Corrado Seeks Hiring Investigation by Legislative Oversight Committee
The vice-chair of the Legislative Select Oversight Committee to investigate the Murphy Administration’s hiring practices, Senator Kristin Corrado is calling for the panel to reconvene in light of questions surrounding the employment of a now-fired staff member of the governor.
“The committee left some glaring unfinished business,” Corrado said. “Summer is over. We need to get back to Trenton, sort out the mess and hold the administration accountable for what has become a long and growing list of hiring scandals.”
Sen. Kristin Corrado is calling for the Legislative Select Oversight Committee to reconvene in light of questions surrounding the employment of a now-fired staff member. (SenateNJ.com)
The most recent scandal erupted this summer, after the LSOC issued its closing report in June over the objection of Corrado and committee member Senator Steven Oroho, who at the time released a minority statement detailing the investigation’s shortfalls.
Jeffrey Dye, the Passaic County NAACP president and political ally of Murphy, was fired from his state job with the Department of Labor after a series of racist and anti-Semitic social media comments came to light. Later it was revealed the administration had been warned against hiring Dye by a long-time Democrat Assemblyman, and that he has a criminal record.
“It’s alarming the administration would ignore the red flags and give this man a job,” said Corrado (R-40). “There is clearly a systemic problem in the front office. Doesn’t character count for anything when you want a job with the Murphy team?”
Corrado reiterated her call for the LSOC to complete a thorough investigation of hiring policies within the administration, and the dubious employment moves at the New Jersey Schools Development Authority and the Economic Development Authority.
“I had been calling for an investigation into hiring even before the LSOC was created, and the committee only scratched the surface,” Corrado said, adding that to “get to the bottom of this, we need witnesses released from Gov. Murphy’s non-disclosure agreements so they can testify truthfully.”
Corrado’s minority statement cited other disturbing hiring examples that should be examined by the committee, including:
- Employment of Derrick Green in the Secretary of State’s office while he was under investigation for a major campaign finance scandal in Bermuda. Green had been paid more than $2 million as a consultant for the Murphy campaign and may have connections to Dye.
- Hiring of Marcellus Jackson in the education department despite his conviction on federal corruption charges. He worked on Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign.
- Employment of Lewis Daidone at the Department of Transportation. A former executive at Citigroup, he was accused of defrauding thousands of clients by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Keep Pressure on to Stop Murphy from Giving Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Aliens
The 9th District legislative delegation is warning residents that Governor Phil Murphy remains committed to advancing legislation that would permit illegal aliens to receive New Jersey driver’s licenses.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove are warning residents that Gov. Phil Murphy remains committed to advancing legislation that would permit illegal aliens to receive New Jersey driver’s licenses. (Wikimedia Commons)
Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove urged residents opposed to this proposal to sign the online petition they launched to stop this and other efforts by Governor Murphy to establish New Jersey as a sanctuary state.
The petition can be signed online at https://www.senatenj.com/sanctuarystate/.
O’Scanlon: $54 Million Increase in Subsidies Shows Cost of Murphy’s Minimum Wage Hike to Families & Taxpayers
Calls it a “textbook lesson” of the ripple effects caused by minimum wage hikes on the economy
Senator Declan O’Scanlon said that $54 million of new subsidies announced by Governor Phil Murphy to cover the rising cost of childcare due to an increased minimum wage highlights the pain caused by government mandated wage policies to both families and taxpayers.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said ‘Increasing taxpayer-funded subsidies to cover higher costs associated with Murphy’s minimum wage hike is like putting a Band-Aid on a gushing wound.’ (Pixabay)
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – raising the minimum wage sounds lovely in theory but stings in reality,” O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said. “While this $54 million childcare subsidy may seem great for a few qualifying families that are struggling to afford childcare, there are many other low- and middle-income families that won’t get a penny of help as their cost of living rises as a direct result of Governor Murphy’s minimum wage increases. The simple fact is that most New Jersey families will be stuck shelling out more of their hard-earned money for a variety of services, including childcare, which have become less affordable as costs have been driven higher by expensive government mandates.”
Pennacchio Condemns Selective Outrage by Senate Democrats on Racism & Discrimination
Senator Joe Pennacchio said a resolution (SR-155) adopted by Senate Democrats condemning certain comments by the President as racist is a demonstration of utter hypocrisy.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio said a resolution adopted by Senate Democrats condemning certain comments by the President as racist is a demonstration of utter hypocrisy.(SenateNJ.com)
“We have numerous examples of elected Democrats at all levels of government making comments which are clearly discriminatory, and in some cases blatantly anti-Semitic,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Where’s the official condemnation?”
