Kean & Holzapfel Honored by Humane Society for Work Protecting Animals
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Jim Holzapfel were honored for their work protecting the state’s animals and pets by the New Jersey chapter of The Humane Society of the United States.
Sen. Tom Kean was presented with the 2015 Humane State Legislator Award by Kathleen Schatzmann, New Jersey Senior State Director for the Humane Society. (SenateNJ.com)
They were each presented the 2015 Humane Legislator of the Year Award at the Humane Society’s 5th Annual New Jersey Humane Lobby Day.
“I’ve always believed that how we treat animals, both individually and as a state, is a reflection of our values,” said Kean (R-Union, Somerset, Morris). “We can be compassionate, generous and humane not just through our personal actions, but also through the laws with statewide impact that we help to advance.”
Sen. Jim Holzapfel speaking at the Humane Society’s 2016 New Jersey Humane Lobby Day after being presented the organization’s 2015 Humane State Legislator Award. (SenateNJ.com)
“We’ve worked to put New Jersey at the head of a nationwide effort to put puppy and kitten mills and their inhumane practices out of business,” said Holzapfel (R-Ocean). “We’re focusing on new legislation that would keep convicted animal abusers from repeating their crimes and ensure safe living conditions for all of the pets in our care.”
Pennacchio Announces Budget Resolution to Increase & Prioritize State Pension Payments
As the FY17 budget process is beginning, Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris) said that he will introduce a state budget resolution to increase the governor’s proposed pension payment by $500 million without raising taxes.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio will introduce a budget resolution to increase the governor’s proposed pension payment by $500 million in the FY17 state budget without raising taxes. (SenateNJ.com)
The Senator’s resolution would use funds from the larger-than-anticipated surplus if there are no fiscal emergencies by the end of the next fiscal year. It would still leave the FY17 State Budget with approximately $300 million in surplus, similar to the surplus for many of the recent Christie budgets and even higher than several Gov. McGreevey budgets.
“New Jersey Republicans have always said we will support making the biggest, fiscally responsible state pension payment,” Pennacchio said. “I endorse freezing all spending in the governor’s FY17 budget as he proposed it and eliminating any of the usual requests for legislators’ spending additions. As long as there are no fiscal emergencies in the next couple of months, we can increase the governor’s proposed record-high pension payment by as much as $500 million and keep the same surplus we have had in recent years. We can do this without raising taxes, cutting public services and jeopardizing job growth.”
Committee Advances Two Connors-Rumpf-Gove Veterans’ Initiatives
Two veterans-centered legislative initiatives sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove concerning property tax relief and housing have been advanced by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove sponsor legislation addressing property tax relief and housing issues related to veterans. (Flickr)
The first measure, S-265, would require the State to annually reimburse each municipality for the cost of providing disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. The 9th District delegation issued the following statement following the Committee’s advancement of the measure:
“This legislation would provide direct property tax relief and would lift an unfunded State mandate that cost municipalities throughout the entire state more than $66,232,734 in 2015.
Kean, Beck, Oroho Introducing Legislation to Support NJ Charities
Senate Republicans Tom Kean, Jennifer Beck and Steven Oroho are introducing legislation on Monday to boost charitable giving to New Jersey nonprofits that are on the front lines serving millions of children and families.
Senate Republicans Tom Kean, Jennifer Beck and Steven Oroho will introduce legislation establishing a state income tax deduction for gifts to New Jersey charities. (SenateNJ.com)
This legislation will establish a charitable deduction for state income tax filers on the money and gifts they provide to charities operating in New Jersey. This new bill is a modified version of bipartisan S-334, originally created and introduced in 2007 by Senate Republican Leader Kean.
“New Jersey is blessed to be served by an array of charities supporting children, families and seniors in need,” said Kean (Union, Somerset, Morris). “A host of nonprofit educational, cultural and civic organizations make our communities safer and stronger. As we have learned on many occasions, such as the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, charities are often the first to mobilize to help in times of crisis before government resources are available.”
“Nonprofit organizations work tirelessly for communities, help the state and local governments provide essential public services and create jobs and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages,” said Beck (Monmouth). “Yet it’s extremely difficult for nonprofits here to garner steady charitable giving from residents and small business owners, because, by most measures, New Jersey ranks dead last and second to last in the nation in overall tax burdens.”
