ANGELINI: NEW BUDGET HELPS NEW JERSEY’S MOST VULNERABLE AND CREATES EFFICIENCIES

Assembly Republican Deputy Conference Leader Mary Pat Angelini said she is pleased that Governor Christie’s fiscal 2013 budget proposal includes increased funding for those with mental illness and those who are developmentally disabled.

            The governor’s budget will add nearly $25 million for community placements for adults with developmental disabilities which will allow 130 people to move off the Community Services Waiting List.

            “Providing increased funding to help those who deal with mental and physical disabilities or addictions shouldn’t be overlooked in the fiscally responsible plan introduced by the governor,” said Angelini. “Meeting our pension obligations and increasing educational aid are certainly important, and so is the responsibility to help those who are most vulnerable. We are not only increasing funding for critical programs, but the structural realignment of government agencies will provide greater efficiencies.”

            Angelini, who is a member of both the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee and Assembly Human Services Committee, pointed out that the increased funding and the reorganization of government departments that will centralize services demonstrates the governor’s commitment to allocate resources wisely and challenge the status quo.

            Christie’s new budget proposal creates the Division of Child Integrated System of Care Services and the Division of Aging Services that will specifically handle the needs of people who must deal with several government agencies in order to obtain benefits and services.

            “As New Jersey’s chief executive officer, Governor Christie knows that managing government involves more than spending tax dollars,” commented Angelini. “The governor deserves credit for examining how services are delivered and how effective they are in meeting their responsibilities. The creation of these departments will improve operating efficiencies and also reduce the frustration people sometimes experience as they steer their way through multiple agencies.”

            The Division of Aging will function within the Department of Human Services and administer community-based services and programs for senior citizens such as the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled program (PAAD), Senior Gold and the Lifeline Utility Assistance Program.

The Division of Child Integrated System of Care Services will operate within the Department of Children and Families and serve the needs of families with children with developmental disabilitiesmodule art panels.

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Kyrillos: GOVERNOR CHRISTIE’S BUDGET A MODEL FOR WASHINGTON

Menendez Senate has not passed a budget in over 1000 days

Middletown – February 21… Today, Joe Kyrillos applauded Governor Chris Christie’s third straight balanced budget as a blueprint for America’s future.

“Bob Menendez and his colleagues in the Senate could learn something from the tough choices we’re making to fix New Jersey’s finances,” Senator Joe Kyrillos said.

“It’s been over 1,000 days since the U.S. Senate has passed a budget. And, while we balance our budget here in New Jersey, Washington gives us trillion dollar plus deficits – kicking the can down the road spending money on the backs of our children and grandchildren. That kind of record is unacceptable and it needs to change.”

Governor Christie and his allies, including Senator Kyrillos, have led the fight to cap property taxes, reduce spending and reform New Jersey’s broken pension system – the very same issues that are going unaddressed in Washington and contributing to our growing $15.3 trillion in national debt.

When Governor Christie took office in 2010, the state faced a budget shortfall of over $13 billion – today that shortfall is zero.

Senator Kyrillos continued, “Today is proof positive that the New Jersey comeback has, in fact, begun. A lot of people doubted it could be done, but we did it – we are making the tough decisions that need to be made – and it is long past time we did the same in Washington. It is time for the American comeback.”

“While Bob Menendez is offering more of the same: more spending, more taxes and more debt, I am running on my record of fiscal responsibility and real reforms that have reigned in spending without adding extra burdens to New Jersey families.”

Since Bob Menendez was appointed fill Jon Corzine’s seat in the Senate, the national debt has jumped from $8.1 trillion to $15.3 trillion, the annual deficit has grown from $250 billion to over $1 trillion, and unemployment has risen from 4.7% to 8.3%.

“The status quo isn’t working. It is time for New Jersey to show Washington how real leadership works.  It is working in New Jersey.  It will work in Washington.”

Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr., 51, served as chairman of Governor Chris Christie’s 2009 gubernatorial campaign and has played a key leadership role in moving the Governor’s agenda through the legislature.  Kyrillos is married to Susan Doctorian Kyrillos and they live in Middletown with their children Max and Georgia. He began serving New Jersey’s 13th Legislative District in 1988 when he was elected to the General Assembly. After spending two terms in the Assembly he was elected to the Senate where he has served since 1993.  In addition to his official duties, the Senator is employed as Senior Managing Director of Colliers International, the commercial real estate services firm with offices in New York and Parsippany. He is also an advisor to the Newport Capital Group in Red Bank, NJ.

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Governor Chris Christie’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Address As Prepared for Delivery

Lieutenant Governor, Mr. President, Madam Speaker, members of the Legislature, distinguished guests, former Governors, and citizens of the State of New Jersey:

It is my pleasure, and my duty, to present to you my budget for the year ending June 30, 2013.

Two years ago, when I entered this chamber for the first time, the fiscal condition of our state was as dire as it had been for decades.  Hope was low.  Pessimism seemed like a permanent state of mind.  My thoughts wandered back to my inaugural – to why I wanted this job in the first place.  On Inauguration Day, I said, “I asked to serve, because I believe we can do it.”

I did believe, even in those difficult days, that real leadership could turn New Jersey around.  In those darker days of recession, we began our journey together toward the New Jersey Comeback with some hard choices, some very hard choices.  We took those first steps together – we knew what we had to do.

We had to get our budget under control, and so we cut spending – not spending growth, but the actual dollars spent by state government – two years in a row.  We were able to preserve and fund essential priorities, but it was the first time in decades that real spending had actually been cut two years in a row.

As you know, we took other steps as well – reforming pensions and health benefits and capping the growth of property taxes and the interest arbitration awards that drive them.

There was one more thing we needed to begin the turnaround of the state we love.  We had to feel good about ourselves again.  We had to believe in each other again.  We had to dig down deep into our well of Jersey strength and restore our confidence.  To do this for our state and for each other, there were two indispensible elements – leadership and truth. 

Both require courage.  Both must come from what we feel from within.  Both could lead us to better days.  For those of you in this chamber, and you know who you are, who gave both to our state and its citizens – I say thank you.  To the millions of New Jerseyans who gave both to our state – I am in your debt.  To those who have yet to give, there is good news.  It is not too late – because the New Jersey Comeback has just begun.  Resolve today to join us in the tough choices which leadership and truth inexorably lead us to and join us now.  End the nay saying – join us to accelerate the New Jersey Comeback this year.

I said at the time that these tough choices would pave the way for better ones in the future.

You see, because our previous tough choices have indeed made a difference.  Those budgets for Fiscal Year ‘10 and Fiscal Year ’11 were balanced – without raising taxes.  Since I took office, we as a state have added nearly 60,000 private-sector jobs. And 2011 was the best year of job growth since the year 2000 and places New Jersey in the top third among the states.

In these last two years, we have begun to move our unemployment rate in the right direction – down, from 10.1% when I was sworn in to 9% today.

Today, it is time to continue making those better choices.  Today, we will both maintain our fiscal discipline, and drive New Jersey into a new era of growth.  Today, it is time to put the New Jersey Comeback into high gear.

Read the entire budget address by clicking here.

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Governor Christie’s 3rd Budget Address

Governor Chris Christie will deliver the annual budget address tomorrow afternoon, 2PM, in the Assembly Chambers at the Statehouse.

You can watch it live here:

Tomorrow evening at 9PM, CNN will air a taped interview of Christie by Piers Morgan.

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Christie Conditionally Vetos Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act

Reiterates his call for the issue to be decided by the people via referendum

Calls for the establishment of an Ombudsman to enforce the Civil Union Law

Governor Chris Christie sent S-1, the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act, back to the legislature this afternoon with his conditional veto.

Christie issued the following statement regarding his action:

“Today, I am adhering to what I’ve said since this bill was first introduced – an issue of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide. I continue to encourage the Legislature to trust the people of New Jersey and seek their input by allowing our citizens to vote on a question that represents a profoundly significant societal change. This is the only path to amend our State Constitution and the best way to resolve the issue of same-sex marriage in our state.

