Oroho Editorial: Kill the Estate Tax
The following editorial by Senator Steven Oroho on the need to phase out the state’s estate tax to protect all New Jersey residents was published in The Record on April 24, 2016:
Sen. Steven Oroho says his effort to phase out the state’s estate tax isn’t about protecting the wealthy, but about protecting all of New Jersey. (SenateNJ.com)
New Jersey residents shoulder the third-greatest state and local tax burden in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation.
We have the highest property and business taxes, and sales and income taxes that are among the highest. The Garden State is also one of just two states to impose both an estate tax and an inheritance tax on its residents, commonly referred to as “death taxes.”
Not surprisingly, studies continually show New Jersey leading the nation in the outmigration of residents to other states – usually those with no income taxes or lower rates, smaller property tax bills and better tax structures for estate planning purposes.
Bucco & Oroho Introduce Bill to Index Income Tax Brackets
Senators Anthony Bucco (R-Morris, Somerset) and Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Morris, Warren) introduced legislation that will bring more fairness to New Jersey’s income tax by adjusting its tax brackets for inflation every year.
Sen. Anthony Bucco and Sen. Steven Oroho introduced legislation that will protect taxpayers from inflation changing their tax rates. (SenateNJ.com)
“This is a common-sense way to protect taxpayers from unfairly being placed into a higher tax bracket,” Senator Bucco said. “People end up paying more in taxes and aren’t able to spend as much as they used to on everyday goods and services.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Determine Sexual Predators’ Risk of Re-Offense Before Their Release from Prison
To build upon the protections provided under Megan’s Law, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove have reintroduced legislation (S-253 and A-1142) to require that the county prosecutors determine a sexual offender’s risk of re-offense, or tier, prior to the inmate’s release from incarceration. Prosecutors classify sex offenders in one of three tiers based on the degree of risk they pose to the public: low risk (Tier 1), moderate risk (Tier 2), or high risk (Tier 3).
Connors, Rumpf and Gove have reintroduced legislation to require that a sexual offender’s risk of re-offense be determined prior to release from incarceration. (Flickr)
The 9th District delegation issued the following statement regarding their sexual offender legislative initiative:
“A defect within existing law prevents sex offenders from being tiered until they have been released into the community. Currently, an offender’s residence status is a factor that is considered in determining risk of re-offense. Removing the residency factor used in the determination process, as our legislation proposes, would provide that sexual offenders are tiered before they are released into the community.
Oroho: UI Fund Success Result of Fiscal Discipline, Good Management
Senator Steven Oroho, a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, responded to Governor Christie’s announcement that the state’s once indebted Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund now contains a positive balance of $1 billion.
Sen. Steven Oroho said that the state UI Fund’s positive balance of $1 billion is a result of good management and fiscal discipline. (Flickr)
“To go from a $2.1 billion deficit to a $1 billion balance in a few short years is a testament to the efforts of the Legislature and the Christie Administration to impose the fiscal discipline needed to restore New Jersey’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to solvency,” said Oroho.
Oroho served on a bipartisan Unemployment Insurance Task Force which issued a final report on how to address the state’s UI fund deficit in January of 2012.
Oroho: State’s Improving Revenue Forecasts Provides Opportunity for Tax Reform
Senator Steven Oroho, a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, said that continued improvement in New Jersey’s economy provides the opportunity to further advance tax reforms to reduce the tax burden on state residents and businesses.
Sen. Steven Oroho said that continued improvement in New Jersey’s economy provides the opportunity to enact tax reforms. (SenateNJ.com)
“We heard today that state tax collections are growing as New Jersey’s economy continues to improve,” said Oroho. “This increased financial flexibility provides us the opportunity to enact additional, meaningful tax reforms to make New Jersey a more affordable place to live and operate a business.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Vote to Fight Status Quo on State’s Dysfunctional School Aid Formula
Consistent with their long-standing commitment to reforming the State’s school aid formula, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove voted against a measure aimed at protecting the status quo of underfunding the majority of suburban and rural school districts.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove voted against a measure that protects the status quo of underfunding the majority of suburban and rural school districts. (©iStock)
Recently, both houses of the Legislature voted on ACR-131/SCR-90, a resolution that objected to specific recommendations included in the Educational Adequacy Report (EAR), which must be issued by the Governor in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Education every three years. The Report proposed modifying the provisions of the State’s school funding formula that currently ensures the lion’s share of aid is sent to 31 special needs districts, commonly known as Abbotts.
