Pennacchio Silenced in Push to Move Legislation Creating Investigation of Nursing Home Deaths
Senator Joe Pennacchio’s efforts to speak in support of Democrat Senator Nia H. Gill’s motion to a relieve resolution SR-48 from committee was silenced after Senate Democrats moved to table the motion and the Senate President prevented comments.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio’s efforts to speak in support of Democrat Sen. Nia H. Gill’s motion to a relieve resolution SR-48 from committee was silenced after Senate Democrats moved to table the motion and the Senate President prevented comments. (SenateNJ.com)
Pennacchio and Gill are sponsors of the measure that would establish a on oversight committee with subpoena power to investigate New Jersey’s response to the pandemic in nursing homes.
“I am outraged and disappointed that we were once again prevented from even discussing this effort to scrutinize the policies and factors that may have contributed to the death toll in long-term facilities,” said Pennacchio. “Like the voices of family members clamoring for answers, my voice, and the voices of my Senate colleagues, were silenced today.
Senate Republicans Propose $8 Billion of New Tax Relief, Bolstering Surplus, Doubling Debt Repayment & Increasing Oversight in Budget Plan
Republicans serving on the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee proposed $8 billion of new tax relief, increasing the state surplus to $5 billion, more than doubling proposed debt repayments, and increasing legislative oversight of Murphy administration spending in a detailed budget plan (click here for PDF) to amend Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 2023 State Budget.
Senate Republicans have proposed a comprehensive budget plan with $8 billion of new tax relief, including ‘Give It Back’ rebates totaling $1,500 for most New Jersey families. (www.GiveItBack.us)
“Senate Republicans have offered a detailed budget plan to make responsible use of an unprecedented $11 billion windfall of state and federal taxpayer funds to support struggling families, solve long-term problems, and ensure that New Jersey is well prepared for the next recession,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We’re leading the way in showing Governor Murphy and the Democrat legislative majorities how to give back billions to taxpayers while building a responsible surplus and paying down substantial additional debt. It’s no surprise that everyone else is suddenly rushing to find ways to ‘Give It Back’ as Senate Republicans have advocated for months.”
Durr: Democrats Violate Senate Rules to Prevent Vote on $500 “Give It Back” Tax Rebate to New Jersey Families
During a session of the New Jersey Senate today, Democrats violated the rules of the Senate to improperly block a vote on legislation that would provide an immediate $500 rebate to most New Jersey families.
During today's Senate session, I made a motion to call a vote on my "Give It Back" bill that would provide New Jersey families with immediate $500 rebates to offset the impact of soaring gas prices and inflation.
Democrats actually broke the rules of the Senate to block a vote on this tax relief. Absolutely unbelievable.
Posted by Senator Edward Durr on Thursday, May 26, 2022
“It’s unbelievable that Democrats would violate the rules of the Senate to prevent New Jersey families from getting a $500 rebate to help offset the impact of soaring gas prices and inflation,” said Senator Ed Durr (R-3). “They just demonstrated clearly that they’d rather divvy up billions of dollars of tax overcollections in a back room for pet projects than help struggling families. Why are Democrats so afraid of giving real tax relief to New Jerseyans?”
Oroho Bill that Would Reinforce New Jersey’s Commitment to Veteran Owned Businesses Clears Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would cut government red tape for disabled veteran owned businesses (DVOB’s) and make it easier for them to qualify for set-aside contracts was advanced by the New Jersey Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho that would cut government red tape for disabled veteran owned businesses and make it easier for them to qualify for set-aside contracts was advanced by the New Jersey Senate. (©iStock)
“Disabled veteran owned businesses in New Jersey are looking for opportunities to grow but are often stymied by outdated state regulations,” said Oroho (R-24). “It is actually quite difficult for these businesses to expand because all contracts set aside for DVOB’s must have three qualified bidders. Given the relatively few DVOB’s in the state, three qualified bidders in any specific transaction can be difficult to achieve. To fix this issue, my legislation will update New Jersey’s laws and reduce the number of businesses needed to qualify for a set-aside contract from three to two.”
Polistina Bill to Free CRDA to Help with Transportation Link from A.C. Airport to Tourist District Clears Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Vince Polistina that would ease restraints on how the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) can spend money was approved by the Senate today.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Vince Polistina that would ease restraints on how the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) can spend money was approved by the Senate today. (Pixabay)
Polistina’s measure (S-1110) would pave the way for a long-anticipated transportation line from Atlantic City International Airport that could make it easier for tourists to reach Atlantic City casinos and businesses.