Thompson Resolution Honoring 30th Anniversary of NJ-Taiwan “Sister State” Relationship Passes Senate
Bill Also Commemorates 40th Anniversary of the Federal “Taiwan Relations Act”
Senator Sam Thompson’s resolution to commemorate the robust and enduring relationship between New Jersey and Taiwan has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Sam Thompson’s resolution to commemorate the robust and enduring relationship between New Jersey and Taiwan has passed the State Senate. Pictured: Sen. Thompson at the Taiwanese Yuan Parliament on December 5, 2018. (SenateNJ.com)
“I am proud that the United States, and especially our great state of New Jersey, have maintained a strong and special relationship with Taiwan for decades,” said Thompson (R-12). “Just in 2017, the Garden State exported hundreds of millions of dollars of products to Taiwan, making the island the sixth largest export market for New Jersey in Asia. We must continue to make every effort to sustain this mutually beneficial friendship.”
10th District Legislators Against Driver’s License for Undocumented Immigrants
Residents Urged to Sign Petition Against Governor Murphy’s Plan
In a recent interview, Governor Phil Murphy proclaimed that making driver’s licenses available for undocumented immigrants in New Jersey is a “no brainer.” Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin of the 10th Legislative District are vehemently opposed to this idea and any legislation aimed at providing driver’s licenses to those who have entered the country illegally.
Holzapfel, Wolfe, and McGuckin are vehemently opposed to any legislation aimed at providing driver’s licenses to those who have entered the country illegally. (SenateNJ.com)
“This is a brainless idea constructed by Governor Murphy and the Democrats who seem to care more about illegals than they do about the naturally born citizens of this state,” stated Senator Holzapfel. “Residents pay every time Democrats implement these types of policies in the form of higher taxes, lost jobs, lower wages and a lower standard of living. This proposal is an outrage and a dangerous political statement that jeopardizes the safety of millions.”
Oroho, Space & Wirths Host DOT Commissioner on Tour of Local Projects
Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblyman Parker Space, and Assemblyman Hal Wirths (all R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) welcomed Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) and other top department staff on a tour this week to review several transportation projects in the 24th Legislative District.
Left to Right in Blairstown: Assemblyman Hal Wirths; DOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti; Senator Steve Oroho; DOT Deputy Commissioner Joe Bertoni; Helen Carew, District 24 Office; Jeff Spatola, District 24 Office; Jay Imenez, DOT Commissioner’s Chief of Staff; Zenobia Fields, Director of Government & Community Relations for DOT; Blairstown Township Mayor Stephen Lance. (SenateNJ.com)
“We were pleased to have the commissioner and key staff come up to the district to see firsthand some of the local road projects that require the State’s attention and assistance,” said Oroho. “Having top-level DOT representatives on-site to see the actual roads and the conditions, and be able to speak to local officials, helps in the planning and the resolution of these projects.”
Timothy Piazza Law: Bateman’s anti-hazing bill advances
Timothy Piazza Law: Bateman’s anti-hazing bill advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman to increase penalties for hazing resulting in injury was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Timothy J. Piazza Law is named for a Penn State University sophomore from Readington who died during a fraternity hazing in 2017.
Senator Kip Bateman’s Timothy J. Piazza Law increases penalties for hazing resulting in injury. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill today. (Pixabay)
“Timothy’s death was a horrible and preventable tragedy,” said Bateman (R-16). “No college student should have to endure the horrors Timothy suffered. With the support of the Legislature, we can enact this law and protect young people from this dangerous and cruel practice.”
Bateman’s bill, S-3150, would increase hazing to a crime of the fourth degree, and aggravated hazing to a crime of the third degree. Currently, the charge reaches aggravated hazing when the criminal act results in serious bodily injury to another person.
Democrats Rule Cardinale “Out of Order” for Attempting to Condemn All Racist and Discriminatory Comments Directed at Elected Officials
After Rejecting Cardinale’s Proposal to Increase Civility in Nation’s Political Discourse, Democrats Adopt Partisan Attack on President
An effort by Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-39) to address the incivility at all levels of American politics was ruled “out of order” by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee today.
After ruling an effort by Sen. Gerry Cardinale to increase civility in politics “out of order,” Democrats on the Judiciary Committee adopted a partisan attack on the President of the United States. (SenateNJ.com)
“How is it ‘out of order’ to suggest that the New Jersey Senate as an institution should not be selective in its outrage at the growing incivility that has pervaded our nation’s political discourse?” asked Cardinale. “Through their actions today, New Jersey Democrats have shown that they don’t care about condemning racist and discriminatory comments unless it serves a partisan political purpose.”
After Another Six-Figure Sick Time Parachute, Bateman Urges Action on His Bill
The police chief in Palisades Park is retiring after a scathing review of the operation of his department, but only after he cashes more than $115,000 in checks for unused sick time. It’s just the latest example of a long string of abuses suffered by property taxpayers in the state, Senator Kip Bateman bristled.
Senator Kip Bateman called the six-figure sick leave payout to the police chief in Palisades Park just the latest example of the ongoing abuse of NJ property taxpayers.
“Sick time was never intended to be a personal retirement account for a select group of public employees, but here we go again,” said Bateman (R-16). “Another police chief retiring, and another six-figure invoice for the property taxpayers to deal with.”
