Media
S&P Global Downgrades NJ’s Credit Rating Again
Concerns about state’s public-employee pension system and new package of tax cuts indicate financial problems will persist into next governor’s term, possibly beyond
New Jersey’s financial reputation took another hit yesterday, with S&P Global, one of the Big 3 Wall Street credit-rating agencies, announcing it has once again lowered the state’s debt grade by one step.
Paws off N.J. cat claws: Assembly panel approves declaw ban
TRENTON — New Jersey is on its way to becoming the first state in the country to ban veterinarians from declawing cats.
A bill that cleared an Assembly committee on Monday would add onychetomy — the medical term for declawing — to the list of criminal animal cruelty offenses. There would be exceptions for medical purposes.
Singleton Bill to Prohibit Cat Declawing Clears Committee
Legislation Assemblyman Troy Singleton sponsored to prohibit cat declawing in New Jersey was advanced Monday by an Assembly committee.
"Declawing is a barbaric practice that more often than not is done for the sake of convenience rather than necessity," said Singleton (D-Burlington). "Many countries worldwide acknowledge the inhumane nature of declawing, which causes extreme pain to cats. It's time for New Jersey to join them."
Singleton & Wimberly Bill Protecting Employee Pension Payments from Being Hijacked by Christie Admin Advances
Measure Would Bar Administration from Using Increased Employee Contributions to Offset State's Obligation
An Assembly panel on Monday approved legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Troy Singleton and Benjie Wimberly that would prevent Gov. Christie and future administrations from trying to hijack the increased pension contributions made by public employees to offset the contributions owed by the state.
Singleton, Lampitt, Quijano, Pintor Marin, Wimberly & Downey Bill Requiring State to Reveal Complete Property Tax Data Again Goes to Governor
(TRENTON) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Troy Singleton, Pamela Lampitt, Annette Quijano, Eliana Pintor Marin, Benjie Wimberly and Joann Downey to require the state to annually post complete property tax data was approved 31-1 Monday by the Senate, giving it final legislative approval.
Reviewing Old Unfunded Mandates Could Help NJ Officials Follow the Money
A 1995 constitutional amendment barred new state mandates without funding but left those already on books untouched — and they could be costing communities plenty
New Jersey voters amended the state constitution two decades ago to keep state government from passing laws that require spending by local governments. The ban on what are known as unfunded mandates was hailed as a key property-tax reform, but it didn’t rescind mandates that were already on the books or apply to those passed at the federal level.
N.J. credit rating downgraded a record 10th time under Christie
TRENTON — New Jersey on Monday was hit with its 10th credit downgrade under Gov. Chris Christie, reflecting growing government worker pension obligations that are among the highest in the U.S.
Standard and Poor's Global Ratings lowered the state's rating from "A" to "A-". The move comes after the rating agency Standard and Poor's Ratings Services revised its outlook for New Jersey from stable to negative over concerns with the declining pension funding levels and rising retirement liabilities.
NJ suffers 10th credit downgrade; lawmakers advance pension bill
TRENTON — New Jersey was dealt its 10th credit downgrade since Gov. Chris Christie took office, as Wall Street continued to raise flags about the state's mounting pension liabilities as well as other financial strains.
Sweeney Plan Could save $200M in Prescription Costs for Public Workers
As part of his ongoing quest to curb New Jersey’s escalating healthcare costs, Senate President Steve Sweeney has called on the state to hire a technology firm that can aggressively identify cost savings in the prescription benefit plans that cover scores of government workers.
Legislature needs to reassert long-standing ban on leghold traps
The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection has been dishonest in its efforts to allow the use of steel leghold traps to catch animals even though they’re banned under state law. Last week a state Appellate Court added another layer of dishonesty in this scheme to thwart the will of N.J. residents as a favor to a small number of animal trappers.