O’Scanlon Responds to Gov. Murphy’s Press Conference on Budget & Tax Hikes
Senate Budget Committeemember Slams Gov & Invited Guests for Calling for Unnecessary Tax Increases
Following Governor Phil Murphy’s press conference on yesterday’s Legislative passage of the State budget, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) slammed Governor Murphy for calling for unnecessary tax increases.
Following Gov. Murphy’s press conference on yesterday’s Legislative passage of the State budget, Sen. Declan O’Scanlon slammed Gov. Murphy for calling for unnecessary tax increases. (SenateNJ.com)
At the presser, the Governor reiterated his call for an income tax increase, and his invited guests also called for increases to the estate tax and the sales tax.
Singer & Sweeney Intro Bill to Combat Anti-Semitism in Public Schools
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Robert Singer today announced that they have introduced bipartisan legislation to expressly prohibit anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education statewide.
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Sen. Robert Singer have introduced bipartisan legislation to expressly prohibit anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education statewide. (Flickr)
Currently, State law broadly prohibits discriminating against a person based on a number of factors, including “creed,” which in practice, has been widely interpreted to mean one can’t discriminate against someone based on religion. To ensure this prohibition is consistently applied, the new bipartisan bill explicitly expands the categories protected under the law to clarify that discriminating against a person based on religion is prohibited.
“Hate has no home in the Garden State. A school should be a safe and nurturing place – not a haven for discrimination,” said Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean.) “It is hard to explain the trauma a young Jewish child experiences when they walk into a classroom and see a swastika on the chalkboard. Anti-Semitism is a cancer on society and it is growing in New Jersey. By passing this bill, we are taking action to stamp out this disease, before it’s too late.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe Opposed Democrats’ Pork-Filled Budget
Trenton Democrats Priorities: Cut Millions in Brick & Toms River School Aid, Spend Millions More on Wasteful Programs
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe opposed a State Budget put forward by Democrats in the Legislature that cuts millions in aid to schools in Brick and Toms River while funding tens of millions of unnecessary pork projects.
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe opposed a State Budget that cuts millions in aid to schools in Brick and Toms River while funding tens of millions of unnecessary pork projects. (SenateNJ.com)
The legislators highlighted the misplaced priorities of the Democrats’ budget plan that will force local Ocean County schools to lay-off teachers and eliminate after school programs.
“Democrats in the Legislature took a bad budget proposal put forward by Governor Murphy and made it worse by adding at least $60 million of unjustifiable spending,” said Senator Holzapfel. “Instead of funding our schools fairly, they’ve decided to cut aid from our classrooms and redirect it into pork projects in their districts. It says a lot about the priorities of Trenton Democrats that they’re choosing to fund wasteful programs over our children.”
The budget adopted by the Senate and General Assembly includes more than $60 million of legislative add-ons to the budget initially proposed by Governor Murphy in March. Some of the items they have chosen to add include:
- $4 million for Turtle Back Zoo;
- $3 million for an Irvington camp;
- $250,000 for a Newark mayor’s initiative to have ex-convicts and former gang leaders mentor youth on conflict resolution and reducing violence;
- $4 million for urban park grants;
- $3.1 million undocumented legal aid; and
“Republicans have repeatedly provided common-sense solutions to make New Jersey more affordable and properly fund our schools,” said Assemblyman McGuckin. “In contrast, Trenton Democrats are diverting millions for urban camps, programs for ex-cons and gang leaders and legal aid for undocumented immigrants. Some of these things might be understandable if we were flush with money, but they don’t make any sense if we have to fire school teachers and sacrifice the quality of education in our classrooms to pay for them.”
Under both Governor Murphy’s original budget plan and that adopted by legislative Democrats, school districts within the 10th Legislative District will lose over $5.5 million in State aid next year. The biggest cuts will come at the expense of the Brick and Toms River school districts, which will lose more than $2.7 million each. In total, schools in the 10th District will lose 4.5 percent of their State aid under the Democrats’ budget plan.
“Trenton Democrats have advanced a lavish spending plan without any concern for our property taxpayers or our schoolchildren,” added Assemblyman Wolfe. “I could not support a budget that values partisan pork over our children’s education.”
Singer Bill to Improve Maternity Care Passes Senate
A resolution sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) that aims to make pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period safer has unanimously passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Robert Singer’s resolution that aims to make pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period safer has passed the Senate. (Flickr)
The passage of this legislation comes in the wake of a state and national health emergency: African American mothers are dying both during and after childbirth at disproportionately higher rates than white mothers, with some of the most staggering rates occurring right here in New Jersey.
Oroho Bill to Permanently Establish NJ Hemp Program Passes Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R- Sussex, Warren, Morris) that would permanently enact a State program to permit hemp growth for industrial use has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Steven Oroho’s legislation that would permanently enact a State program to permit hemp growth for industrial use has passed the Senate. (SenateNJ.com)
“The Garden State should do all that it can to grow and cultivate the hemp industry,” Oroho said. “This versatile and profitable plant will encourage new business development and boost the state’s economy. With burdensome federal regulations removed, New Jersey famers can greatly benefit from this potential billion dollar industry.”
