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“Over the past year, millions of New Jerseyans have suffered due to broken and outdated State computer systems that are responsible for unemployment benefits, MVC transactions, and scheduling vaccine appointments,” said Bucco (R-25).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.”
O’Scanlon: Murphy Has Tax Gun Cocked, Loaded & Aimed at New Jerseyans’ Wallets for After His Reelection
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on Governor Phil Murphy’s FY 2022 budget proposal:
“We must remember where we started, fiscally, before the pandemic mayhem because that’s exactly where we’re going to end up when it’s over. Except, the hole will be deeper, the debt our children owe will be even more massive and the path to true solvency even more insurmountable.
(Pixabay)
“The Governor’s budget is increasing spending by 11% since last year and by about 30% since he took office three years ago. It’s fueled by one time windfalls of federal revenue, massive one-time borrowings, and spending down surplus. Much of the spending is for government growth including salary and benefit increases, new programs, and expanded programs.
Oroho: Murphy’s Election-Year Budget About Protecting One Job, His Own
As Predicted, Governor Builds Massive Multi-Billion Dollar Budget Surplus to Go on Spending Spree While He Campaigns for Reelection
Senator Steven Oroho (R-24), the Senate Republican Budget Officer, said the State budget plan for FY 2022 outlined by Governor Phil Murphy today is focused solely on boosting the governor’s reelection campaign:
Sen. Steven Oroho said Gov. Phil Murphy’s FY 2022 State budget plan is solely about boosting the governor’s reelection campaign. (Pixabay)
“Let’s be perfectly clear. Governor Murphy’s election-year budget is about protecting one job, his own.
“Senate Republicans have been warning since last June and July that the Murphy Administration was peddling a false doom-and-gloom financial picture despite clear evidence that New Jersey’s finances had rebounded quickly as lockdowns eased.
“Instead of heeding our calls last spring and summer to fund urgently needed relief programs, the governor chose to sit on a growing pile of cash while one-third of New Jersey’s small businesses closed and nonprofits and families struggled.
Kean Statement on Passing of Superior Court Judge Peter Barnes
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean issued the following statement on the passing of Superior Court Judge Peter J. Barnes III:
Statement from Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean on the passing of Superior Court Judge Peter J. Barnes III. (CC0 Public Domain)
“For the past 25 years, Judge Barnes has honorably served New Jersey. From his time as a councilman in Edison to his recent service on the bench, Peter lived up to the family tradition of public service exemplified by his father and brother.
Corrado: Murphy Administration Continues to Prioritize Prisoners Over Cancer Patients
Senator Kristin Corrado says Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center sites in New Jersey have not received COVID-19 vaccines from the Department of Health and have been unable to vaccinate patients.
Sen. Kristin Corrado says Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center sites in New Jersey have not received COVID-19 vaccines from the Department of Health and have been unable to vaccinate patients. (Pixabay)
“The Murphy Administration’s abysmal COVID-19 vaccine rollout is now putting prisoners ahead of cancer patients,” said Corrado (R-40). “First, in December, the administration missed a federal deadline that delayed the beginning of vaccinations in our nursing homes. Then, in January, we learned that the vaccine was being offered to all New Jersey state prisoners ahead of long-term care residents. And now, in February, we are finding out that many cancer patients have been unable to receive the vaccine, particularly at Memorial Sloan Kettering—the most prominent cancer treatment center in the United States.”
Bateman Bill Advancing Clean Water Projects Signed
Authorizes New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to Finance Vital Improvements
Legislation sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman ensuring crucial clean water environmental infrastructure projects move forward became law today.
More than 170 important clean water infrastructure projects will be eligible for funding with the signing of Sen. Kip Bateman’s bill authorizing the NJIB to issue loans for Fiscal Year 2021 work. (Pixabay)
With the governor’s signature, A-5054/S-3211 authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for Fiscal Year 2021.
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Catalano Sign onto Letter Calling for Special Session on COVID Financial Relief
New Jersey Republican lawmakers including Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano have signed onto a letter requesting a special session to combat the economic devastation caused by the across the board shutdowns and restrictions related to the pandemic. The letter to Governor Murphy explains the dire need for financial assistance for small business owners and those on unemployment.
Small businesses are desperate for help, and Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano have joined other Republican legislators on a letter to Murphy requesting a special legislative session to combat the economic devastation caused by pandemic restrictions. (©iStock)
“There’s no doubt that we will see the economic fallout from the Governor’s extended shutdowns and paralyzing executive orders,” said Senator Holzapfel. “We need to convene a special session of the legislature in order to address the looming issues that the Governor continues to ignore. Small business owners don’t have the luxury of waiting for the Governor’s budget plans for 2022. We must provide relief for our residents now, before any more damage is done.”
Sweeney, Gopal, O’Scanlon Push Bipartisan Bill to Spur K-12 Regionalization, Countywide School Districts
Comprehensive Reform Bill Includes Financial Incentives for Adjustment Aid Districts with Declining Enrollment to Pursue Regionalization
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senators Vin Gopal and Declan O’Scanlon today said they are introducing ground-breaking legislation to encourage the creation of K-12 regional and countywide school districts in an effort to improve educational quality and efficiency.
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senators Vin Gopal and Declan O’Scanlon today said they are introducing ground-breaking legislation to encourage the creation of K-12 regional and countywide school districts in an effort to improve educational quality and efficiency. (SenateNJ.com)
The legislation establishes criteria for state-funded regionalization studies, increases flexibility on regionalization cost apportionment, bars any regionalization that would have a segregative effect, and provides significant financial incentives for districts losing state aid because of declining enrollment to regionalize by extending the schedule for their Adjustment Aid cuts from four years to eight years.
