In recent days, a fast-tracked bill to end government-paid public notices in newspapers has advanced through the Assembly in Trenton. The stated aim of this proposed legislation is to save taxpayers and municipalities money by posting notices online instead of through traditional print media. I believe that the actual savings to New Jersey’s taxpayers will be negligible and the potential mischief of such a bill would be too great a threat to transparency in government.

When this bill comes to the floor of the Assembly, I will be voting “NO.”

Ahead of the General Assembly voting session on Monday, Assemblywoman Joann Downey and Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling have called for an override of Governor Christie’s veto of legislation that would have promoted pay equity for women in New Jersey. Houghtaling and Downey previously criticized Governor Christie for vetoing the bill back in May.

Monmouth County Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey have introduced new legislation to establish the “Veterans Assistance Grant Program” to provide additional funding for vital veteran services. The grant would be available for New Jersey-based nonprofit organizations and would go toward services that benefit the state’s veterans, including mental health services, job training, and more.

Talk to mayors and council members, and they will tell you that high property taxes are the biggest complaint of citizens all over the state. But what too few voters understand is that the bulk of their property tax bills go toward the cost of paying for public schools.

That’s why any meaningful plan to achieve property tax relief has to start with a discussion of school property taxes.

The office of local Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey will be accepting donations of nonperishable food following the launch of their Annual Holiday Food Drive. The food drive will run from November 28, 2016 to December 12, 2016 and will benefit the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald and Assembly Democrats Joann Downey, Eric Houghtaling, Shavonda Sumter, Daniel R. Benson and Pamela Lampitt to strengthen New Jersey's gun laws and protect victims of domestic abuse from gun violence gained final legislative approval from the full Assembly on Thursday.