(TRENTON) – Assembly panels on Monday will convene hearings on the Christie administration’s decision to suspend work on the new Hudson River rail tunnel, the economic impact of the elimination of film and digital media tax credits, the state’s farmland assessment program and ways to cut education mandates to combat property taxes.
All hearings are set for the State House Annex in Trenton.
They will be streamed live at: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
The Assembly transportation committee will meet at 10 a.m. to address Gov. Chris Christie’s work suspension on the new Hudson River commuter rail tunnel considered vital to economic development in the region.
The panel will also address the many recent NJ Transit service disruptions and review customer service issues.
“New Jersey commuters deserve better, especially considering this poor service comes after a 25 percent fare hike was forced upon them earlier this year by Gov. Christie,” said Assembly Transportation Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex).
The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss the economic impact of Christie’s elimination of the film and digital media tax credits. A representative from NBC Universal is expected to attend.
The Assembly Agriculture and Natural ReDests Committee will meet at noon to examine issues surrounding farmland assessment and issues raised by its current application.
Assemblyman John McKeon will continue his effort to find ways to save taxpayer money by cutting unnecessary state mandates. The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chaired by McKeon will hold a 10 a.m. hearing on education mandates.
The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee will meet at 10 a.m.. to discuss the Division of Consumer Affairs’ failure to create and administer the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program required under a 2007 law. It will, among other things, look into lost cost savings.
The Assembly Human Services Committee will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss the administration’s decision to stop admitting geriatric patients to Sen. Garrett W. Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital and to redirect patients under 65 years of age to Greystone Psychiatric Hospital.
The Assembly State Government Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the state’s Civil Service system and its procedures for filling the positions of government entities.
The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to take testimony on the Board of Public Utilities relocation from Newark to Trenton.
The Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to consider legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset/Middlesex) to relieve small businesses of red tape and (A-2844) by Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden), Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden), Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) and Matthew W. Milam and Nelson Albano (both D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) to make it easier for the public to view local government budgets.
