Oroho: Democrat Budget Built on Fantasy and Faulty Assumptions
Senator Steve Oroho (R- Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today following the passage of the Democrat sponsored Fiscal Year 2012 state budget:
“Over the past 10 years, the Democrat majority have been intent on pushing through dramatic tax increases, and irresponsible budget gimmicks to fund an insatiable desire to spend taxpayer dollars. It is no coincidence that during this same period it was the first time in recorded history where the state had less private sector jobs at the end of the decade than we had at the beginning.
9th District Delegation Praises Appointments to South Jersey Veterans’ Hospital Task Force
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove today praised the Governor’s appointments to the Veterans’ Hospital Task Force which was established to study and evaluate, and develop recommendations relating to, the construction and operation of a veterans’ health care facility in southern New Jersey.
The 9th District Delegation sponsored the law enacted this February that established the Task Force. Senator Connors and Assemblywoman Gove, both of whom serve on the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee of their respective Houses, were named by the Governor earlier this year to serve as Legislative representatives on the Task Force.
Doherty Announces Senator Gerald Cardinale Joins the “Fair School Funding Act” As Co-Sponsor
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriation Committee, announced today that that the Senior Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee agreed join him as a co- sponsor of SCR-162, “The Fair School Funding Act.”
Oroho: Democrat Budget a Concern for New Jersey’s Future
Proposal built on a $1 billion of Unsubstantiated and Unrealistic Revenue
Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex, Morris Hunterdon) issued the following statement today regarding the Democrats recently proposed budget:
“The Democrat budget is based on nearly $600 million in dubious revenue including $300 million in efficiencies that have not been identified and $289 million in an income tax windfall that does not exist and has not been certified. This is on top of a $300 million shortfall due to the loss of health benefits savings as a result of the compromise of the newly enacted pension and healthcare reform legislation.
Tom Kean: “Pension, Benefits Reforms Save Taxpayers Billions, Put State on Better Course”
Following Governor Christie’s signature of a public worker pension and benefits overall estimated to save $120 billion over the next three decades, Senator Tom Kean, Jr. said that long awaited relief for taxpayers has finally arrived in New Jersey:
Today, state government has reaffirmed that it works for the taxpayers and not the reverse- taxpayers working to sustain a government they cannot afford.
This law provides sustainable, long term relief that doesn’t rely on the gimmicks of the past. It does so the right way- containing the cost of government and passes the savings along to the most highly taxed people in America- New Jersey residents.
Pennacchio: “Democrats Holding Suburban School Aid Hostage”
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R- Morris), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, today called Democrat plans to tie school aid to an income tax increase “blatant, political posturing at the expense of suburban taxpayers”:
“Taxpayers should not be forced to choose between job creation and property tax relief,” Pennacchio said. “The current school funding formula is horribly unfair to property taxpayers in suburban school districts. The Democrats proposal adds insult to injury by tying enhanced suburban aid to a tax increase that will cost our state jobs and future tax revenues. Their bill is a purely political document that shows the Majority isn’t serious about equitable school funding and property tax relief for the vast majority of New Jersey’s citizens.”
Cardinale Statement on the Senate Confirmation of Anne Patterson
Senator Gerald Cardinale, the senior Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the release of Anne Patterson from the committee:
“Anne Patterson has unshakable credentials as a legal scholar with high ethical standards and a demonstrable judicial deportment. I am pleased that the full Senate confirmed her for a seat on the Supreme Court this evening.
Doherty Announces Three Colleagues Join “Fair School Funding Act” As Co-Sponsors
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriation Committee, announced today that three of his colleagues on the Committee have agreed to sponsor SCR-162, “The Fair School Funding Act.” Senate Republican Budget Officer Tony Bucco and Senators Oroho and Pennacchio, also members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, signed onto the bill yesterday.
“I am pleased that three of my colleagues on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee have agreed to join me in seeking a more equitable school funding formula by co-sponsoring the ‘Fair School Funding Act.’
Tom Kean: “Dems Propose Dubious, Unbalanced Budget”
Proposal Spends More, Taxes More, Relies on Phantom Revenues, and Forces False Choice Between Jobs and Suburban School Aid
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union), responding to press reports that Democrats are drafting an alternative budget proposal, issued the following statement expressing grave concerns regarding the plan’s fiscal honesty:
“Democrats yesterday told the press they’ll be submitting a budget that will be out of balance the minute it is introduced,” Kean said. “We’ve been down the road of using phantom revenues and one shot gimmicks with Governors McGreevey and Corzine. It is an unhappy place to which New Jersey residents do not wish to return.”
Kean noted that while a bill is not available for public consumption, Democrats have told media sources they’ll rely on hundreds of millions in inflated revenue projections and dubious “savings”.
Governor Christie Signs Connors, Rumpf & Gove Measure to Create Alzheimer’s Study Commission
Legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove to establish a 15-member Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission was signed into law today by Governor Christie.
The 9th District Delegation’s legislation (S-125/A-322) stipulated that the Commission’s duties would include, but would not be limited to, studying the current impact and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease among residents and make projections on the future impact on the state’s population, study the state’s role in long-term care for persons with early stage and early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and consider the capacity of public safety and law enforcement to persons with Alzheimer’s disease.
