Senator Kevin O’Toole speaks after Governor Chris Christie signs FY 2011 Budget with the First Lady Mary Pat Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno in South River, N.J. on Tuesday, June 29, 2010. (Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)
Senator Kevin O’Toole speaking at a ceremony to mark the signing of S-2, S-3 and S-4 by Governor Chris Christie on March 22, 2010. O’Toole is a primary sponsor of S-2, legislation which make various changes to public employee pension systems, and of S-4 which concerns payouts for unused sick leave and sick leave injury. (Governor Photos/Tim Larsen)
Senator Kevin O’Toole speaking during a Senate session on Monday, February 22, 2010.
Senator Kevin O’Toole speaking during a Senate session on December 10, 2009.
Senator O’Toole Questions State Treasurer Rousseau at Senate Budget Committee Hearing
Senator Kevin O’Toole Questions Treasurer Rousseau During Budget Hearing
Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40) Speaking During Senate Session on 3/7/08
Following testimony from Labor Commissioner Harold Wirths before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Senators Anthony Bucco, Kevin O’Toole, Steven Oroho, Joe Pennacchio, and Jennifer Beck remarked that the labor indicators presented to the committee show a marked turnaround for the state’s long term economic health.
Senator Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), Republican Budget Officer:
The Administration is to be applauded for putting the state’s unemployment insurance fund on the path to solvency more quickly than anyone expected. Through a combination of tax reforms, efficiencies, and aggressive prosecution of fraud and abuse, this Governor has fixed the mess he inherited as a result of years of diversions and fiscal irresponsibility by an unchecked Democratic Majority in Trenton.
Senator Kevin O’Toole, R-40, replied today to a response received earlier today from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer regarding Republican Senators’ April 18 letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg (view the letter).
The Republican Senators strongly oppose 2013 NYC mayoral candidate Stringer’s proposal to restore a .45 percent income tax on New Jerseyans who commute to work in New York City. Proceeds from the levy would be used to bail out the long-dysfunctional Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
In his response letter, Stringer tried to discredit Senator O’Toole and the caucus’ fact-based fight of Stringer’s MTA bailout attempt.
Today, O’Toole sent the following reply letter to Stringer on behalf of the caucus and more than 300,000 New Jersey residents who commute to work in New York City:
Senator Kevin O’Toole appeared with Michael Aron on NJTV’s ‘On the Record’ this weekend. He explained how his parents, a U.S. soldier and a North Korean refugee, met during the Korean War. He also discussed a number of state issues including controversy regarding Governor Christie’s Supreme Court nominations.
The Senator talked about why the Governor has been successful in implementing good government reforms that his predecessors had been unable to accomplish.
Republican Senators representing districts with large numbers of New York City commuters have sent a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressing their strong opposition to any effort to restore a .45% income tax on New Jersey commuters working in New York City.
The proposal to bring back the “commuter tax”, which was abolished in 2000, has been floated by Manhattan Borough President and 2013 Mayoral candidate Scott Stringer. Proceeds from the levy would be used to bail out the long-dysfunctional Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Senator Kevin O’Toole, R-Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, is preparing a Senate resolution decrying Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer’s attempt to reinstate a .45 percent income tax on New Jersey residents who commute to work in New York City.
“President Stringer’s shortsighted proposal to stimulate his prospective mayoral run would be unduly burdensome on tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who work in New York City and contribute millions of dollars to multiple economies,” O’Toole said. “These working residents already pay income taxes to that city, New Jersey local governments, both states and the federal government. The New York State Legislature realized a .45 percent commuter income tax was a terrible idea when they repealed it in 1999, so this taxpayer-funded bailout should be dead on arrival.”
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee members Kevin O’Toole (R- Essex/Bergen/Passaic) and Joe Pennacchio (R- Morris/Essex/Passaic) today said that efforts to control the cost of local government are successfully putting the brakes on property tax levy increases in New Jersey.
“Our goal remains to achieve an overall reduction in local tax levies, and we can get bipartisan support for reforming our school funding formula, ending sick leave payouts to public employees, and finishing the rest of the property tax relief toolkit,” said O’Toole. “However, the numbers clearly show we are heading the right direction and increases are slowing. After eight years of total Democratic control in Trenton during which property taxes soared by 60% despite record levels of state spending, property tax levies are leveling off under reforms like Cap 2.0 championed by the Governor and Republicans in the Legislature.”
State Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-40th District) and Bergen County Executive Kathe Donovan will host a joint press conference on Thursday, April 12, 2012 to address the concerns of the state’s Korean community following the disrespectful treatment of State Supreme Court nominee Phillip Kwon before the state Senate’s Judicial Committee last month.
The press conference will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Bergen County Administration Building, 1 Bergen Plaza in Hackensack, at the Learning Center on the 4th Floor.
Senator Kevin O’Toole appeared on NJ Today to talk about the Democrats’ refusal to approve a qualified New Jersey Supreme Court nominee, Phillip Kwon, for partisan political reasons.
O’Toole, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and participated in Kwon’s confirmation hearing, called the hearing “the most unfair process I’ve ever seen unfold in Trenton.”
Senate Republican Judiciary Committee Members Gerald Cardinale, Kevin O’Toole, Joe Kyrillos, Christopher Bateman, and Michael J. Doherty issued the following statement regarding the Committee’s rejection of Supreme Court nominee Phil Kwon:
Today, Democratic Senators on the Judiciary Committee rejected an exceptionally well-qualified Supreme Court nominee for no good reason whatsoever. From the moment Mr. Kwon was nominated, the Majority engaged in a campaign of intensely personal character assassination centering around issues that were completely immaterial to his fitness to serve on the court.
The Majority’s entire line of questioning and basis for rejecting his nomination centered on events that had absolutely nothing to do with Phil Kwon.
Senator Kevin O’Toole, along with Assemblymen David C. Russo and Scott T. Rumana, all R-Bergen/Essex/Morris/Passaic, hosted a breakfast in Wayne today for 40th District mayors to connect with state Department of Transportation Commissioner James S. Simpson.
Municipal leaders shared their concerns and questions with the state’s top regulator of roadways, bridges and traffic safety. Commissioner Simpson also shared his department’s top initiatives.
“This opportunity provided our mayors direct access to address issues of vital importance to constituents, who want the condition and safety of New Jersey’s roadways to match the taxes they pay for them,” O’Toole said. “It is important local leaders are heard by Trenton’s top decision makers. We are grateful for Commissioner Simpson’s time, recognition and attentiveness to the 40th District.”
