state forward, working families will need a partner, and Governor Corzine has proven to be a strong ally of workers and their unions over the years. There is tremendous budget pressure right now, but Governor Corzine is the leader who will get New Jersey’s economy back on track,” said President Wowkanech. “We have made many landmark accomplishments working alongside Governor Corzine, and with this year’s extraordinary list of endorsed legislative candidates, we will be ready to fulfill our vision for New Jersey and ensure a prosperous future for New Jersey’s working families.”

At the national level of the labor movement, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO announced its endorsement of Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka to succeed President John Sweeny as President of the national AFL-CIO. President Wowkanech stated, “Secretary-Treasurer Trumpka has been like family to the New Jersey Labor movement, and under his leadership the labor movement in New Jersey and across the nation will experience an unprecedented opportunity for growth and innovation.” The conference delegates voted to endorse Secretary-Treasurer Trumka on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

The 2009 election endorsements were announced on the final day of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Legislative/COPE Endorsement Conference held in Atlantic City. Over 600 delegates representing 1,000 unions and one million union members in New Jersey participated in the endorsement process.

A complete list of this year’s endorsements is as follows:

District 1
Assembly
Nelson Albano (D) *+
Matthew Milam (D)*

District 2
Assembly
John F. Amodeo (R)*+

District 3
Assembly
John J. Buzichelli (D)*
Celeste M. Riley (D)*

District 4
Assembly
Paul Moriarty (D)*+
William Collins (D)

District 5
Assembly
Joe Roberts (D)*
Angel Fuentes (D)

District 6
Senate
James Beach (D)*

Assembly
Louis D. Greenwald (D)*
Pamela R. Lampitt (D)*

District 7
Assembly
Herb Conaway (D)*
Jack Conners (D)*

District 8
Assembly
Bill Brown (D)
Debbie Sarcone (D)

District 9
Assembly
No Endorsement

District 10
Assembly
No Endorsement

District 11
Assembly
J. Randy Bishop (D)
David P. Rible (R)*

District 12
Assembly
No Endorsement

District 13
Assembly
Robert Brown (D)
Samuel D. Thompson (R)*

District 14
Assembly
Linda R. Greenstein (D)*
Wayne P. DeAngelo (D)*+

District 15
Assembly
Reed Gusciora (D)*
Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D)*

District 16
Assembly
No Endorsement

District 17
Assembly
Joseph V. Egan (D)*+
Upendra J. Chivukula (D)*

District 18
Assembly
Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D)*
Peter J. Barnes (D)*

District 19
Assembly
John S. Wisniewski (D)*
John T. O’Leary (D)

District 20
Assembly
Joseph Cryan (D)*
Annette Quijano (D)*

District 21
Assembly
No Endorsement

District 22
Assembly
Gerald B. Green (D)*
Linda Stender (D)*

District 23
Assembly
No Endorsement
Senate
No Endorsement

District 24Assembly
No Endorsement

District 25
Assembly
Wendy Wright (D)
Rebekah Conroy

District 26
Assembly
Douglas Herbert (D)
Wayne B. Marek (D)

District 27
Assembly
John F. McKeon (D)*
Mila M. Jasey (D)*

District 28
Assembly
Cleopatra G. Tucker (D)*
Ralph R. Caputo (D)*

District 29
Assembly
L. Grace Spencer (D)*
Alberto Coutinho (D)*

District 30
Assembly
Joseph R. Malone, III (R)*
Ronald S. Dancer (R)*

District 31
Assembly
Anthony Chiappone (D)*
Charles Mainor (D)

District 32
Assembly
Joan Quigley (D)*
Vincent Prieto (D)*

District 33
Assembly
Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. (D)*
Caridad Rodrigues (D)*

District 34
Assembly
Thomas P. Giblin (D)*+
Sheila Y. Oliver (D)*

District 35
Assembly
Nellie Pou (D)*
Elease Evans (D)*

District 36
Assembly
Frederick Scalera (D)*
Gary S. Schaer (D)*

District 37
Assembly
Gordon M. Johnson (D)*
Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*

