Democrats Vote Against $8 Billion of Tax Relief Proposed by Republicans to Help Families & Small Businesses
O’Scanlon’s Amendment Tabled by Democratic Majority in Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee
Democrats in the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee voted against $8 billion of tax relief proposed by Senate Republicans to help New Jersey families and small businesses struggling with high gas prices, inflation, and property taxes.
Democrats in the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee voted against $8 billion of tax relief proposed by Senate Republicans to help New Jersey families and small businesses struggling with high gas prices, inflation, and property taxes. (Pixabay)
“Democrats have offered shockingly little tax relief in their budget proposal despite the Murphy administration having $9 billion in tax overcollections and another $3 billion in federal pandemic relief funds sitting in the bank,” said O’Scanlon (R-13), the Senate Republican Budget Officer. “We gave them an easy opportunity to support the $8 billion of tax relief that Senate Republicans proposed, but they refused yet again to help struggling families across New Jersey. Their resistance to giving money back to taxpayers immediately as we proposed is absolutely mystifying.”
O’Scanlon offered the Senate Republican tax relief plan as an amendment to S-2914, a Democrat bill that would create a ten-day sales tax holiday for school supplies, such as pens and pencils, notebooks, and binders.
The amendment, which was immediately tabled by the Democratic Majority on the Budget Committee, would have incorporated the $8 billion of tax relief previously proposed as part of the comprehensive Senate Republican budget plan into the Democrat legislation.
The $8 billion of increased tax relief that Senate Democrats voted against today includes:
- $4.5 billion through a pair of “Give It Back” tax rebates (S-2243 and S-2290) totaling $1,500 for millions of families;
- $1 billion of property tax relief by reversing Governor Murphy’s proposed cuts to municipal aid and school aid, fully funding extraordinary special education, increasing the veterans property tax deduction, and more;
- $790 million in structural tax reductions, including raising the retiree income exclusion to $250,000, creating a deduction for charitable contributions, and eliminating the CBT surcharge early; and
- $2 billion to halt planned tax and toll increases by indexing state income tax brackets for inflation, replenishing the Unemployment Insurance Fund to prevent upcoming employer/employee payroll tax increases, stopping automatic toll increases on January 1, and rescinding a major tax increase on the state’s largest health insurer and its customers.
“Governor Murphy and legislative Democrats want to give New Jersey taxpayers scraps, not the real tax relief they need to get through this difficult time,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24). “While Senate Republicans have proposed a plan to give back billions to New Jersey taxpayers, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle remain focused on adding billions in pork spending.”
Senate Judiciary Panel Advances Pennacchio Measure to Stop Wrongful Convictions
Bill Would Create the New Jersey Innocence Study and Review Commission
Legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio that would move to prevent the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of innocent people cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Pennacchio that would move to prevent the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of innocent people cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee. (©iStock)
Pennacchio’s bill, S-1205, would establish the New Jersey Innocence Study and Review Commission for the purpose of recommending reforms to reduce the likelihood of wrongful convictions occurring in the future.
After Historic Mullica River Forest Fire, Legislators Push for More State Funding to Help Towns Fight Wildfires
Just days after first responders and firefighters safely extinguished a massive forest fire that burned over 15,000 acres in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest, Senator Jean Stanfield, Assemblyman Michael Torrissi and Assemblyman Brandon Umba moved to sponsor legislation requiring state authorities to better compensate locals for forestry stewardship activities and for emergency wildfire response conducted on public lands.
Just days after firefighters safely extinguished a massive forest fire in NJ’s Wharton State Forest, Sen. Jean Stanfield, Asm. Michael Torrissi and Asm. Brandon Umba moved to sponsor legislation requiring state authorities to better compensate locals for forestry stewardship activities and for emergency wildfire response conducted on public lands. (Pixabay)
“Although Pinelands fires generally do not cause casualties, property loss can amount to millions of dollars for each fire,” Senator Stanfield (R-Westampton) said. “These fires often don’t spread to residential communities because of the hundreds of hours of brave work put in by our firefighters and the Forest Fire Service, but this all comes at a cost for many communities in the Pinelands, which already have a limited tax base.”
Durr Praises SCOTUS Ruling Overturning Roe v. Wade
Senator Ed Durr issued the following statement praising a decision by the United States Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade:
Sen. Ed Durr praised a decision by the United States Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. (©iStock)
“Today is a wonderful day for the pro-life community and our efforts to save as many lives as possible,” said Durr (R-3). “Unfortunately, Governor Murphy supports allowing abortions up until birth, so we still have much work to do to address this sickening taking of innocent lives here in New Jersey.”
Oroho Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho issued the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade:
Statement from Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho on United States Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. (Wikimedia Commons)
“The United States Supreme Court has reversed the flawed logic of Roe v. Wade and reasserted the democratic principle that elected state legislatures and the communities they represent should have the opportunity to make their own decisions on abortion without the mandates of an overbearing unelected federal judiciary,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24). “I believe in the sanctity of life. I also believe in medical science. Looking at the laws governing abortion in New Jersey, I believe we should follow the most up-to-date science when determining viability and legislate accordingly. I call on my colleagues from both parties to begin a bipartisan discussion on reforming New Jersey’s laws.”
