Operation Yellow Ribbon Teaming with 8th District Legislators to Collect Cookies for Soldiers Overseas
Cookies Will Be Collected at 8th District Office on Saturday, Dec. 1st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The 8th Legislative District Office is teaming up with Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey to host a holiday cookie drive to send treats to troops deployed in the Middle East.
Video from the 2017 cookie drive.
Senator Dawn Marie Addiego, Assemblymen Ryan Peters and Joe Howarth and volunteers will be on hand during the drive on Saturday, Dec. 1, to pack and box the donated baked goods and store bought items.
While Operation Yellow Ribbon and the 8th District Legislators are packing up, Santa will be making the trip from the North Pole to welcome people who make donations.
The drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the 8th District Legislative Office at 176 Route 70, Suite 13 in Medford.
Kean & Oroho: First Amazon, Now Google. How Many Opportunities Will NJ Miss Before We Take Action?
Senate Republicans Call for Changes to Business Tax Policies in Wake of NYC Google Expansion Announcement
In light of yesterday’s Wall Street Journal report detailing Google’s plans to add 12,000 new jobs in New York City, Senate Republicans Tom Kean and Steven Oroho said that the expansion would cost New Jersey thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.
Senate Republicans Tom Kean and Steven Oroho are calling for action following reports of Google’s plans to add 12,000 new jobs in New York City, which the senators said will cost New Jersey thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue. (WikiCommons)
“Given our state’s bad-for-business policies, it wasn’t a surprise that Amazon chose Long Island City over New Jersey, but the news of Google’s decision to expand to New York City is just as bad,” Senator Oroho said. “Many of these new Google employees will most likely choose to raise families in New Jersey, while paying income taxes in New York. That means we will lose out on the high-paying jobs that could have been created here, and the tax revenue we need to fund our schools.”
Kean: Murphy’s Tax Increases Blew NJ’s Shot for Amazon’s HQ2
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean said massive tax increases imposed by Governor Phil Murphy and legislative Democrats this year have likely blown New Jersey’s shot at luring Amazon’s new headquarters and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs.
Sen. Tom Kean said massive tax increases imposed by Gov. Phil Murphy and Democrats this year have likely blown New Jersey’s shot at luring Amazon’s new headquarters and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. (SenateNJ.com)
“New Jersey was well on the path to creating the stable, predictable tax environment that employers like Amazon require until Governor Murphy’s budget reversed nearly a decade of fiscal discipline,” said Kean. “The massive multi-billion dollar business tax increase signed by Governor Murphy in July was the nail in the coffin for Newark’s proposal to host HQ2.”
Jersey City Should Nix Proposed Payroll Tax, Share PILOT Payments with Schools
Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) said Jersey City’s consideration of a new payroll tax would hurt the city’s efforts to lure businesses and jobs from New York, and suggested the city change how it shares payments from tax abated properties as a better alternative to fund local schools.
Sen. Mike Doherty said a proposed payroll tax would hurt Jersey City’s competitiveness. He said sharing payments from tax abated properties is a better alternative to fund schools. (SenateNJ.com)
“Jersey City has asked for and used many tax incentives over the years, including UEZs and PILOT agreements, to draw both development and jobs from across the river,” said Doherty. “The imposition of a new payroll tax would negate the various benefits they’ve offered, creating a complicated tax picture that would discourage future investment in Jersey City.”
Thompson Says Voters Who Did Not Receive Requested Mail-in Ballots Should Go to Polls and Vote Provisionally
Senator Sam Thompson addressed concerns raised by constituents in recent days that they will be unable to cast a vote in the upcoming general election due to mail-in ballots they requested never arriving.
Sen. Sam Thompson says voters who have not received requested mail-in ballots for the upcoming general election should go to their local polling station on Election Day and vote by provisional ballot. (SenateNJ.com)
“My legislative office has been contacted by a number of constituents from Middlesex County who are concerned that their mail-in ballots have not arrived yet for the general election that’s just days away,” said Thompson (R-12). “The Middlesex County Clerk is advising anyone who does not receive their mail-in ballot to go to their local polling station on Election Day and vote by provisional ballot. That’s the best way to ensure that your vote will be counted.”
Kean: NJ Transit Rail Commuters Need Relief Now
Following yet another day of major service disruptions for commuters who rely on New Jersey Transit trains to get to work, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean called for the agency to take immediate action to prevent future problems.