Senate Approves Singer Bill to Assist Overburdened Registrars in Large Municipalities
Towns of More Than 100,000 Residents Could Benefit from Additional Deputy Registrars
Registrars struggling with a glut of paperwork demands in the state’s largest municipalities could get relief from legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer and endorsed today by the Senate.
Registrars struggling with a glut of paperwork demands in the state’s largest municipalities could get relief from legislation sponsored by Sen. Robert Singer and endorsed today by the Senate. (SenateNJ.com)
Municipalities with more than 100,000 residents would be authorized to appoint as many as five alternate deputy registrars to ease the workload of filing vital documents under Singer’s bill, S-85.
Pennacchio/Singer Bill Turns Tables on Pop-Up Mobs
As Jersey Shore towns face the likelihood of more pop-up “parties” like the one Saturday that lured more than 5,000 raucous young adults to Long Branch forcing businesses to close and municipal officials to declare a 9 p.m. curfew, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Robert Singer said legislation they introduced last summer may hold the key to preserving the summer season.
As Jersey Shore towns face the likelihood of more pop-up ‘parties’ like the one Saturday that lured more than 5,000 raucous young adults to Long Branch forcing businesses to close and municipal officials to declare a 9 p.m. curfew, Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Robert Singer said legislation they introduced last summer may hold the key to preserving the summer season. (Flickr)
After an early summer pop-up mob last June, Pennacchio and Singer introduced a bill that would expand the legal definition of “riot,” and increase penalties for crimes committed during a riot.
“Our bill would provide communities and law enforcement with the tools necessary to combat these organized mobs,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “If it was passed a year ago, maybe we wouldn’t be worrying about the next ‘event’ that could erupt in violence, property damage and business interruption during the crucial summer season.
Bucco Bill Increasing Notification Requirements for Land Development Gaining Support
With growing bipartisan support, Senator Anthony M. Bucco is hopeful legislative leadership will move forward with his bill to help residents keep up to date with potential real estate development in their communities.
With growing bipartisan support, Sen. Anthony M. Bucco is hopeful legislative leadership will move forward with his bill to help residents keep up to date with potential real estate development in their communities. (SenateNJ.com)
The measure (S-2435) sponsored by Bucco (R-25) and Senator Joe Cryan (D-20), would protect New Jerseyans by extending the time required for public notice of land use applications to 21 days from the current 10.
“Too often, entire neighborhoods are altered forever by large developments that effect traffic patterns, environmental conditions, and the quality of life, and these changes are approved before residents even know what hit them,” Senator Bucco said. “Ten days isn’t enough time for families to organize, consider the ramifications, and respond in any capacity.
Senators from Both Sides of the Aisle Seek Support for Nursing Home Investigation
Will Attempt to Relieve Resolution from Committee for Vote During Thursday Session
Senator Joe Pennacchio said he is hopeful more of his Democrat colleagues in the Senate have grown tired of the Murphy Administration’s reticence regarding nursing home deaths during the pandemic and will support a motion during Thursday’s session to force a vote on a bipartisan resolution to create a special Senate committee to investigate the tragedy.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio said he is hopeful more of his Democrat colleagues in the Senate have grown tired of the Murphy Administration’s reticence regarding nursing home deaths and will support a motion during Thursday’s session to force a vote on a bipartisan resolution to create a special committee to investigate the tragedy. (Pixabay)
“If New Jersey residents are going to get the answers they need, it is up to the Senate to take on the job,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “I am appreciative and thankful that Senator Gill is taking this initiative. With a little more bipartisanship, we can create the ‘New Jersey Nursing Home Pandemic Response Investigation Committee’ and start learning how mandates and rules from Trenton contributed to the tragic outcomes in our nursing and veterans’ homes.”
10th District Lawmakers Introduce Bill that Would Increase Transparency of School Libraries
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano (all R-10) introduced legislation that would require public schools to post a comprehensive list of all resources available in school libraries to their website to better inform parents of potentially inappropriate materials their children can access.
District 10 lawmakers introduced legislation that would require public schools to post a comprehensive list of all resources available in school libraries to their website to better inform parents of potentially inappropriate materials their children can access. (Abhi Sharma/Flickr)
“When most people think of school libraries, they probably imagine a room full of old, classic books along and a few computers scattered here and there. While this may have been true a decade or two ago, school libraries nowadays contain far more resources than just books, and many parents may be shocked to see exactly what materials are available to their children,” said Sen. Holzapfel. “Today’s modern library contains access to all sorts of controversial topics, including books and articles about critical race theory (CRT)—which indoctrinates students with the absurd belief that people are inherently privileged, oppressive, or morally deficient due to little more than the circumstances of their birth. This legislation will make sure that public schools list all of this information online so that parents know precisely what type of information is accessible by their children.”