Senate Republicans Call for Action to End Tax Bracket Creep After Treasury Estimates $543 Million Income Tax Increase Next Year
Republican senators called for action on their plans to save New Jersey taxpayers from suffering state income tax increases next year due to inflation after the Treasury Department estimated the cost of “tax bracket creep” at $543 million in FY 2023.
Republican senators called for action on their plans to save New Jersey taxpayers from suffering state income tax increases due to inflation after the Treasury Department estimated the cost of ‘tax bracket creep’ at $543 million in FY 2023. (Pixabay)
“I’ve been pushing Democrats and the Murphy administration to work with us to index New Jersey’s income tax brackets for inflation, just like the federal government and dozens of other states,” said Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25). “We now know that failure to act will cost New Jersey families more than half-a-billion dollars in income tax increases next year. On top of record-high gas prices and rising costs for groceries, it’s yet another expense that people can’t afford.”
Testa Lauds Supreme Court Decision in NYS Conceal Carry Case
Senator Michael Testa today praised the United States Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a “proper-cause” requirement in New York law to obtain a concealed-carry license as unconstitutional for violating ordinary citizens’ Second Amendment rights. He also called for the reform of New Jersey gun laws to further respect the individual right to legally possess firearms.
Sen. Michael Testa praised the United States Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a “proper-cause” requirement in New York law to obtain a concealed-carry license as unconstitutional for violating ordinary citizens’ Second Amendment rights. (Wikipedia)
“The Court’s decision in this case is a welcome development for the case of constitutional rights and for the Second Amendment,” said Testa (R-1). “Law-abiding citizens have all the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution and the Court has spoken clearly in this case. New Jersey needs to respect this decision and make changes in our current laws to conform to this ruling.”
New Jersey’s concealed carry law contains a “justifiable need” requirement, which is similar to the New York requirement that was just declared unconstitutional.
New Jersey’s “may issue” standard and its definition of justifiable need and reliance on judges to issue permits has made obtaining a carry permit near impossible.
The Court voted 6–3 to strike down the century-old New York law, which required that people show a special need to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun outside the home.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the majority opinion in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to carry a gun outside the home, adding that the state’s “proper cause” requirement “violates the Fourteenth Amendment by preventing law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms in public for self-defense.”
Polistina Sponsors Legislation to Help Injured Police and Firefighters Who Can No Longer Do Their Jobs
Measure Would Provide Opportunity to Learn New Career with Tuition-Free College Courses
Police and firefighters who were forced to leave their professions due to service-related injury or illness would get help learning a new career under legislation introduced by Senator Vince Polistina.
Police and firefighters who were forced to leave their professions due to service-related injury or illness would get help learning a new career under legislation introduced by Sen. Vince Polistina. (Flickr)
“An individual who chooses a career in emergency services typically does so with the intent of being there for good. Sadly though, many face injuries while in the performance of their duties that result in them no longer being able to perform the job,” said Polistina (R-2). “After dedicating their lives to law enforcement or the fire service, they find themselves needing to start over, many with no training or skills outside their former profession.
“We want to help them prepare to step into a new field that may never replace their chosen occupation, but one that will help fill the void,” Polistina continued.
Testa and Barranco Unveil Parents’ Bill of Rights Legislation
A pair of Republican legislators today unveiled their legislation to ensure that the parents of New Jersey public school children will be able to exercise their rights under the law to observe, comment, and direct their kids’ education and safeguard them against the increasingly radical agenda of leftist educators and administrators.
Sen. Michael Testa and Asm. Christian Barranco introduced their “Parents’ Bill of Rights” bill to fight back against incidents of New Jersey public school districts trying to hide some of the most controversial and shocking curricula from parents and taxpayers. (©iStock)
Senator Michael Testa (R-1) and Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R-26) introduced their “Parents’ Bill of Rights” bill to fight back against incidents of New Jersey public school districts trying to hide some of the most controversial and shocking curricula from parents and taxpayers.
“Parents are rightly upset about the stream of ultra-left indoctrination from some activist educators which seek to miseducate our students instead of preparing them for success in the real world,” said Sen. Testa. “As the spouse of a teacher, our focus should be on English, math, history, and science. Parents who pay the taxes to fund our schools need to have their rights respected and protected.”
Oroho, Space & Wirths Applaud U.S. Supreme Court Upholding the Second Amendment
District 24 Legislators to Use Court Decision to Defend Rights in New Jersey
Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths (all R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) applaud today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen which reinforced the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for the protection for themselves and their families in public.
Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths applaud the U.S. Supreme Court decision reinforcing the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for the protection for themselves and their families in public. (Wikipedia Commons)
“I believe today will go down as a victory for freedom and that many generations of Americans to come will look upon today as a beacon in defense of liberty,” said Oroho. “Now we have to look towards New Jersey government to do what is right and end their decades-old infringement on New Jersey freedoms.”