Following major service disruptions for NJ Transit rail commuters, Sen. Tom Kean called for the agency to take immediate action to prevent future problems. (SenateNJ.com)
“I’ve heard from countless commuters that whenever they think things are as bad as they can possibly be on our rails, NJ Transit finds a way to prove them wrong,” said Kean. “After so many repeated failures to deliver safe and reliable service, there’s no more time for excuses from Transit’s management. Commuters deserve to hear from the leadership at NJ Transit what contingency plans they can implement today to improve service.”
Singer Appointed to NJ Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology
Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) has been appointed to serve on the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology.
Sen. Robert Singer has been appointed to the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, where he will work to develop strategies to encourage more researchers and entrepreneurs to come to New Jersey. (SenateNJ.com)
“New Jersey has long-been an incubator for innovators,” Singer said. “From the light bulb, to the solar panel, to dozens of lifesaving pharmaceuticals, countless innovations were created right here in the Garden State. By reinstating the Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, we are continuing that historic legacy. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as a member of this commission. Together, we will develop strategies to encourage more groundbreaking researchers and entrepreneurs to set up shop in New Jersey.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Booker Bill Shows Politics Takes Priority in Trenton
District 9 Lawmakers Urge U.S. Sen. Cory Booker to Pick ONE Office & Stop Wasting Taxpayers’ Time & Money
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove released the following statement in light of today’s signing of A-4674/S-3106, legislation known as the “Cory Booker Bill.”
District 9 lawmakers comment on the Nov. 1, 2018 signing of legislation known as the Booker Bill, stating that US Sen. Cory Booker should pick one office to run for and stop wasting taxpayers’ time and money. (SenateNJ.com)
“Dismissive of more severe issues that taxpayers want addressed, the State Legislature and the Governor saw fit to prioritize a bill that would allow a candidate to run for both Congress and for Vice President or President simultaneously. Obviously, the bill was written for New Jersey’s sitting US Senator, Cory Booker.
“The bill’s introduction and the uncharacteristic-for-Trenton speed with which it was enacted speaks volumes about the Trenton establishment’s priorities these days. Usually, only tax increases move that quickly though the Legislature to be signed into, as evidenced by the recent State Budget process. Now you can add rigging the system of the people, by the people, for the people — for one person, to the type of bills that meet the criteria of being important – at least as far as the Legislative Leadership is concerned.
Oroho: Murphy Misses Unintended Consequences of Forced Minimum Wage Increases
Says Federal Tax Reforms Show the Right Way to Boost Pay
Senator Steven Oroho said that Governor Phil Murphy did not acknowledge the full impact of raising the minimum wage in a statement he issued today praising Amazon for lifting the pay of its U.S. employees to a minimum of $15/hour.
Sen. Steven Oroho said that Gov. Phil Murphy has not acknowledged that raising the minimum wage is likely to result in hourly workers losing other forms of compensation, including health benefits and performance incentives. (Pixabay)
“I am sure the Governor realizes that many hourly employees at businesses both large and small receive benefits, including health insurance, stock awards, and bonuses, that make the total value of their compensation much higher than just their hourly wage,” said Oroho (R-24). “While Governor Murphy is praising Amazon for increasing the wage portion of their employees’ compensation, he appears to ignore the fact that the company is eliminating other benefits at the same time to cover those increased wage costs. If other employers are forced by New Jersey elected officials to increase the wages they pay, they almost certainly will follow the example set by Amazon and reduce or eliminate other benefits like health insurance or bonuses to keep their labor costs from exploding.”
Amazon has confirmed that it is eliminating incentive-based monthly bonuses and restricted stock unit awards for hourly workers to coincide with their internal wage increase.
As Hoboken Voter Fraud Indictments Pile Up, Thompson Intros Bill to Increase Penalties
New Bill Would Up Penalties for Extreme Voter Fraud to 2nd-Degree Felony, Punishable by Up to 10 Years in Prison
Just two days after Senator Sam Thompson introduced legislation to increase penalties for voter fraud, the U.S. Attorney General has announced that two more Hudson County residents, including a former Hoboken City Council candidate, were charged on Oct. 31, 2018 with conspiracy to promote a voter bribery scheme by mail.
Just 2 days after Sen. Sam Thompson introduced legislation to increase penalties for voter fraud, two more Hudson County residents were charged with conspiracy to promote a voter bribery scheme by mail. (©iStock)
“To all the naysayers who continue to claim that voter fraud isn’t happening in New Jersey, I implore you: open your eyes,” Senator Thompson (R-12) said. “I hate to say I told you so, but clearly, the current penalties are not strong enough to stop slimy political operatives from stealing votes. Just look at what’s happening in Hudson County. This is an affront to our democracy and it must be stopped.”
Senator Thompson’s bill, S-3184, would increase penalties for extreme cases of voter fraud to a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The legislation was formally introduced on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.
