Top Story - 5/14/2008
PREVIEW - Senate Health Committee To Consider Expanded Familycare, Rational Health Care Resources Bills On Thursday
TRENTON – At a hearing on Thursday, May 15 in the Statehouse Annex, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee will consider legislation sponsored by Committee Chair, Senator Joseph F. Vitale, to expand NJ FamilyCare in an effort to set the stage for accessible, affordable health care coverage for all New Jerseyans.
“This is an important first step in establishing a better model for New Jersey to meet its obligation to the uninsured,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “Under the current charity care funding model, we aren’t making the most of our State’s limited health care dollars. We’re encouraging bad health care practices, by sending the message that uninsured New Jerseyans need to wait until their illness or injury is so severe that they have to go to the emergency room for care. This is a broken and dysfunctional system, and it’s time for a health care plan that works.”
Senate Law & Public Safety Committee To Consider Expansion Of DNA Database
TRENTON - The Senate Law & Public Safety Committee will convene Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. in Committee Room 4 of the State House Annex to consider six bills, including legislation that would expand New Jersey's DNA database.
The measure, S-514, is sponsored by Senators Nicholas Sacco and Paul Sarlo and would expand the State's DNA database to include samples from disorderly persons offenders. Under current law, DNA samples are taken if an individual is convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or found not guilty by reason of insanity for a crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree.
Codey Statement On Revised Revenue Forecast
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) issued the following statement on the revised revenue forecasts provided by the State Treasurer and the Office of Legislative Services at today’s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing:
“This is essentially like finding a couple benign growths on an elephant. That’s not to say the news is not welcome, but it’s certainly not going to solve our long-term fiscal problems.
Buono: Debt Reduction The Way To Go With Windfall Revenues
BUONO: DEBT REDUCTION THE WAY TO GO WITH WINDFALL REVENUES
TRENTON - Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex and Chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, made the following statement today after hearing testimony from State Treasurer David Rousseau with regards to revised revenue estimates for the FY08 and FY09 budgets:
"Today was a day of mixed blessings when it comes to the State’s financial forecast. The additional $533 million the State expects to bring in for the current fiscal year are a welcome windfall, but we mustn’t see these additional funds as a blank check to increase spending.
Sarlo - State Needs To Do More To Restore Municipal Aid
TRENTON – Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman, Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, issued the following statement after hearing from State Treasurer David Rousseau about the state of current budget cuts, particularly in regards to the Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) program, during an update on the FY 2009 Budget:
“While I’m happy that the Administration has at least shown a willingness to restore some of the deep cuts in CMPTRA aid which will translate to substantial property tax increases for homeowners in small towns, the proposed restorations do not go far enough.
Sarlo Wants Workers’ Comp Judges To Receive Greater Scrutiny
TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo today said he wants Governor Corzine to include Workers’ Compensation Judges in the same pre-nomination review system which the State and county bar associations undertake to assess the qualifications of nominees for judicial and county prosecutor positions.
“Adding this level of scrutiny can only make a good system better,” said Senator Sarlo, who as Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee led a review by the panel last week on ways to improve the workers compensation system in New Jersey.