District 38
Assembly
Concetta Wagner (D)*
John M. Voss (D)*

District 39
Assembly
Michael J. McCarthy (D)+
John L. Shahdanian, II (D)

District 40
Assembly
John Agostinelli (D)
Mark Bombace (D)

*Incumbent
+Labor Candidate

‘N. J. COMPASSIONATE USE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT’ SPONSORED BY GUSCIORA & VOSS CLEARS ASSEMBLY PANEL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblyman Reed Gusciora and Joan Voss sponsored to make New Jersey the 14th state to allow patients with debilitating medical conditions to use marijuana to relieve severe pain was released today by an Assembly committee.

Under the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, people suffering from conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, seizures, muscle spasms and multiple sclerosis would be protected from arrest, prosecution and penalty.

“I don't think we should make criminals out of our very sick and terminally ill,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer). “It does not make sense for many of New Jersey’s residents to suffer when there is a viable way to ease their pain. Medical marijuana can alleviate a lot of suffering, and there is no evidence that legalizing it for medical use increases overall drug use.”

“No one with a debilitating medical condition should be denied an effective form of treatment if there’s one that exists,” said Voss (D-Bergen). “Marijuana has been shown to be an effective treatment for many patients suffering from painful conditions, and with this law we would ensure that only a physician is prescribing this to offer relief from pain. That is a moral and common sense approach.”

Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have laws that effectively removed state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana.

Under the bill (A-804) a patient diagnosed by their doctor as having a qualifying debilitating medical condition would be allowed to receive medical marijuana, with a limit on the amount that can be accessed in one month, with approval from a physician through a state registry system.

The state would establish a registration program authorizing non-profit alternative treatment centers to produce and dispense marijuana for medical purposes. A patient would only be able to register at one alternative center at a time and would have to use the prescription within one month of it being written.

Patients would be allowed to use a courier or delivery option to receive the medical marijuana from the alternative center, and the state would have to license at least two centers in each of the state’s north, central and south regions.

Only qualified doctors with ongoing responsibility for the ongoing treatment of the condition triggering the need for medical marijuana would be able to prescribe it, and physician recommendations would be tracked similar to current law requiring tracking of drugs under the New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act.

“This is a humanitarian effort that will protect from arrest the vast majority of seriously ill people with a medical need to use marijuana,” Gusciora said.

The bill continues to prohibit operating a motor vehicle, aircraft, train, motorboat or heavy equipment while under the influence of marijuana, or smoking marijuana in a school bus or other form of public transportation, on any school grounds, in any correctional facility or at any public park, public beach, public recreation center or youth center.

It also states that nothing in it should be construed to require a government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse a person for costs associated with the medical use of marijuana, or an employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana.

“This bill does not condone marijuana use for nonmedical purposes, nor should it be construed to supersede legislation prohibiting persons from engaging in conduct that endangers others,” Voss said. “This doesn't make marijuana rampant in society. Medical marijuana would be a last resort when all other drugs do not work."

The measure was released 8 to 1 with two abstentions by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.

Congratulations Column B!!!!

I thank the voters here in the City of Plainfield, as well as the entire 22nd District, and the County of Union for their support. Everyone recognized the fact that when there is not a Governor’s race at the top of the ticket, it will be a relatively low turnout. I am still satisfied however, with the support I received.

I campaigned with the Mayor, and we ran together as a team. We were very successful as a team; we won our respective elections. We both received around 2,000 votes; we both distanced ourselves from our opponents by over 300 votes. Considering the turnout, I am satisfied with the results and it is nice to see the balance of the district supported me.

Running as a team here in the City has its good points, as well as its bad ones. I was blamed for not doing anything to prevent Muhlenberg’s closure, was blamed for ‘out-of-control’ crime, and was blamed for mismanagement in the City. The nice thing about it however, is that everyone else in the 22nd district and the County of Union, knew these accusations were stemming from ‘haters,’ a word I will continue to use in the future.

I do not intend to change my style. The phrase, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” is one I coin solely for those who author false accusations that the voters obviously do not buy into. I thank those who introduced me to the blogging community because I am having the most fun I have had in my political career thus far. Blasting truth from my blog, defeating misinformation and silliness, has made my day!