 “I have been just as adamant that same-sex couples in a civil union deserve the very same rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples – as well as the strict enforcement of those rights and benefits. Discrimination should not be tolerated and any complaint alleging a violation of a citizen’s right should be investigated and, if appropriate, remedied. To that end, I include in my conditional veto the creation of a strong Ombudsman for Civil Unions to carry on New Jersey’s strong tradition of tolerance and fairness. The Ombudsman will be charged with increasing awareness of the law regarding civil unions, will provide a clear point of contact for those who have questions or concerns and will be required to report any evidence of the law being violated. In this way, we can ensure equal treatment under the law.”

A copy of the Conditional Veto can be found here.

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Kyrillos and Christie Campaign Appearance

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Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill

NJ Supreme Court is end game for Same Sex Marriage Advocates

As expected, the New Jersey Assembly passed the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act today.  The vote was 42-33.  No Republican voted for the bill.  Two Cape May County Democrats, Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam voted NO, according to NJ.com

The bill passed the Senate last week and now heads to Governor Chris Christie for his expected veto.

Christie has called for the issue to be put to referendum this fall.  Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman has proposed legislation authorizing the referendum.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney has said the referendum legislation will not make it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Christie has said the Democrats handling of the matter is political theater. He told Poltickernj,

“If they don’t put it on the ballot, you’ll know the whole thing was political theater,” Christie said. “I trust the people.”

However, same sex marrige advocates seem to think that legislative passage of the bill will make a difference in their efforts to get the New Jersey Supreme Court to impose same sex marriage in New Jersey regardless of Christie’s veto or whether or not there is a referendum.

In an email to his membership, Steven Goldstein, CEO of Garden State Equality, said,

… Meanwhile, Garden State Equality continues its lawsuit with Lambda Legal –
where courts will now see the legislative intent of marriage equality…

…         “Pursuing all roads to justice, Garden State Equality and seven-same sex couples will continue our lawsuit for marriage equality, where we are represented by Lambda Legal and the nationally renowned Gibbons law firm.  With this victory, the courts will see the legislature’s clear intent to replace the state’s failed civil union law with marriage equality.”

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Christie joins Kyrillos on campaign trail to smackdown “The Squealer”

Following the WrestleMania press conference this morning, Governor Christie and State Senator Joe Kyrillos will head over to the West 22 Diner in Springfield for a rhetorical smackdown of zipline enthusiast,  Bob “The Squealer” Mendendez.

The campaign event is open to the public and is scheduled to start at 1:30PM.

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WrestleMania Coming To New Jersey

WestleMania XXIX will be held at MetLife Stadium in April 2013. Photo/Graphic: WWE.com

New Jersey will be the host of WrestleMania XXIX in April of 2013.

Governor Chris Christie, “The Rock,” NFL owners John Mara and Woody Johnson and WWE CEO Vince McMahon will announce the event at a press conference this morning at MetLife Stadium.

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Starve The Beast: Roll Back The Port Authority Toll Hikes

Given the results of the audit of Port Authority released earlier this week, it is fair to conclude that PA has been overcharging New Jersey commuters and truckers for decades.

Too much money has been the addictive substance that made PA “dysfunctional.” 

Lack of money is what has enabled Governor Christie, and many other governors across the country to implement necessary reforms.  Christie is extraordinarily talented, but would he have been able to get the Democrats to compromise with him if tax revenue was rolling in with abundance?  No way.

Yet, with the September toll hikes, Governors Christie and Cuomo have helped the the dysfunctional, wasteful, corrupt Pork Authority to more of their destructive substance.

New Jersey Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen County) and New York State Senator Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) have called for the latest toll hikes to be rolled back, according to The Star Ledger.

At the very least, tolls should be rolled back to their pre-September levels until the ongoing audit of PA is complete and reforms implemented.  A rollback to the 2001 toll levels should be seriously considered.

Phase two of the toll increases announced last August take effect in 2014.  Christie and Cuomo should immediately revoked that authorization and roll back the current tolls to the September 2011 levels, at the very least.

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