TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Fred H. Madden, which would require health care providers to cover the cost of hearing aids for children age 15 and younger was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “When left undiagnosed and untreated in children, hearing loss can impede the development of speech, language and cognitive development,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex.  “These developmental delays can cause a need for costly special education services later on in life. By calling upon health insurers to cover the cost of hearing aids for kids, we are renewing our commitment to the growth and educational success of New Jersey’s children.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono, Jeff Van Drew and Shirley K. Turner, which would establish the “Invest in New Jersey Business Grant Program Act,” as an incentive program to encourage businesses to make capital investments and hire and retain new workers received final legislative approval today from the full Senate by a vote of 33 to 7.

            “With the economic stability of the nation struggling, now is the time for us to invest in home-grown, New Jersey businesses,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “By providing these incentives for the State’s businesses, we’re promoting growth and creating a welcoming environment for businesses to thrive now, and well into the future.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono, which would establish the “Invest in New Jersey Business Grant Program Act,” as an incentive program to encourage businesses to make capital investments and hire and retain new workers was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

            "New Jersey has a reputation of being inhospitable to business," said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex.  "However, we need to foster growth in the business community, to make sure that we have the high-paying, stable jobs that our workforce is going to demand into the future.  This bill is about investing in the economic vitality of the State of New Jersey, and would put us on solid ground to weather the economic storm which is gripping the entire nation."

State Sen. Barbara Buono wants to stay focused on state budget issues

At least three State Senators want to succeed U.S. Rep.-elect John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) as chairman of the power Judiciary Committee, a decision that will be made by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex). 

Sources say state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), Sen. Nia Gill (D-Montclair), and Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), want to succeed Adler, while two other senators with legal cred say they’re satisfied with their present chairmanships and don’t want to make a play for judiciary chair.

“It would be an interesting chairmanship,” admitted state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen). “But I can’t imagine a more challenging chairmanship than the budget committee, and right now with the economy what it is, I would like to stay focused.”

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth), who already serves on the judiciary committee, said he’s likewise not budging from his current chairmanship of economic development.

SENATE GREENLIGHTS CODEY-BUONO BILL TO AID STRUGGLING BUSINESSES, ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENTS

TRENTON – The full Senate today approved a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey and Senator Barbara Buono that would aid struggling businesses during the current economic crisis, and help New Jersey’s business environment remain competitive with other neighboring states. The Senate approved bill S-2130, which would increase the time period in which a net operating loss (NOL) can be deducted from a corporation’s business tax, from seven to twenty years.

“Now more than ever, this bill is desperately needed,” said Senator Codey (D-Essex). “With many businesses struggling and others facing still unforeseen losses, we need to do all we can to help them weather the storm. This bill will also help New Jersey stay competitive with many of our neighboring states that have similar provisions. Hopefully, it will also encourage new businesses to set up shop here and promote further investment.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg, Barbara Buono and Shirley K. Turner, which would require all public and private school employees who come in contact with students to submit to a background check was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “It is not too much to ask to require the school employees who interact with our children to undergo criminal background checks,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen.  “The safety of New Jersey’s children is of extreme importance, and this legislation would create an additional layer of protection for our kids, while giving parents peace of mind that their kids are safe when they are at school.”

PREVIEW - SENATE COMMITTEES TO FOCUS ON PRO-BUSINESS, PRO-WORKER BILLS MONDAY

TRENTON – On Monday, Senate Committees will meet to consider measures which will improve the economic climate of New Jersey for businesses and guarantee that State workers’ benefits contributions cannot be diverted to other purposes.

BUONO ANNOUNCES OCTOBER BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARING ON NJ ECONOMY

Meeting Will Focus on Economic Issues Surrounding the National Recession, Wall Street Crisis

TRENTON – Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairwoman, Senator Barbara Buono, announced today that the panel will meet on October 6 to hold a hearing on New Jersey’s economy, including the impact that the national recession and recent problems on Wall Street have had on the State's revenues and investments.

“It’s no secret that the economy – from the national level down to the State and local levels – is in trouble,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “The price of oil is up, the joblessness rate continues to climb and the poor state of the economy weighs heavily on the public. We need to hear from leading economic voices to give State residents an idea of how much longer they’re going to need to weather the current economic crisis – and what New Jersey can do to help get them through the storm.”

BUONO-KEAN PROPOSE LIMITS TO CRACK DOWN ON OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUG ABUSE

Measure Would Require Age-Verification for Purchase of Cough Medicines Containing DXM

EDISON – At a news conference at Edison High School today, State Senator Barbara Buono unveiled legislation, sponsored by Senator Buono and Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., requiring that customers be at least 18 years old to purchase over-the-counter cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan (DXM), an ingredient which, when abused by teenagers seeking to get high, can have potentially lethal consequences.

“New Jersey needs to step up and address this very serious danger to the health and safety of our teenage sons and daughters,” said Senator Buono, D-Metuchen. “DXM abuse can have lasting and potentially fatal consequences for teenagers who misuse this legal, inexpensive, and easily accessible substance in order to achieve a high. By instituting common-sense limitations on who can purchase products containing DXM, we can reduce the risk that our children will add to the growing number of tragic statistics.”

MEDIA ADVISORY - SENATOR BARBARA BUONO TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON BUONO-KEAN DEXTROMETHORPHAN LEGISLATION

EDISON – On Wednesday, September 3rd Senator Barbara Buono will hold a press conference to discuss legislation that she and Senator Tom Kean Jr. will introduce this fall. The bill would prohibit the sale of any product containing Dextromethorphan to anyone under the age of 18 years old. It targets recreational abusers of the over-the-counter drug that is commonly found in over 100 common cough and cold remedies.

“The abuse of Dextromethorphan is a growing problem in New Jersey and across the United States,” said Senator Buono (D-18). “Because the drugs are so readily available to kids, abuse can be easily hidden from even the most involved parent.”