Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 6

COURIER-POST, Friday, January 5, 1996 6A Whltiiniae9s arbitration bill dies -in Assembly month, and gets the new year off to something of a rocky start. Whitman said she was disappointed. "I think that taxpayers lost today," Whitman said. "I was working very, very hard to get the (bill) supported because that's the only piece of legislation that I've seen out there that's meaningful binding arbitration (reform)." In December, the Senate and Assembly budget committees quashed a Whitman administration proposal to raise the state's cigarette taxes in order to pay hospitals for charity care. Whitman did not comment on the new bill because "I have not seen it.

I don't know what it is." Whitman wrote letters to Republican lawmakers Wednesday describing the arbitration reform bill as "a key aspect of my legislative agenda at the midpoint of my administration." Whitman nlsn lnhhierl nprannnllv fnr the bill with various Republican leaders before their closed-door caucus meeting commenced. "I have stood with you on initiatives you deemed important for the well-being of the. state. Today, .1 am asking you to stand with me by supporting this," Whitman wrote in the letter. However, powerful Republicans, including Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano, R-Passaic, the incoming GOP majority leader, were angrily opposed to the binding arbitration measure.

Incoming Assembly Speaker Jack Collins, R-Salem, also opposed the bill. Even during formal ceremonies before the start of the Assembly voting session, one retiring Democrat, Assemblyman James Zangari, could not help taking a shot at the proposal, proclaiming, "This is not good government." The Senate and Assembly had been at odds over binding arbitration reform for a year after the two houses passed different versions of the bill. figure out why there would be a change in seasons." The new bill, which passed 64-1 after Democrats and Republicans agreed to emergency action, now goes directly to the Senate, where an emergency vote would be required if the bill is voted on Monday. The emergency required 60 votes in the Assembly in order to suspend the rules, and in the Senate an emergency would require 30 votes. Under current law, arbitrators are limited to selecting either the police or the municipal contract offer exactly as written.

Whitman's bill would have expanded the authority of arbitrators who take over when talks between municipal officials and the police negotiators break down. The Assembly vote on the Whitman version broke down in a 34-34 deadlock, with 41 votes required for passage. The defeat of the binding arbitration bill represents the second major setback on legislation for the Whitman administration over the past By RALPH SIEGEL Associated Press RENTON Despite heavy lobbying from Gov. Christie Whitman, the state Assembly on Thursday killpd a bill to change the law governing how police contracts are settled. -Then the Assembly turned around a few hours latr and under emergency rules introduced and passed an entirely new piece of legislation that some say goes further in reforming the binding arbitration system.

-IBill Dressel, director of the state League of Municipalities, was at first disheartened by the defeat, then cheered at the prospect of the new bill getting through before the 206th legislative session expires Tuesday. I TThis comes as close to the bizarre as anything I have ever witnessed," said Dressel, a lobbyist for 21 years. "Trying to figure that out would be trying to II ui.uiw.1 phone calls to lawmakers Wednesday, with private to meetings aiiu wim visits iiiuiouav illuming ROUNDUP Game plan: Change name Panel approves 2 bills designed to lure business to VcK'0" Arena I r- By PATRICK GRAHAM Associated Press TRENTON With move to slash 7,000 jobs in New Jersey still fresh in their minds, members of an Assembly budget panel on Thursday approved two bills the Whitman administration says will help create new jobs by offering companies incentives. The bills would give in-state companies grants for creating new jobs or pay relocation costs for out-of-state firms that bring new jobs into New Jersey. Commerce and Economic Development Commissioner Gil Medina told the Assembly Appropriations Committee that the bills send a positive message to the private sector that New Jersey is a pro-business state.

Medina also warned that New Jersey must anticipate and brace for further corporate job losses in the months ahead, prompted by fierce global competition and a projected economic downturn. "The recent downsizing should serve as a reminder that many business decisions that affect our workers are caused by global economic factors that are beyond the control of the state," Medina said. The Assembly and Senate are scheduled to vote on the bills on Jan. 8. Should they pass, they will go to Gov.

