Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony Bucco speaking about the New Jersey budget deficit on Thursday, October 22, 2009.  Also pictured (from left) are Senator Joe Pennacchio, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Steven Oroho.

Incredibly, the governor responded with only $205 million in accounting shifts and an order to his Cabinet to find just $200 million in possible spending reductions.

Read the rest of Senators Call on Corzine to Address Budget Deficits NOW (554 words)

State Senator Anthony R. Bucco is pleased to announce that Senate Bill 532, which bars certain sex offenders from positions in youth serving organizations, has been signed into law.

In the bill’s two-year history in both the Senate and the Assembly, it was voted favorably in all committees and in both Houses with no one being opposed to the bill on any level. Senator Bucco and Senator John A. Girgenti sponsored the bill together.

Read the rest of Bucco Legislation Protecting Children Signed into Law (132 words)

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony Bucco today called on Senate Budget and Appropriations Chair Barbara Buono to reconvene the committee immediately to confront New Jersey’s declining revenue collections.

“It is imperative that the budget committees of both houses reconvene immediately in order to implement budget savings to cover this historic plunge in state revenues. At the current rate of decline, 3.1 percent, the shortfall this year could reach $1 billion.

Read the rest of Bucco: Senate Budget Committee Must Reconvene Immediately to Confront Budget Crisis (378 words)

Senator Anthony Bucco, the Senate Republican Budget Officer, issued the following statement regarding a proposal by a member of the State Parole Board that would save the agency millions of dollars.

“Governor Corzine has repeatedly promised the taxpayers of this state that he had ’scrubbed’ the budget. Sadly, it seems that many agencies, including the State Parole Board, were ignored or overlooked throughout that process.

Read the rest of Bucco: AG Must Address Situation at Parole Board (93 words)

The governor has daily access to revenue collection figures. Senators Bucco and Oroho expressed outrage that Governor Corzine doesn’t share those numbers so that business owners, legislators and the voting public can track what’s happening during this economic crisis, as business people and residents can do in other states.

Read the rest of Bucco and Oroho: Governor Corzine Still Playing ‘Hide the Numbers’ Game (209 words)

“Over the last decade, the policies of Governor Corzine and his allies have failed New Jersey’s struggling middle class,” Senate Republican Leader Kean said. “People are looking for change in Trenton, and our caucus is united and determined to provide real alternatives to the governor’s failed policies that will create jobs and make our state more affordable for everyone.”

Read the rest of Senate Republicans Unanimously Back Tom Kean for Senate President (76 words)

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony Bucco said Governor Corzine should re-read his Executive Order No. 1, which lays out the rules for conduct of a governor’s financial affairs. “It is obvious that the governor is invested in a hedge fund whose managers also own casinos,” Bucco said. “Clauses in Governor Corzine’s executive order No. 1 would seem to prohibit such an investment.”

Read the rest of Bucco: Corzine Should Read His Own Executive Order, Then Divest and Disclose (217 words)

“Our casino laws are designed to prevent even the appearance of conflicts of interest involving government officials,” Bucco stated. “Governor Corzine should immediately release documents detailing the ties between TPG (Texas Pacific Group) and the casino industry.”

Read the rest of Bucco: Corzine Should Disclose Documents on Fund’s Casino Ties (192 words)

“Now that a 300 pound bear and her cub were reported roaming about in suburban Trenton, perhaps the governor will come out of hibernation and admit his black bear management policy is an abject failure,” Bucco stated. “The governor and the commissioner of the DEP must authorize a bear hunt to bring this dangerous situation under control.”

Read the rest of Maybe Corzine Will Pay Attention Now that Black Bears Are Running Around in Trenton (153 words)

Senate Republican Budget Officer, Tony Bucco asked Governor Corzine, in a letter today, to release the details of a proposed $6 billion contract that will allow MEDCO to run the drug benefits program that serves 800,000 public employees, retirees and their families.

Read the rest of Bucco: Corzine Must Release Details of $6 Billion Contract (547 words)