| ||||||||||||
12-14-06 Update: Senate Voting Session convened around 5 pm
StarLedger Live 6:30pm 12-14-06 'Democrats can't agree on property tax package' The Democrats who control the state Legislature were unable to reach agreement on the most significant elements of a property tax package today, meaning they miss their self-imposed deadline for enacting reform. When Sen. President Richard Codey (D-Essex) gavelled the final Senate session of the year to a close at 6:30 p.m., only two minor tax relief measures had managed to survive the political and legislative gantlet. One (A-13) eliminates a collection of outmoded and inactive public boards and commissions, and another (A-17) would relieve local school boards of various state imposed mandates, such as the requirement they conduct ceremonies to mark Arbor Day. Four hours of private debate earlier in the day had failed to bring about consensus on more substantive measures aimed at trimming the costs of government. “We got all dressed up for nothing,” said Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), as lawmakers wrapped up their work with the bulk of their property tax relief agenda on the shelf. "This is what property tax reform looks like when the Democrats are in charge," Sen. Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon), said. "The taxpaying public continues to suffer. Relief and reform cannot come quickly enough." Among the initatives that were never brought to a vote were proposals to cut retirement benefits for elected and appointed officials; plans to set up a special commission to target particular local governments for elimination and plans to install county school superintendents with veto power over local school spending. A bill that would have allowed freeholders in one of the state’s less populous counties volunteer to replace local school districts with a county-wide administration (S-7) was put up to a vote but withdrawn when it failed to draw the 21 votes needed for passage. Top lawmakers promised to make another run at the reforms early next year, setting a goal of enacting substantive reforms before Gov. Jon Corzine delivers his State of the State address Jan. 9. "We're not done," Codey said. "There's still more that's going to go forward. We'll get there." Contributed by Dunstan McNichol and Deborah Howlett
StarLedger Live 6:30pm 12-14-06 'Democrats can't agree on property tax package' The Democrats who control the state Legislature were unable to reach agreement on the most significant elements of a property tax package today, meaning they miss their self-imposed deadline for enacting reform. When Sen. President Richard Codey (D-Essex) gavelled the final Senate session of the year to a close at 6:30 p.m., only two minor tax relief measures had managed to survive the political and legislative gantlet. One (A-13) eliminates a collection of outmoded and inactive public boards and commissions, and another (A-17) would relieve local school boards of various state imposed mandates, such as the requirement they conduct ceremonies to mark Arbor Day. Four hours of private debate earlier in the day had failed to bring about consensus on more substantive measures aimed at trimming the costs of government. “We got all dressed up for nothing,” said Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), as lawmakers wrapped up their work with the bulk of their property tax relief agenda on the shelf. "This is what property tax reform looks like when the Democrats are in charge," Sen. Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon), said. "The taxpaying public continues to suffer. Relief and reform cannot come quickly enough." Among the initatives that were never brought to a vote were proposals to cut retirement benefits for elected and appointed officials; plans to set up a special commission to target particular local governments for elimination and plans to install county school superintendents with veto power over local school spending. A bill that would have allowed freeholders in one of the state’s less populous counties volunteer to replace local school districts with a county-wide administration (S-7) was put up to a vote but withdrawn when it failed to draw the 21 votes needed for passage. Top lawmakers promised to make another run at the reforms early next year, setting a goal of enacting substantive reforms before Gov. Jon Corzine delivers his State of the State address Jan. 9. "We're not done," Codey said. "There's still more that's going to go forward. We'll get there." Contributed by Dunstan McNichol and Deborah Howlett