Committee Passes Oroho Estate Tax Phase Out & Retirement Income Tax Cut
A pair of tax-cut bills sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) was advanced by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee.
Legislation by Sen. Steven Oroho would phase out the estate tax and cut taxes on retirement income. (SenateNJ.com)
Tax-cut legislation championed for years by Senator Oroho to phase out New Jersey’s “estate tax” was approved 9-0. That bill, bipartisan S-1728, would increase the tax exclusion from the current level of $675,000 to $1 million the first year and complete the elimination over five years.
“We are a big step closer to eliminating the nation’s highest death tax — a reform that would allow parents, grandparents, employers and farmers to stay in New Jersey and pass to future generations the assets that they’ve worked their whole lives to earn,” Oroho said. “This estate tax phase out would restore our competitive economic position by enticing capital back to New Jersey. Just as we enacted $2.3 billion in bipartisan business tax cuts in 2011 to increase financial resources and jobs, we should get this tax cut on the books now to retain more capital and opportunities for the people of this state.”
Advanced: Singer Bill Expanding Access to Job Training to Prevent Recidivism of Released Drug Offenders
Legislation would allow persons with drug convictions to participate in Work First New Jersey; expand access to job training to help families become self-sufficient
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to expand access to job training programs for those with drug convictions to prevent recidivism has been approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
The state’s welfare reform program, WorkFirst NJ, emphasizes work as the first step toward building a new life and a brighter future. (WorkFirst NJ)
“For those who have been convicted of a drug crime, the road to recovery is long, treacherous and nearly impossible to traverse without help,” Senator Singer said. “Expanding access to job training and workforce education goes a long way to helping all families in need – not just some – become self-sufficient without having to rely on general assistance.”
Singer Bill to Improve Access to Integrated Behavioral and Primary Healthcare Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to improve coordination between primary and behavioral healthcare services has cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Sen. Robert Singer’s legislation allows for better coordinated and comprehensive primary and behavioral healthcare services. (©iStock)
Senator Singer’s bill, S-1710, allows ambulatory care facilities to provide primary health care and behavioral health services under a single license.
“To provide quality, comprehensive healthcare for all New Jerseyans, we must ease the process of integrating behavioral health and primary care services,” Senator Singer said. “Forcing facilities to obtain multiple licenses just so they can provide a full spectrum of health services is an unnecessary restriction that only serves in blocking patients from accessing the care they need.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Are ‘NO’ Votes on Gas Tax Increase
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove want their position to be known to legislative colleagues and special interests bent on increasing New Jersey’s gas tax to replenish the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove have vowed to vote ‘NO’ on efforts to increase New Jersey’s gas tax to replenish the state’s Transportation Trust Fund. (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District delegation issued the following joint statement as deliberations on a gas tax increase intensify and residents brace for yet another financial burden imposed by government:
“Middle-class commuters and seniors stand to be hit hardest by a gas tax increase, not to mention the harsh financial impact for businesses. Seniors won’t be receiving a cost-of-living increase in Social Security, making a gas tax increase all the more unaffordable to them.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Small Businesses & Seniors Will Be Hit Hard by Minimum Wage Increase
Imposing more state mandates will have a chilling effect on New Jersey’s economy warned the 9th Legislative District delegation, following the announcement of what is the latest in a string of anti-small business policy proposals.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove noted that plans by Democrats to nearly double the minimum wage to $15/hour would result in price increases that hurt fixed-income seniors. (©iStock)
The statement from Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove comes in reaction to the recent announcement of a joint state-federal effort by New Jersey elected officials to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
The delegation questioned how the state could be considering nearly doubling the minimum wage, which could very well drive up the cost of goods, when seniors recently learned they won’t be receiving a cost-of-living increase in their social security checks this year.
Oroho Statement on Governor’s Budget Address
Senator Steven Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) issued the following statement regarding the Governor’s budget address and the upcoming legislative budget season:
Sen. Steven Oroho said that in upcoming budgeting process the Legislature must prioritize creating a more competitive economic position for New Jersey. (SenateNJ.com)
“The Governor has again laid out a fiscally responsible spending plan that holds discretionary spending in line and makes a record pension payment without any new taxes,” said Oroho, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. “The continued improvement in New Jersey’s private-sector job growth is a testament to the success that can occur under this pattern of prudent budgeting and smart economic policies.”
