Senate Republicans Urge Murphy Not to Cut School Aid
Gov. Murphy’s Proposed Budget Cuts Funding to Nearly 200 School Districts
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee urged Governor Phil Murphy not to cut school aid in his proposed budget for districts that are already struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Republican senators urged Gov. Phil Murphy not to cut aid this year for school districts grappling with virtual education, technology costs, and planning for a safe return to classrooms. (Pixabay)
In a letter to Governor Murphy today (click here for PDF), the senators said, “we believe that while schools are grappling with virtual education, technology costs, and planning for a safe return to our classrooms, no school should have its aid cut.”
Under the governor’s proposed budget, approximately one-third of New Jersey’s school districts would have to contend with budget cuts despite an overall $600 million increase in proposed State spending on school aid.
Vitale & Singer Harshly Condemn Chiropractor Board for Reinstating License of Sex Offender
Senator Joe Vitale, chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, and Senator Robert Singer, the ranking Republican member of the committee, issued the following joint statement harshly condemning the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners for reinstating the professional license of Bryan Bajakian, a convicted sex offender:
Sen. Joe Vitale, chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, and Sen. Robert Singer, the ranking Republican member of the committee, harshly condemned the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners for reinstating the professional license of a convicted sex offender. (SenateNJ.com)
“This is a decision that defies common sense and ignores the safety of the public the board is responsible for protecting. Anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to reinstate the license of a convicted sex offender who preyed on children can’t be trusted to exercise their oversight responsibilities, or to even to heed their own mission statement directing the board to ‘protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Jersey.’
Testa, Simonsen & McClellan Oppose Gov. Murphy’s School Funding Cuts
The District 1 legislative team of Senator Michael Testa, Assemblyman Erik Simonsen, and Assemblyman Antwan McClellan criticized Governor Murphy’s proposed school funding cuts, highlighting the need for additional funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sen. Michael Testa, Asm. Erik Simonsen, and Asm. Antwan McClellan criticized Governor Murphy’s proposed school funding cuts, highlighting the need for additional funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Pixabay)
“Governor Murphy should not target South Jersey schools for big funding cuts while we are grappling with virtual education, technology costs, and planning for a safe return to our classrooms,” said Testa. “This absurd budget proposal put forth by the Governor would leave several of our schools facing a 20-30 percent reduction in aid. These proposed cuts are downright insulting to every student and parent in South Jersey.”
Murphy Proposed Budget Hammers Local School Districts Yet Again
District 24 Lawmakers Decry Cuts, Warn of Big Property Tax Increases
Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblyman Parker Space and Assemblyman Hal Wirths today condemned Governor Murphy’s proposed budget for strangling school districts in the 24th District with inadequate education funding even while proposing record high spending in his overall budget.
Sen. Steve Oroho, Asm. Parker Space and Asm. Hal Wirths condemned Gov. Murphy’s proposed budget for reducing state aid to schools in their district by almost $7 million. (Pixabay)
“Even this year, with the most bloated state budget in our state’s history, the Governor’s funding plan still gives our local school districts short shrift,” said Senator Oroho. “Our schools once again will be crippled by deficient state aid, and property taxpayers in our district will be burdened with higher rates to fill the void. In his budget address on Tuesday, the Governor patted himself on the back for increasing investment in public schools by $700 million, but it is clear the Administration had little regard for sharing that money with many suburban and rural school districts that have consistently been hard hit in each State budget since Murphy took office.”
10th District Legislators Continue to Stress Need for Mobile Vaccination Units at Senior Communities
In an effort to ensure that senior citizens and disabled residents have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano have sent another letter (click here for PDF) to Governor Phil Murphy again urging him to adopt their proposal to send mobile vaccination units to senior communities.
In an effort to ensure that senior citizens and disabled residents have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Sen. Holzapfel, Asm. McGuckin, and Asm. Catalano have sent another letter to Gov. Murphy urging him to send mobile vaccination units to senior communities. (©iStock)
Prior requests, including a letter sent on January 14, have not been answered by the Governor’s Office.
“Frustrations are mounting for our senior residents who either cannot get through to schedule an appointment or they need to find someone to drive them out of their county to vaccination mega sites,” said Senator Holzapfel. “This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately by the Governor and his Administration. For weeks we have demanded that the Governor establish a plan that prioritizes senior citizens like he originally promised.”
O’Scanlon: Getting Teachers Vaccinated Will Be Priority
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) today announced that there is general agreement among government officials that vaccinating teachers should be a priority as soon as standards make them eligible.
Sen. O’Scanlon announced that there is general agreement among government officials that vaccinating teachers should be a priority as soon as standards make them eligible. (©iStock)
“It is imperative that we put politics aside and do all we can to eliminate any hurdles to getting our kids back in school,” said O’Scanlon. “Although science says vaccination isn’t essential for teachers to safely get back in classrooms with our students, getting teachers vaccinated will give them both a health, and comfort level boost and remove the issue from the debate surrounding reopening schools.”
Bucco to Murphy: Fixing NJ’s Broken Unemployment System Not a “Waste” of Money
Senator Anthony M. Bucco expressed shock at Governor Phil Murphy’s suggestion at his press briefing today that investing funds to fix the State’s broken unemployment system would be “throwing good money after bad.”
Sen. Tony Bucco expressed shock at Gov. Phil Murphy’s suggestion at his press briefing today that investing funds to fix the State’s broken unemployment system would be ‘throwing good money after bad.’ (Pixabay)
The governor then suggested that he believed New Jersey should wait for the federal government to rebuild the unemployment system on their end, saying, “I don’t want to waste money in the meantime.”
“It defies belief that Governor Murphy would say it’s a ‘waste’ of money to fix our unemployment system for those who need quick access to the benefits they earned to survive,” said Bucco (R-25). “It’s shocking that the governor is willing to sit back and wait while people are suffering when there’s no indication that federal action is on the horizon.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Massive State Spending in Proposed Budget Should Have Taxpayers and Businesses Very Worried
Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove offered the remarks following Governor Phil Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2022 State Budget Address:
Sen. Christopher Connors, Asm. Brian Rumpf and Asw. DiAnne Gove offered remarks following Gov. Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2022 State Budget Address. (SenateNJ.com)
“The numbers don’t lie. Spending has increased more than 30 percent since Governor’s Murphy’s first year, to the surprise of few. His most recent proposed State Budget is chock full of spending for new programs or increases for existing ones.
Testa: Murphy’s Budget Doesn’t Get Job Done on Fixing Unemployment
Senator Michael Testa (R-1), a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, said Governor Phil Murphy’s Budget proposal for FY 2022 fails to address problems with the state’s unemployment system and a looming tax increase on struggling employers:
Sen. Michael Testa said Gov. Phil Murphy’s Budget proposal for next year fails to address problems with the state’s unemployment system and a looming tax increase on struggling employers. (©iStock)
“It’s clear that Governor Murphy’s budget doesn’t get the job done on fixing major problems with New Jersey’s unemployment system.
Bucco: Murphy Must Detail Plans for Fixing Broken Unemployment, MVC & Vaccine Computer Systems
Senator Anthony M. Bucco expressed disappointment that Governor Phil Murphy failed to offer details of plans to modernize and fix critical computer systems in his State budget proposal for FY 2022 that was unveiled today.
Sen. Tony Bucco expressed disappointment that Gov. Phil Murphy failed to offer details of plans to modernize and fix critical computer systems in his State budget proposal for next year. (Pixabay)
“Over the past year, millions of New Jerseyans have suffered due to broken and outdated State computer systems that are responsible for unemployment benefits, MVC transactions, and scheduling vaccine appointments,” said Bucco (R-25). “When Governor Murphy is sitting on a multi-billion dollar budget surplus, it’s beyond disappointing that he was unwilling to detail any planned investments in upgrading these critical systems that people depend upon.”
