Press Releases

The Assembly Budget Committee will meet Friday at 10 a.m. to hold a hearing on property tax caps. The meeting is scheduled in Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton.

Various state officials have been invited to testify. The committee also will entertain testimony from members of the general public. The hearing will be streamed live at: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.

(TRENTON) – Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) released the following statement Tuesday after Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a budget that raises taxes by more than $1 billion on New Jerseyans:

“With a stroke of his pen, Gov. Christie has delivered tax increases on nearly everything that’s important to hard-working New Jerseyans.

“Property taxes will skyrocket. Health care will be taxed and slashed. Education will be cut. Public safety will be slashed. Auto and health insurance costs will rise. Job creating business incentives will be decimated.

“This is a tax-laden Christie budget that hits working families and businesses hard. It’s negative impact will reverberate throughout this state and make life unaffordable for millions of New Jersey residents.”

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For Release: June 30, 2010

(TRENTON) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald to continue allowing parents to enroll in the state's health insurance program for the working poor was released Monday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-3020) would reallocate $24.6 million of the $665 million that Gov. Chris Christie proposes in his budget to give hospitals for treating uninsured patients and use it to enroll working poor parents in NJ FamilyCare.

"Freezing enrollment in this successful program makes little sense for New Jersey taxpayers," said Greenwald (D-Camden). "It is poor public policy that will overburden hospitals struggling under the new Christie hospital tax. Preventing working parents from receiving health insurance has never been a core New Jersey value, and we shouldn't embrace it now."

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Legislation Assemblymen Lou Greenwald, Vincent Prieto, Albert Coutinho , Ruben J. Ramos Jr. and Paul Moriarty sponsored to help jump-start New Jersey’s housing market by creating a tax credit for home purchases received final legislative approval on Thursday.

The Senate voted 38-0 to approve the bill. It was approved 67-8-2 by the Assembly on May 20. It now goes to the governor for his consideration.

“With this bill, we’re creating a substantial and immediate incentive for potential homebuyers,” said Greenwald (D-Camden). “As New Jersey’s housing market continues to struggle amid the global recession, this incentive will not only to reignite the homebuilding industry in this state, but also stimulate economic growth through spending related to home buying.”

“This is a creative and sensible way to revitalize our housing market and our economy,” aid Prieto (D-Hudson). “Much direct and indirect economic activity is generated through new home construction and home re-sales, so this is the smart thing to do in this tough economy.”

“This is a great incentive that could play a big role in invigorating our economy and housing market,” said Coutinho (D-Essex). “It will also help strengthen neighborhoods and spur activity in numerous sectors of our economy.”

“Our housing market has been showing signs of recovery, and this program can give it the boost it really needs to truly make a comeback,” said Ramos (D-Hudson). “This is good for residents and our economy.”

As of May 29th, constituents may apply for NJ SHARES if their gross monthly income ranges from 176% to 400% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) and they have not received a LIHEAP benefit this heating season. Our office will now refer to the USF chart in to determine income eligibility. For more information, contact our legislative office at 856-435-1247.