Oroho Welcomes Start of State Budget Process
Looking to Continue Tax Cuts and Tackle Property Taxes
Senator Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, welcomed the governor’s budget address today and pledged to work with his legislative colleagues to enact an appropriations bill that takes into consideration the plight of taxpayers, and that expands on efforts to attract investment and create jobs.
Sen. Steven Oroho welcomed the governor’s budget address and pledged to work with his legislative colleagues to enact an appropriations bill that takes into consideration the plight of taxpayers, and that expands on efforts to attract investment and create jobs. (SenateNJ.com)
“Through eight budgets I have worked with this governor and the legislative leaders of both parties to bring in targeted tax cuts that have improved our state’s competitive economic position,” said Oroho. “We have a lot more work yet to do, but I will continue the hard work and painstaking negotiations to make our state fully attractive to capital investment and job creation.”
Oroho Meets with DOT Commissioner to Discuss Local Projects
Senator Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) met with Commissioner Richard Hammer of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) and department staff, as well as NJ Transit officials, to talk about transportation projects in the 24th Legislative District.
Sen. Steven Oroho met with the DOT Commissioner to talk about projects in the 24th District. (SenateNJ.com)
“There are many vital transportation projects throughout the district that need attention,” said Oroho. “Now that the TTF has been reauthorized, and renewed funding in place, these projects can see action.”
Singer Bill to Add Student Loan Instruction to High School Graduation Requirements Advances
All high school students would receive instruction on available State and federal student loans, as well as student loan debt under legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) and advanced by the Senate Budget Committee.
Sen. Robert Singer’s bill would add instruction on student loans, including how to pay them back, as a high school graduation requirement. (SenateNJ.com)
“No one should rush into signing a contract that could cost them tens of thousands of dollars without fully understanding the repercussions of making such an enormous decision,” Senator Singer said. “High school students statewide are already required to take a financial literacy course in order to graduate. Without a doubt, learning how to get a student loan and more importantly, how to pay it back, is essential to understanding how to manage money in today’s world.”
Advanced: Oroho Bill to Help Fight Hunger
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) to fight hunger by providing a tax credit to farmers that donate produce to food banks was advanced by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steve Oroho to help fight hunger was advanced by a Senate committee. (Wikimedia Commons)
“A lot of people count on these food banks to feed their families, and they do a great job giving help to people in need,” Senator Oroho said. “But they often rely on canned food, which is good, but it can’t match the nutrition or health benefits of fresh produce.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: We Don’t Need a Study Commission to Tell Us What’s Wrong With the State’s School Funding Formula
Dueling Senate and Assembly committees have convened to study the issue of school funding. But for taxpayers in underfunded school districts, including those in our legislative district, there is no need to study how the school funding formula is broken.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove call for a fair school funding formula that serves all school districts, not just a select few. (©iStock)
All you have to do is look at your property tax bill to know that you’re not only paying for the students in your local school district, but the students in other districts as well.
Special needs districts, more commonly known as Abbott districts, which are mostly located in urban areas receive the lion’s share of school funding. Essentially, the school funding formula is a cash cow that is milked for every drop by Abbott districts. Why not? Most of their funding is your tax dollars.
Connors-Rumpf-Gove Veterans’ Surviving Spouse Benefit Bill Advances
The Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted to approve legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove which would require the $750 annual compensation to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans to be payable from the date of the veteran’s death.
Legislation sponsored by the 9th District Delegation to support surviving spouses of veterans was advanced by a senate panel. (©iStock)
Under the 9th District Delegation’s legislation, S-1542, payments to a surviving spouse would be due from April 9, 1985, in the event the veteran’s death occurred prior to that date, or the date of the veteran’s death if the death occurred after April 9, 1985, regardless of the date of the surviving spouse’s application
Connors, Rumpf and Gove issued the following statement on the Committee’s release of their veterans’ initiative:
“Presently, surviving spouses of blind or disabled veterans are eligible to receive the $750 annual compensation benefit from the date of their application under current regulations. This lifetime benefit is statutorily available to a veteran who was blinded or severely disabled as a result of service during any war, including specifically World War II, Korean, or Vietnam.
Assembly Passes Connors-Rumpf-Gove Bill Upgrading Crime of Trespassing in a Nuclear Facility
Legislation introduced by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove to increase the penalty for trespassing offenses committed in a nuclear generating plant from a 4th degree crime to 3rd degree crime was passed by the Assembly.
The New Jersey Assembly passed legislation by Connors, Rumpf and Gove to upgrade the crime of trespassing at a nuclear facility. (Flickr)
The 9th District Delegation issued a joint statement following the Assembly’s passage of its legislative initiative (A-3186): “In this age of terrorism, any unauthorized presence in a nuclear generating plant constitutes a serious risk to public safety. Those who would threaten public safety by trespassing at this type of site should face a harsher penalty to reflect the seriousness of the crime.
Oroho & Space Resolution to Raise Awareness to Childhood Cancer Heads to Governor After Legislative Approval
A bipartisan resolution sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblyman Parker Space (both R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) to promote education and awareness about childhood cancer is headed to the Governor’s desk after it was passed by the New Jersey General Assembly. The bill passed in the state Senate in June 2016.
The Da Silva family. (Patricia Da Silva)
The resolution was inspired by Nicholas DaSilva, a Hardyston resident who was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Burkitt’s lymphoma when he was just 5 years old. Since his cancer has gone into remission, he has worked to help other children with the disease. Along with the other members of his family, Nicholas has raised money to help other kids through donations to the Valerie Fund and Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Oroho: Passing State Law to Disobey Constitutionally-Sound Federal Law Would Set Bad Precedent
Conservative Senator Applauds that Bill Was Not Voted on Today
Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) strongly criticized the Democrat majority in the Legislature for attempting to fast-track, without a public hearing, legislation that would reward local government officials for breaking federal law.
Sen. Steven Oroho criticized Democrat-sponsored legislation that would reward local government officials for breaking federal law. (Wikimedia Commons)
S-3007 instructs the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to provide state taxpayer money to aid and abet any county or municipality that breaks federal law by harboring undocumented foreign nationals.
“Does anyone really believe that the United States should have 3,142 sovereign immigration policies, one for each county, and another 89,000 (give or take) covering the whims of each municipal government,” Oroho asked, adding, “What’s next, does everyone get to have their own foreign policy too?”
Singer Bill to Improve Storm Preparedness Passed by Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Ocean) to improve storm preparedness and mitigate the damage done by severe weather events, like Superstorm Sandy, was passed by the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Robert Singer’s bill to improve storm preparedness was passed by the New Jersey Senate. (U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
“We need to stay on our toes and constantly work to ensure we are ready for the next big storm,” Senator Singer said. “This legislation will make it so our storm preparedness plans are constantly evolving. We’ll be able to take a longer view and make sure we have the best practices in place as circumstances change and we gather new information.”