Senate Passes 9th District Bill to Exempt Disabled Veterans From Paying for Beach Buggy Permits
The New Jersey Senate has passed legislation sponsored by District 9 legislators to exempt an eligible disabled veteran from any fee to obtain, replace, or renew a permit to operate a beach buggy.
The NJ Senate has passed legislation sponsored by District 9 legislators to exempt veterans from certain beach buggy fees. (©iStock)
The legislation was introduced by Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove at the request of a constituent, who is a disabled veteran.
The 9th District Delegation issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s passage of their veterans-related initiative, S-1703:
“Exempting disabled veterans from paying for beach buggy permits is a small, yet meaningful gesture of appreciation to these brave individuals in recognition of their service and sacrifice for our nation.
Singer/Kean Bill to Change Code Blue to Better Protect NJ’s Homeless Passes Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean expanding Code Blue protections to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has passed the State Senate.
Sens. Robert Singer and Tom Kean’s bill that would expand Code Blue to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has passed the Senate. (©iStock)
Currently, a Code Blue is triggered when temperatures drop to 32 degrees with precipitation, or 25 degrees with no precipitation. The bill advanced by the Senate, S-3422, would eliminate the 25 degree standard, so that a Code Blue would be triggered as soon as the temperature falls to 32 degrees, regardless of whether or not there is precipitation at the time.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Praise Legislative Passage of Superstorm Sandy Foreclosure Assistance Bill
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove today praised the final passage of legislation they sponsor to extend the mortgage forbearance and foreclosure assistance program for Superstorm Sandy victims.
District 9 legislators today praised the final passage of legislation they sponsor to extend the mortgage forbearance and foreclosure assistance program for Superstorm Sandy victims. Pictured: damage caused by the storm, (U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
The deadline for reauthorization was set for July 1, which meant that without legislative action, the program would have expired. As the deadline drew near, Connors, Rumpf and Gove wrote a letter urging Legislative leaders to immediately post A-5096 and S-3582 for a vote, stressing the urgent need to ensure that Superstorm Sandy victims would continue receiving this critical form of assistance. The Senate passed the Senate version of their bill, S-3582, on June 20. The identical Assembly version of the bill passed the Assembly on March 25.
The Delegation has worked in conjunction with representatives of the New Jersey Organizing Project (NJOP) to advocate for this legislation, as well as a number of other efforts to aid Superstorm Sandy victims.
“As representatives of an area that was among the hardest hit by Sandy, we continue to work closely with constituents who are still coping with the catastrophic damage caused by the storm. Therefore, we completely understand how critical the mortgage forbearance and foreclosure assistance program is to Sandy victims, as well as to the overall rebuilding and recovery process.
Pennacchio’s Anti-Bullying Measure, Mallory’s Law, Passes Senate
Comprehensive legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Essex, Morris, Passaic) and Senator Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex) to strengthen New Jersey’s anti-bullying laws has passed the New Jersey Senate. The bill is named in honor of Mallory Grossman, a twelve-year-old Rockaway resident who committed suicide in 2017 after being bullied.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio’s “Mallory’s Law” to toughen NJ’s anti-bullying laws has passed the Senate. Pictured: the Senate honors Mallory’s Army on Dec. 18, 2017 for its fight against bullying. (SenateNJ.com)
“Incidents of bullying should not be solely handled by the schools – the problem is much larger than that,” said Pennacchio. “Parents must be engaged in the process as well. This legislation standardizes the reporting process while increasing transparency and accountability at every level. There is no doubt that Mallory’s Law will go a long way to combating bullying in every school in New Jersey.”
Senate Passes Oroho’s Update to ‘Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971’
Legislation modernizes 1971 law in order to better support crime victims and surviving loved ones
The New Jersey Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) to update the “Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971,” in order to ensure that crime victims or their surviving loved ones receive the compensation and support they deserve.
Sen. Steven Oroho’s updates the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971, in order to ensure that crime victims or their surviving loved ones receive the compensation and support they deserve. (©iStock)
The 1971 law created an agency designed to award funds to victims to help them recover. As a result, the right to receive compensation became the first right legally provided to crime victims in New Jersey. The compensation is intended to cover costs such as counseling, funeral expenses, attorney fees, medical bills, and ongoing costs for rehabbing a catastrophic injury.
A 2018 investigation conducted by NJ Advance Media found that the agency is failing to meet the needs of those whose lives are forever changed by violence. For example, crime victims often struggle to cope with delayed responses to their claim applications. Some victims reported that the funding they received was not sufficient to meet their needs, and many were not even aware that help from the state is available. The maximum amount a crime victim can receive in compensation has not been updated in nearly 20 years.
