John Burzichelli

BURZICHELLI TO ODDS MAKERS: A.C. GOOD PICK TO HAVE BETTER YEAR THAN VEGAS

Jersey’s Gaming Resort Healthier Than Competitors

(PAULSBORO) – Despite the recent drop in Atlantic City casino revenues, Assemblyman John Burzichelli – chairman of the Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee – said a look at the numbers from casinos across the country actually show the New Jersey resort doing much better than its competitors.

Burzichelli said the doom-and-gloom scenarios many have painted when they look at Atlantic City’s revenue figures ignore the resort’s ability to weather the global economic storm and emerge as the nation’s leading gaming destination.

“No one can deny the downturn is hurting Atlantic City’s casinos, but our industry is in position to emerge stronger than Las Vegas’ storied strip,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester).

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS REACT TO BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARING AIMED AT HELPING STATE AMID FINANCIAL MELTDOWN

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued the following multimedia package as the Assembly Budget committee considered legislation that would expand the state's network of social support programs amid a continuing global economic meltdown.

The panel met as part of a concerted effort by the Assembly to continue its focus on helping New Jerseyans and businesses emerge strong from the global financial crisis.

Assembly committees today considered 19 pieces of legislation to revamp state business taxes and incentives, help struggling homeowners, promote jobs, protect consumers from financial fraud and help low-income residents.

BURZICHELLI/FISHER/ALBANO BILL COMBATING EXCESSIVE POST-FATAL-CRASH FEES ADVANCES

Measure Crafted in Response to $640 Bill Handed to Family of Teen Killed in I-295 Crash

(TRENTON) – The Senate today gave final legislative approval to legislation Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli, Douglas Fisher, and Nelson Albano sponsored to protect the surviving families of victims of fatal auto accidents from exorbitant wrecked-vehicle storage and handling fees.

SWEENEY/BURZICHELLI/FISHER DECLARE COUNCIL'S RULING ON RURAL STATE POLICE PATROLS 'A WIN'

Third District Legislators Say Council on Local Mandates' Decision Marking Municipal Funding of Patrols an Unfunded Mandate Protects Taxpayers

(TRENTON) - Third District legislators Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney and Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli and Douglas H. Fisher (all D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) called today's ruling by the state Council on Local Mandates that language in the fiscal year 2009 state budget constitutes an unfunded mandate "a win for the wallets of rural taxpayers."

The budget language in question would have required the 89 rural municipalities that rely on State Police patrols to pay for the $12.6 million service or risk losing the patrols.  The council, in a verbal statement, ruled that "line 8 on page 158 of the Annual Appropriations Act to line 17 on page 159, inclusive, constitutes an unfunded mandate and is null and void."

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS COMMENTARY ON HELPING NEW JERSEY WORKERS, BUSINESSES AMID FINANCIAL MELTDOWN

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued the following multimedia package on Governor Jon S. Corzine's address to a joint session of the Legislature on the global financial crisis.

The Assembly already has advanced 19 bills to help revamp state business taxes and incentives, help struggling homeowners, promote jobs through alternative energy technology, protect consumers from financial fraud and help low-income seniors and the disabled heat their homes.

MINNEAPOLIS - His name was in the mix of those South Jersey Democratic Organization stalwarts who might step up and replace a retiring U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights).

But amid the cry of foul by Republicans, and off-the-record hand wringing by fellow Democrats, Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro) said Andrews’s trip to Denver to hear Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) deliver his acceptance speech may have played a role in Andrews’s decision to go back to Congress.

"You listen to the speech-making in Denver, and if you have the opportunity to be part of that, you’re in a position where you can be even more effective," said Burzichelli.

CSG GAMING PANEL CONFIRMS NJ HAS HIT JACKPOT WITH ATLANTIC CITY'S SHIFT TO RESORT DESTINATION

(ATLANTIC CITY) - Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli today said that New Jersey's unique approach to legalized gambling has helped the state avoid or overcome many of the challenges facing other Northeastern states with casino gaming.

Acting Mayor/Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic): Politicker photo 

PASSAIC - To be in Trenton, or not to be in Trenton, that is the question for Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic), who became the acting mayor of Passaic in May when a federal judge found Mayor Sammy Rivera guilty of corruption.

Initially, Schaer, who received the chief executive’s job by virtue of his position as council president, figured he would serve long enough to hand off to whoever wins a Nov. 4th special election.

But about three weeks into his service as acting mayor - with no stunning personality on the city’s horizon line, by his reckoning - Schaer began mulling the idea of pursuing his own mayoral run. 

"We can’t afford to have a mayor who’s not going to build on some of the positive things we’re doing," said Schaer, who implemented local ethics reforms, imposed a 37% cut to the mayoral salary (from $117,000 to $72,000), and a municipal hiring freeze.

ASSEMBLY PASSES FISHER/BURZICHELLI BILL EXPANDING DUAL HEALTH COVERAGE BAN TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Douglas H. Fisher and John J. Burzichelli sponsored to extend dual health care coverage prohibitions to all state and local elected and appointed officials eligible for more than one taxpayer-subsidized health plan.

The lawmakers said the legislation would expand a previously enacted ban, which only applied to legislators.

ASSEMBLY PANEL ADVANCES BURZICHELLI BILL TO GIVE SCHOOLS ACCESS TO STUDENTS' CRIMINAL RECORDS

Measure Would Permit School Administrators Access to Adult Students' Criminal Histories when They Commit a Crime

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli sponsored to give high school administrators access to adult students' criminal histories was unanimously released today by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.