The 9th District delegation issued the following statement:
“Taxpayers living in non-Abbott districts, such as our constituency which includes a significant number of seniors, have little hope of receiving meaningful property tax relief unless the State’s school aid formula is reformed.
Pennacchio to Obama: Bring Joanne Chesimard Back from Cuba
With President Barack Obama in the midst of a historic three-day trip to Cuba, Senator Joe Pennacchio urged the President to save some room on Air Force One for the flight home for a special guest:
Joanne Chesimard is wanted for escaping from prison in Clinton, New Jersey, while serving a life sentence for murdering a New Jersey State Trooper. She relocated to Cuba in 1984, where she is thought to still be living. (FBI)
“Cuba has been harboring convicted cop-killer Joanne Chesimard for more than 30 years.
“The people of New Jersey demand justice for her murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster.
“Air Force One is a big plane, and President Obama should save a seat to bring Joanne Chesimard home from Cuba.”
Kean & Oroho Tour Project Self-Sufficiency in Sussex to Highlight Charitable Giving Legislation
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Steven Oroho toured Project Self-Sufficiency of Sussex County on to promote new legislation that would support charitable giving to New Jersey’s non-profit and charitable organizations.
Sen. Tom Kean and Sen. Steven Oroho toured Project Self-Sufficiency of Sussex County on March 21, 2016. Click for full-size image. (SenateNJ.com)
Since 1986, Project Self-Sufficiency has helped thousands of families in northwestern New Jersey to break the generational cycle of poverty, by addressing education, employment, parenting skills, legal problems, counseling and the many other interlocking issues experienced by families in need. The organization serves single parents, teen parents, displaced homemakers, adults, children, senior citizens and two-parent households.
“Project Self-Sufficiency is the perfect example of a community-based charitable organization that would benefit from our legislation encouraging charitable giving,” said Kean (R-Union, Somerset, Morris). “With increased fundraising, Project Self-Sufficiency could expand their already impressive efforts to improve the lives of struggling families in the region. Our legislation will make donating more affordable for those who wish to support their charitable efforts.”
Singer Praises Agreement on Property Tax Exemptions for Non-Profit Hospitals
Senator Robert Singer commended the announcement of an agreement to place a two-year freeze on property tax rates for non-profit hospitals that were tax exempt prior to a recent court ruling.
Sen. Robert Singer praised an agreement that would temporarily freeze property tax rates for non-profit hospitals and create a commission to study tax exemptions. (SenateNJ.com)
“The bipartisan agreement announced today will end the need for costly litigation between non-profit hospitals and the communities they serve,” said Singer, a member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “This agreement will afford us the time we need to conduct a proper review of the tax exemption law to find a solution that is fair to host municipalities without crippling the hospitals that serve them.”
MEDIA ADVISORY (3/21): Kean & Oroho to Tour Project Self-Sufficiency, Promote New Legislation to Strengthen NJ Charities
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Steven Oroho are touring Project Self-Sufficiency on Monday, March 21 to highlight the organization’s comprehensive efforts to assist low-income individuals and families, as well as to promote new legislation that would increase resources for New Jersey charities.
Who: Senators Tom Kean and Steven Oroho, hosted by Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director, Project Self-Sufficiency
What: Touring Project Self-Sufficiency, highlighting legislation to help New Jersey’s non-profits and charities
When: Monday, March 21, 2016, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Event Contacts: Emily Everson – (609) 847-3600
