Assemblyman Scott Rumana ON COAH TESTIMONY AT ASSEMBLY HOUSING AND LOCAL GOV’T HEARING

Assembly Republican Deputy Conference Leader Scott Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen and Essex on the testimony provided at today’s Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee meeting regarding the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and potential reforms to the state’s Fair Housing Law.

“There is no doubt that because of the flaws in the current law related to affordable housing and the significant consequences it has on municipalities that the council should be eliminated. The simple truth is this is a complicated law that doesn’t work.

“Two glaring shortcomings with the law pertain to the builder’s remedy option and the bonus density provision. These stipulations result in extreme over-development, which produce even more negative ratables in our communities, devastate vital open space and produce a crushing impact on our state’s municipal infrastructure, the costs of which are ultimately borne by homeowners through increased property taxes. These aspects of the law help contribute to New Jersey’s highest property taxes in the country.

“I concur with the viewpoint that the Legislature must work together, along with Governor Christie, to develop a plan to comply with our state’s Supreme Court rulings. I am encouraged that our first area of agreement is that COAH doesn’t work. Any reforms to this public policy must account for the critical role that localities play in this process, and just as importantly, achieve the goal of keeping the judicial system from becoming involved in this issue, once again.

Assemblyman Jay Webber ON EFFORT TO REFORM NEW JERSEY’S BROKEN PENSION SYSTEM

Assemblyman Jay Webber, comments after testimony from state pension director Fred Beaver and representatives of public employee unions about the state’s troubled pension system:

“After a decade of underfunding the system, expanding retirement benefits, and disappointing investments, the state’s public pension system is seriously troubled.

“There is a growing consensus that the system is broken, and we can’t allow to status quo to continue any longer.

“I am glad to hear that there is a genuine desire on the part of both parties and public employee unions to work together on comprehensive reform that will be fair to current public employees, retired public employees, and taxpayers as we find ways to fix this significant problem.

“It was refreshing to hear today’s acknowledgment by public employee unions that they believe all options for fixing the system should be on the table.”

TODAY’S MORNING UPDATE: Quote of the Day, Today’s News Clips

Quote of the Day:

U.S. News And World Report: "[W]e are all representatives of the American people. We all do town hall meetings. We all talk to our constituents. And I've got to tell you, the American people are engaged. And if you think they want a government takeover of healthcare, I would respectfully submit you're not listening to them." - Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) to President Obama at last week’s White House health care summit.


Today’s News Clips:

State News:

·     Trade Center Financing Rift Still Wide as Deadline Nears, New York Times
·     N.J. affordable housing back to basics with Gov’s task force, NewJerseyNewsroom.com
·     Smith: A leader opts for painful honesty in the Garden State, Baltimore Sun
·     Berkeley Heights mayor resigns to take N.J. Post, Star Ledger

National News:

·     Cilllizza: To vote or not to vote (or health care and the 2010 midterms), Washington Post
·     Paterson's stature erodes even in stomping grounds, Associated Press

·     CBO Warns Obama's Proposed Bank Fee Could End Up Costing Consumers, ABC News: Political Punch
·     Treasury fails on transparency rules, Washington Times
·    Cary: The Obama Health Reform Bill’s Dishonesty on Cost, U.S. News And World Report
·    Sessions: Murky claims about terror suspects, Politico