Whitman to be signed into law. "Let's face reality," said Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina, R-Monmouth, sponsor of the bills. "Competition in the business and economic workplace is tough. By Bill Kostroun, Associated Press Sponsor: A banner signals the Byrne Arena's new name Continental Airlines Arena. Rewards: The state would offer incentives to companies that agree to bring jobs to New Jersey.

When companies decide to relocate to another state, they look for the best possible deal." Azzolina said other states are aggressively engaged in bidding wars to attract firms, using grants, relocation assistance and tax breaks as bait. But not all state lawmakers support giving such incentives. Assembly Minority Whip Neil Cohen, D-Union, said the bills are an outgrowth of "an area of corporate betrayal" in which firms cut valuable jobs to earn higher profits. One bill, the "Business Employment Incentive Program," would give grants to businesses whose projects create at least 75 jobs, or at least 25 new jobs in economically depressed areas. A companion bill would set up the "Business Relocation Assistance Program," under which companies could recover up to 50 percent of their relocation costs such as moving and installing furniture, equipment and machinery.

To qualify, companies would have to create a minimum of 25 new, full-time jobs in the state. By RAVI NESSMAN Associated Press ith athletes' salaries skyrocketing and professional sports teams threatening to relocate unless they receive more money, 1 1 competitive in the rapidly changing entertainment marketplace takes creating new partnerships." The deal, which took effect Jan. 1, will pay the authority $750,000 this year, $1.5 million in 1997, $2.25 million in 1998 and $1.5 million for every year remaining in the contract after that. The sports authority would also receive $700,000 in free Continental Airlines tickets each year, but those tickets might also be exchanged for cash, Mulcahy said. In addition to having its name on the stadium, Continental will also become the official airline of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, which includes Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The New Jersey Devils hockey team, which last year threatened to leave New Jersey for Nashville, will get 30 percent of the value of the deal, Mulcahy said. sporting venues have been searching for new ways to generate cash. So, few were surprised when the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority announced Thursday it was changing the name of the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford to the Continental Airlines Arena in a 12-year deal with the airline worth approximately $29 million in cash and airline tickets. "The players want more money, teams want to move because they want more money, everybody's got a bottom line issue and they look to us to provide more money," said Robert Mulcahy, president of the sports authority. "Remaining Darnell Collins parole officer fired for neglect I 'TRENTON A parole officer Has! been fired for his role in the case of Darnell Collins, a drug addict who killed seven people last year in a two-state crime spree.

"John Goodman, 51, of Pleasantville, a 13-year veteran, is fighting the Dec. 14 ruling that terminated him for neglect of duty. Collins, 33, was released from state prison in 1994 after serving 10 years of a 20-year term for arifted robbery. One of the terms of his parole was to stay off drugs. On June 16, he told Goodman he was "having problems" with drugs.

"Instead of reporting the violation or committing Collins to 4 tfeatment center, Goodman gave hitn three days to enter a drug treatment program. 1 But the next day, Collins killed his former girlfriend and he mother. Over the next five days, he killed five more people and, wounded two others before dkig in a shootout with police June 21. -Goodman underwent a one-day administrative hearing Oct. 19, after which hearing officer Robert Maiarski recommended the dismissal.

Prescription program income limits increased TRENTON State officials announced Thursday they have raised the income limits for those eligible for the state's $169 million subsidized prescription drug program. Under the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged Program, about 215,000 low-income senior Citizens and 22,000 disabled people pay $5 for each prescription. The income limits were raised to $17,056 from $16,624 for single people and to $20,913 from $20,383 for married couples. The new limits reflect a 2.6 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits. Bill approved to allow larger RVs on N.J.

roads '-TRENTON The state Assembly on Thursday passed a bill that would allow larger recreation vehicles on New Jersey's highways. Assembly Majority Leader Jack Collins, R-Salem, had pushed the bill because some pepple could not use their long vehicles to visit the state's shores and mountains. law limits the size of one-piece recreational vehicles on state roads to 96 inches in width atfd 35 feet in length. Trailers are limited to 50 feet, including the truck. Under Collins' bill, one-piece vehicles could be 102 inches wide and 40 feet long.

Trailers could be 62 feet long. Bill requires sponsor ID on campaign ads I TRENTON The Assembly or Thursday gave final approval to legislation that would require campaign advertisements to identify their sponsors. IThe bill passed 79-0. It now heads to Gov. Whitman.

