Senator Buono

            TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono vowed today to intervene legislatively to block an Edison special election on a $57.8 million bond issue because the Sept. 30th date for the vote falls on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

            “It would be unconscionable for anyone to push ahead with the bond vote once they realized it would fall on Rosh Hashana,” said Senator Buono, who represents Edison.

TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney today said the State budget for the new fiscal year “begins a process of accountability and integrity” which reflects tough economic times and the need for efficiencies at all levels of government.

            Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland, made his comments as Governor Corzine enacted S-2009/A-2800 which provides funds for maintaining government operations beginning July 1

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, Chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, released the following statement as the Senate considered S-2009/A-2800, the State’s spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. It received final approval 23-16.

            “This budget makes progress toward rebuilding the public’s trust in their elected representatives.

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, Chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, today made the following comments as details were being released about the proposed agreement on the State’s spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

            “It’s not a happy day when the realities of spending cuts result in pain for the beneficiaries of many worthy programs. But we can’t reduce the size of government without shutting down our voracious appetite to spend and borrow. The record-level restraints in this (budget) proposal were needed to move us in the right direction

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, Chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, today called for bipartisan legislative support for Governor Corzine’s proposal to replenish depleted balances in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund with surplus revenues.

TRENTON – The Senate today approved a bill, S-464, sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Fred Madden, to require New Jersey Transit devise a plan within six months on how it will make its rail stations handicap accessible.

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, Chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, today said “accountability” will be her top priority as her panel prepares to review Governor Corzine’s spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

TRENTON –  A key State Senator today said she believes “hundreds of  millions of dollars could be saved annually” if the State implements longstanding recommendations for proper oversight of professional services contracts.

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, Chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, urged the Corzine Administration to come before the panel next week bearing “in-depth details” of its fiscal restructuring and debt reduction proposal.

Her pitch was backed up by Senate President Richard J. Codey and Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney.