Oroho Bill to Extend Tuition Aid to Veterans’ Children & Spouses Heads to Governor
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho to extend in-state tuition aid to veterans’ spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Steven Oroho’s legislation would extend in-state tuition aid to veterans’ spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents. (©iStock)
“Our veterans make enormous sacrifices to protect the freedoms we all hold dear, and so do the children and spouses they leave behind. We have a responsibility to not only help those who have served our country, but to extend that same gesture of gratitude to their families as well,” Senator Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) said.
“This bill will help our most patriotic residents pave a pathway for a brighter future. It’s the least we can do to honor all those who have served – and the families that serve alongside them here, in the state they are proud to call home,” Oroho added.
Senate Passes Bateman Bill to Combat Food Waste
The New Jersey Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) to combat food waste by amending the definition of Class I renewable energy, and requiring certain solid waste generators to separate and recycle food waste.
133 billion pounds, or approximately 31 percent of the overall food supply generated in the United States every year is wasted, according to the United States EPA.
Sen. Kip Bateman’s bipartisan bill would revolutionize the way New Jersey combats and recycles food waste. (Flickr)
“A number of towns in New Jersey, such as Princeton and Lawrence Township, have already taken action to encourage their residents to recycle food waste. New Jersey as a whole needs to do more to tackle this environmental crisis,” Senator Bateman said. “By reducing food waste, we can combat climate change, and address food insecurity at the same time.”
Pennacchio, Bucco & Oroho Support NJDEP’s Recommendation to Close Lake Hopatcong’s Public Beaches to Protect Public Safety
Three State Senators who represent areas surrounding Lake Hopatcong today announced their support for the NJ DEP’s recommendation that local health authorities close all public swimming beaches along the lake, due to a toxic and dangerous overgrowth of algae that could public health and safety in jeopardy.
Sens. Pennacchio, Bucco, and Oroho said they support the NJ DEP’s recommendation that local health authorities close all public swimming beaches along the lake, due to a toxic and dangerous overgrowth of algae that could public health and safety in jeopardy. (Lake Hopatcong Fund)
Recent water tests have shown that the bacteria level in Lake Hopatcong is more than double the level considered safe, according to a report by NJ.com. Bacteria in the algae blooms can cause skin rashes, and accidentally consuming lake water can lead to serious health reactions, including pneumonia, blisters, and gastrointestinal distress. Any fish caught in the lake are also currently unsafe to eat.
“Our number one priority must be to protect the public, and right now, Lake Hopatcong could be dangerous. I fully support the NJ DEP’s decision. There is no other choice. The public swimming beaches along the lake must be closed immediately,” Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) said. “We sponsored legislation to create the Lake Hopatcong Fund because we care deeply about this lake, as well as the people who live there, and the many who visit every year. It’s one of New Jersey’s crown jewels. We will work diligently with the NJ DEP to ensure we can clean up the lake and reopen public beach access as quickly as we can.”
“We have spent many years fighting for Lake Hopatcong, because we understand how important this resource is to our region,” Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25) said. “Lake Hopatcong drives our local economy and generates tourism and economic revenue for the entire state. It’s a beloved destination for families throughout the country. The NJ DEP’s recommendation is the right call, and we will do everything we can to restore safety conditions as soon as possible.”
Bateman/Smith/Greenstein Bill to Establish Permanent Funding for Open Space & Farmland Preservation Signed into Law
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Kip Bateman, Bob Smith, and Linda Greenstein to establish funding for constitutionally dedicated Corporate Business Tax (CBT) revenues for the State’s open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and thereafter, has been signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy.
Gov. Phil Murphy has signed Sen. Kip Bateman’s bipartisan bill to establish funding for open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and thereafter. (Garden State Preservation Trust)
“This law will ensure we can continue to call New Jersey the ‘Garden State,’ for years to come,” said Senator Kip Bateman (R-Somerset/Mercer/Middlesex/Hunterdon.) “Open space preservation needs a constant source of funding – a onetime payment isn’t enough. This is a fiscally-responsible way to maintain the green and blue acres we have already preserved, and prevent other areas we have yet to protect from being destroyed. I am glad that once again, we could come together on a bipartisan basis to get this done.” Continue Reading…
O’Scanlon: Murphy’s Tax Rhetoric Helping Other States to Lure Residents, Jobs from NJ
Says New Jerseyans Understand “Tax Fairness” Means “Tax Increase”
Senator Declan O’Scanlon said that Governor Phil Murphy’s continued demand for higher taxes under the guise of “tax fairness” is only helping the efforts of low- and no-tax states like Florida that are actively working to lure residents, employers, and jobs from high-tax New Jersey.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said Gov. Phil Murphy’s continued demand for higher taxes is only helping the efforts of low- and no-tax states like Florida that are actively working to lure residents, employers, and jobs from New Jersey. (Pixabay)
“Florida is already running compelling advertising campaigns that are targeting both families and employers in our area who are fed up with paying some of the highest tax bills in the nation,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “The data shows that people are paying attention to those sales pitches, and they’re packing up and leaving New Jersey for more affordable places that promise a significant tax savings.”
Oroho/Singleton/Addiego Bill Creating an Interactive Map of Foreclosed Properties Signed into Law
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Steven Oroho, Troy Singleton, and Dawn Marie Addiego to require the Department of Community Affairs to create a database and interactive map concerning residential properties under foreclosure was signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy.
Sen. Steven Oroho’s bipartisan bill will require the Department of Community Affairs to create a database and interactive map concerning residential properties under foreclosure. (©iStock)
“New Jersey’s foreclosure rate is among the worst in the nation, but this is about so much more than empty houses. These are incredibly traumatic and stressful proceedings for everyone involved,” said Senator Oroho (R-Sussex/Warren/Morris.) “Foreclosures can also create public safety issues, and bring down property values throughout an entire neighborhood. By working together to tackle this crisis, we are improving the lives of our residents in need, and safeguarding New Jersey’s housing market and economic future.”
O’Scanlon Responds to Gov. Murphy’s Press Conference on Budget & Tax Hikes
Senate Budget Committeemember Slams Gov & Invited Guests for Calling for Unnecessary Tax Increases
Following Governor Phil Murphy’s press conference on yesterday’s Legislative passage of the State budget, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) slammed Governor Murphy for calling for unnecessary tax increases.
Following Gov. Murphy’s press conference on yesterday’s Legislative passage of the State budget, Sen. Declan O’Scanlon slammed Gov. Murphy for calling for unnecessary tax increases. (SenateNJ.com)
At the presser, the Governor reiterated his call for an income tax increase, and his invited guests also called for increases to the estate tax and the sales tax.
Singer & Sweeney Intro Bill to Combat Anti-Semitism in Public Schools
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Robert Singer today announced that they have introduced bipartisan legislation to expressly prohibit anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education statewide.
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Sen. Robert Singer have introduced bipartisan legislation to expressly prohibit anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education statewide. (Flickr)
Currently, State law broadly prohibits discriminating against a person based on a number of factors, including “creed,” which in practice, has been widely interpreted to mean one can’t discriminate against someone based on religion. To ensure this prohibition is consistently applied, the new bipartisan bill explicitly expands the categories protected under the law to clarify that discriminating against a person based on religion is prohibited.
“Hate has no home in the Garden State. A school should be a safe and nurturing place – not a haven for discrimination,” said Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean.) “It is hard to explain the trauma a young Jewish child experiences when they walk into a classroom and see a swastika on the chalkboard. Anti-Semitism is a cancer on society and it is growing in New Jersey. By passing this bill, we are taking action to stamp out this disease, before it’s too late.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe Opposed Democrats’ Pork-Filled Budget
Trenton Democrats Priorities: Cut Millions in Brick & Toms River School Aid, Spend Millions More on Wasteful Programs
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe opposed a State Budget put forward by Democrats in the Legislature that cuts millions in aid to schools in Brick and Toms River while funding tens of millions of unnecessary pork projects.
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe opposed a State Budget that cuts millions in aid to schools in Brick and Toms River while funding tens of millions of unnecessary pork projects. (SenateNJ.com)
The legislators highlighted the misplaced priorities of the Democrats’ budget plan that will force local Ocean County schools to lay-off teachers and eliminate after school programs.
“Democrats in the Legislature took a bad budget proposal put forward by Governor Murphy and made it worse by adding at least $60 million of unjustifiable spending,” said Senator Holzapfel. “Instead of funding our schools fairly, they’ve decided to cut aid from our classrooms and redirect it into pork projects in their districts. It says a lot about the priorities of Trenton Democrats that they’re choosing to fund wasteful programs over our children.”
The budget adopted by the Senate and General Assembly includes more than $60 million of legislative add-ons to the budget initially proposed by Governor Murphy in March. Some of the items they have chosen to add include:
- $4 million for Turtle Back Zoo;
- $3 million for an Irvington camp;
- $250,000 for a Newark mayor’s initiative to have ex-convicts and former gang leaders mentor youth on conflict resolution and reducing violence;
- $4 million for urban park grants;
- $3.1 million undocumented legal aid; and
“Republicans have repeatedly provided common-sense solutions to make New Jersey more affordable and properly fund our schools,” said Assemblyman McGuckin. “In contrast, Trenton Democrats are diverting millions for urban camps, programs for ex-cons and gang leaders and legal aid for undocumented immigrants. Some of these things might be understandable if we were flush with money, but they don’t make any sense if we have to fire school teachers and sacrifice the quality of education in our classrooms to pay for them.”
Under both Governor Murphy’s original budget plan and that adopted by legislative Democrats, school districts within the 10th Legislative District will lose over $5.5 million in State aid next year. The biggest cuts will come at the expense of the Brick and Toms River school districts, which will lose more than $2.7 million each. In total, schools in the 10th District will lose 4.5 percent of their State aid under the Democrats’ budget plan.
“Trenton Democrats have advanced a lavish spending plan without any concern for our property taxpayers or our schoolchildren,” added Assemblyman Wolfe. “I could not support a budget that values partisan pork over our children’s education.”
Singer Bill to Improve Maternity Care Passes Senate
A resolution sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) that aims to make pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period safer has unanimously passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Robert Singer’s resolution that aims to make pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period safer has passed the Senate. (Flickr)
The passage of this legislation comes in the wake of a state and national health emergency: African American mothers are dying both during and after childbirth at disproportionately higher rates than white mothers, with some of the most staggering rates occurring right here in New Jersey.