Retiring Assembly Speaker Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian, R.Warren, and Assembly Minority Leader Joseph Doria, D-Hudson, introduced the legislation in response to a recent UJS. Supreme Court decision allowing anonymous campaign literature. Under the measure, any committee, group or person required to file finance reports with the Election Law Enforcement Commission would have to identify themselves on their campaign materials. The bill would carry civil penalties for violators. Owners of contaminated sites could win tax breaks Cost: Firms found that it was cheaper to abandon their property than to clean it up.

dards. They could also qualify for state loans. Approval of the tax exemption must be reviewed and granted by the local governing body. "Without these economic incentives, the vast majority of these properties will continue to remain vacant and unproductive," Bagger said. The legislation has already been approved by the Senate.

It heads next to the governor for further consideration. Until the legislation was approved, industrial operators sometimes discovered that it was less expensive to abandon their property than to deal with the high cost of environmental regulations, said Assemblyman Richard Bagger, R-Union, a co-sponsor of the bill. But the new legislation offers incentives to reclaim tainted land. Owners of contaminated properties would be eligible for a 10-year property tax exemption as long as remedial work is performed in accordance with state stan By ALAN GUENTHER Courier-Post Staff TRENTON Owners of environmentally contaminated industrial sites could win tax breaks if they clean up their land under legislation approved unanimously Thursday by the state Assembly. There are 39 vacant, contaminated sites in Camden City that could qualify for the program, said Assemblyman Joseph Roberts, D-Camden.

"The land can be made safe. Industries can be encouraged to come to the site. And that will lead to new job creation," said Roberts, a sponsor of the bill. Bomb found at med school I Bill sets penalty for students with imitation guns By ALAN GUENTHER Courier-Post Staff TRENTON Students carrying imitation guns would be hit with stiffer disorderly persons penalties under legislation approved Thursday by the state Assembly. Under current law, school administrators must prove that a student planned to commit an unlawful act by bringing an imitation weapon to school.

It's hard to prosecute students under the current law, said Assemblyman Gary Stuhltrager, R-Gloucester a sponsor of the bill. But weapons fake or otherwise are no joke. Violence in the schools is a serious problem, Stuhltrager said. Under the bill approved Thursday by a 74-1 vote with two abstentions, those who posses any object or device that could be mistaken for a gun on the grounds of any school, college, university or school bus could be punished with a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail. "Let's say a 12-year-old brings a realistic-looking, imitation assault rifle on board a school bus," said Sen.

Raymond Zane, D-Gloucester, a sponsor of the bill. "He points it at a fellow student, or the bus driver, pandemonium ensues and the bus crashes. "We have to spread the word that carrying a fake gun can bring real jail time." The measure heads to Gov. Whitman for further consideration. Assembly OKs 15 percent raise for state judges Associated Press TRENTON The Assembly approved a 15 percent pay raise for state judges on Thursday the first increase in six years.

The Senate is scheduled to vote Jan. 8 on the increase. Senate President Donald DiFrancesco, R-Union, backs the salary boost. Supporters of the increase have maintained that the raises are necessary to ensure that the judges' six-figure salaries keep pace with the growing cost of living. In addition, state officials want to attract and retain the most qualified people for the state judiciary.

The legislation would raise the base pay for about 390 Superior Court judges to $115,000, up from their current $100,000. Appeals judges, who are now paid $108,000, would get a raise to $124,200, while the six Supreme Court associate justices, now paid $112,000, would get raises to $128,800. Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Wilentz would see his $120,000 salary rise to $138,000 under the bill. The governor of the state has an official salary of $130,000, although Gov. Whitman has chosen to draw only a 1989 salary rate of $85,000 a year.

Wilentz has admitted it may be difficult to get the pay increase passed since state workers have to endure apay freeze during the next two years. By Mike Derer, Associated Press Controlled explosion: School security officer Joseph Ricciardi surveys the damage where a pipe bomb was detonated Thursday at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. The bomb was discovered by a student in a stairwell. Police performed a 'controlled explosion' to detonate the bomb. No one was injured.

The homicide unit of the Newark police department was investigating the incident and called the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Courier-Post wire services t. 1.