I am hoping that with another victorious election, those who constantly question my grammar give me the respect I feel I deserve. I would like to hope that in the future, they can call me a leader, rather than use the word ‘boss.’ Being called a boss reminds me of the old days when slave masters were identified as such. Therefore, when people say this, I take it as disrespect. Also, when I am truthful with issues, some in Plainfield label that as an ‘attack.’ Hearing that word reminds me of the 60s when law enforcement used dogs to attack people. Therein, I have a problem with that word being used in my regard.

When I looked at the voting results in the City of Linden, Linda Stender received 879 votes; I received 874 votes, with Rick Smiley receiving 180 votes. These results illustrate the respect I receive in Linden, bringing in more votes than Corzine in that City with him receiving 819 votes. Countywide, Corzine, running for Governor on the same ticket, received 12,551 votes, where I received 11,317 as a State Committeeman. Therefore, over the years, I feel that the leadership that some question in Plainfield is not only alive, but is getting stronger.

In addition, I read in today’s blog that one of my ‘haters’ mentioned Rick Smiley gave me a run for my money. In the 22nd district, I received 4,166 votes, with Rick receiving 2,024 votes. You do the math and tell me how close that margin is!

Who Are The REAL New Democrats?

When many voters go to the polls today, they will find some different names at the bottom of Column B—the candidates for the Democratic Committee. Here’s why:

During the Obama campaign, some of the so-called “New Democrats” now running for office, including mayoral hopeful Adrian Mapp and Rick Smiley, were nowhere to be seen. Neither were Mapp supporters such as Cory Storch, Dan Damon, Chris Estevez, and many of their current Democratic Committee candidates.

As your Democratic Committee chair, and the person in charge of the Obama campaign in this area, I was in our Plainfield campaign headquarters almost every day and evening—and since every volunteer signed in, we know who helped and who did not. Our headquarters was crowded with volunteers all the time. I feel very strongly that Democratic Committee seats should go to those who helped, because they were willing to put their time and energy into the campaign. The Obama volunteers who are now running for the Democratic Committee in Column B are the REAL New Democrats, and they are eager to put their time and effort into improving Plainfield.

On Election Night, Mapp and some of his supporters finally showed up at our headquarters, where I had arranged for a big-screen TV so we could watch the election returns and celebrate our victory. In Plainfield, we turned out a stunning 14,000 plus vote for Obama, while McCain got barely 1,000 votes—most of them from the Second Ward.

Mapp and his friends may have done some work in the November election, but they did not do it as part of the Obama campaign. They only showed up when it was time to celebrate, and I think most of them were surprised by the huge turnout and the large and joyful crowd. Plainfield was united at that wonderful Election Night celebration, and I hoped it would stay that way.

But as soon as the election was over, Mapp and his cronies went right to work to try to undermine me as well as our mayor, Sharon Robinson-Briggs, and her running mate for the Fourth Ward Council seat, Vera Greaves, who also worked hard to turn out Plainfield’s voters for Barack Obama. And now, Mapp wants to take over Plainfield’s City Hall and our Democratic Committee.

I have really been disappointed by the increasingly nasty tone of Mapp’s mailings and the lies that he is telling. On the subject of Muhlenberg, for example, both Sharon and I were at every public rally and have been working hard to restore our hospital, while Mapp and his supporters have only come to public hearings to make speeches. Now he accuses us of having done nothing. That is an outright lie and he knows it! It’s more than disappointing that a man who wants to be our Mayor would lie to our voters that way.

I am confident that Plainfield’s voters will see through the lies and the false attacks, and vote today for all of the candidates in Column B, including the Democratic Committee candidates at the very end of the Column. With your help, we can continue to move Plainfield forward!

Ps

Usually I read Dan Damon’s “Clippings” every day; most of the time I find links to useful information such as items published in newspapers and events going on in and around town. So I was really surprised yesterday to find that he did not mention my article, published on the editorial page of yesterday’s Courier News, or even provide a link to it. Perhaps I should not have been surprised, because he only mentions me when he can make another of his false attacks.

Garden State Equality for Green, Stender, and Robinson-Briggs

Today, Tuesday, June 2, 2009, is Primary Day in New Jersey. The polls are open from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm. If you don’t know the location of your local polling place, you may find it at http://voter.njsvrs.com/PublicAccess/jsp/PollPlace/PollPlaceSearch.jsp.

This flyer is specifically to our members like you who live in the 22nd legislative district. If you are a Democrat, Garden State Equality urges you to vote for Governor Jon Corzine and for Assemblyman Jerry Green and Assemblywoman Linda Stender. Jerry and Linda are among New Jersey’s all-time greatest champions for LGBT civil rights. Several years ago, they were among the very first legislators to support marriage quality, and have not let up in their advocacy since.

Within the 22nd legislative district, the City of Plainfield has a contested mayoral primary. Garden State Equality does not customarily endorse candidates in municipal elections, which involve municipal issues that are the expertise of local activists more than of our statewide organization.

However, Garden State Equality is qualified to judge the records of local candidates on LGBT issues. In this regard, we note the exceptional support Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has given the LGBT community. She was among the handful of first mayors in the entire state to perform domestic partnership ceremonies, civil union ceremonies and to endorse marriage equality.

This email is from and paid for by the Garden State Equality continuing political committee, 500 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey 07042. Robert S. Powell, Vice Chair and Treasurer.

Progression for Plainfield, Vote Column B

I hope that on Election Day tomorrow, people will get out to vote and support whomever they believe will be able to lead the City of Plainfield in the right direction, as well as the 22nd Legislative District. I believe I have not only gained the respect of the voters here in the City, but also statewide. As Speaker Pro Tempore, I have been earned the respect of those in the Governor’s Office, as well as both Houses of the Legislature.

Long before the campaign began, when the issue of how we would deliver health services in our community arose, I made sure to take the necessary steps to ensure progress. Former President George W. Bush and the New Democrats have ignored this issue in the past. When President Obama begins to address this issue, since it is a national phenomenon, this medical community will be in a position to re-open Muhlenberg and control the entire campus. This is something that the New Democrats closed their eyes to when their friends on the Muhlenberg Board of Trustees approved closing our hospital.

So when I read a blog today and hear people cite “failed leadership,” it makes no sense. Nobody has criticized the job I have done as a Legislator in Trenton dealing with health, education, crime, and housing issues. When I look at my opponent’s record, I am not being critical when I ask if he goes to Trenton, would he be able to accomplish those things I have been able to accomplish. It takes time to build healthy working relationships. I have a record, which he lacks. Before I ran for Assembly, I worked for the NJ State Senate as a staff member--I actually showed up and I worked—so that when I had the opportunity to run for the General Assembly, I understood the responsibilities of a State Legislator. Since Rick was voted out of office as a BOE member, what makes his supporters think that if elected to the Assembly, he will be able to do a better job?

Many of the people that question my leadership are simply haters who have no record of achievement in Plainfield or the surrounding area. These are the same individuals who criticized me for supporting the new funding formula for New Jersey school districts, a formula that benefits Plainfield incredibly and that the State Supreme Court has upheld.

Ps

I am well aware that in recent years the Mayor has used funds to help needy families, and has not turned her back on members of our community in need. I am sure that if there was anything illegal in her actions, the ‘haters’ would bring it to the public. The Mayor’s literature has been better, and certainly more positive, than that of the New Democrats; and her television commercials, regarding time slots and varied stations outshone her opponents as well. The reason why I had no problem issuing a loan to her campaign was to defeat any talks receiving money from the County, an accusation of the past.

She ran a good, clean campaign without negativity and lying, unlike Adrian Mapp. I am hoping the New Democrats realize that the few ‘haters’ are costing them respect. Their reputations are being flushed down the toilet each time these few ‘haters’ speak.

Also, I have been challenged in primaries. When I represented the 17th Legislative District, I was challenged a few times in the primary. Again, ‘haters’, get your facts straight.