Connors, Rumpf & Gove Drafting Bill to Preserve COVID Legal Immunity for Senior Communities
Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove are drafting legislation to prevent the expiration of legal immunity for senior communities from COVID-related lawsuits. Under current law enacted on June 30 of this year, senior communities and other planned real estate developments would lose their legal immunity from COVID-related lawsuits on January 1, 2022.
Sen. Christopher Connors, Asm. Brian Rumpf, and Asw. DiAnne Gove are drafting legislation to prevent the expiration of legal immunity for senior communities from COVID-related lawsuits. (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District Legislative Delegation issued the following statement:
“A large segment of our constituency is comprised of seniors living in senior communities. For that reason, our Delegation strongly supported the law to protect senior community homeowner associations from COVID-related lawsuits. While the legislation was being debated, our Delegation provided legislative updates to thousands of constituents who had taken an active interest in the issue. We did so with the understanding that many seniors wanted to return to a sense of normalcy, which meant having the ability to use community facilities, such as clubhouses and pools.
Bucco/Pennacchio/Schepisi Legislation Supporting Pediatric Cancer Research Signed into Law
Legislation sponsored by Senators Anthony Bucco, Joseph Pennacchio, and Holly Schepisi that would support funding for pediatric cancer research has been signed into law by Governor Murphy.
Legislation sponsored by Sens. Tony Bucco, Joe Pennacchio, and Holly Schepisi that would support funding for pediatric cancer research has been signed into law. (©iStock)
“I am pleased that the Governor signed both of these bills into law today. As a survivor of pediatric cancer, I know there are few things that can make a child feel so scared or parents so helpless,” said Bucco (R-25). “I am thankful every day that I was one of the lucky ones who survived. With better-funded research, we can improve treatments and survival rates to ensure that luck is no longer a factor in deciding which children with cancer will have an opportunity to grow up and live full lives.”
Bucco Bills to Fund Pediatric Cancer Research Signed Into Law
A pair of bills sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco to fund pediatric cancer research in New Jersey have been signed into law.
Sen. Tony Bucco and Grace Eline, both pediatric cancer survivors, vote YES to fund vital pediatric cancer research in New Jersey during a Senate session on June 21, 2021. (SenateNJ.com)
“As a survivor of pediatric cancer, I know there are few things that can make a child feel so scared or parents so helpless,” said Bucco (R-25). “I am thankful every day that I was one of the lucky ones who survived. With better-funded research, we can improve treatments and survival rates to ensure that luck is no longer a factor in deciding which children with cancer will have an opportunity to grow up and live full lives.”
10th District Legislators Fault Democrats for Risking Jobs
Not One Democrat Has Signed on to Efforts to Stop Massive Tax on NJ Employers
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano today lamented the absence of even a single Democrat legislator on a petition that would require a special legislative session to spare local employers from the punishing impact of an imminent tax increase to replenish New Jersey’s Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano lamented the absence of even a single Democrat legislator on a petition that would require a special legislative session to spare local employers from the punishing impact of an imminent tax increase to replenish NJ’s Unemployment Insurance Fund. (Pixabay)
“Not one single Democrat has been willing to break rank with the Governor and support the state’s Main Street businesses, mom-and-pop shops, and restaurants that have suffered every day since the pandemic emerged,” said Holzapfel. “Some of our Democrat colleagues issued press releases criticizing Murphy’s plan to restore the UI Fund on the backs of small employers, but they won’t step up to prevent a devastating tax hike that will assuredly force even more businesses to close their doors forever. The tax increase is coming, and it is time for the Democrats to put up or shut up. The State economy depends on it.”
Pennacchio to Introduce Legislation that Would Treat Recovered COVID Patients No Different than Vaccinated Individuals
Senator Models New Legislation on Israel’s Public Health Policy
Senator Joe Pennacchio will introduce new legislation that would treat recovered COVID-19 patients the same as those who have been vaccinated under any vaccine mandate or passport scheme that may be implemented.
(©iStock)
He said the bill addresses public concerns with President Biden’s decision to force vaccines on many Americans. Along with the Federal government, more private businesses, companies, and other venues are requiring “vaccine passports” for their workers and for the public to participate in their jobs, recreation, and other daily activities.
A recent study from Israel suggests that natural immunity confers 13 times the protection provided by two doses of Pfizer vaccines. This information comes after reports from Massachusetts that three-fourths of people infected with the Delta variant of COVID had been previously fully vaccinated.
Oroho & Wirths Call for JBOC to Meet to Discuss Use of Billions of Pandemic Relief Funds Sent to NJ
Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) and Assemblyman Hal Wirths (R-24) called for a meeting of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC) to discuss how billions of dollars of State and federal funds that the Murphy administration has yet to utilize will be employed to benefit New Jerseyans.
Sen. Steven Oroho and Asm. Hal Wirths called for a meeting of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee to discuss how billions of dollars of State and federal funds that the Murphy administration has yet to utilize will be employed to benefit New Jerseyans. (©iStock)
Oroho and Wirths, the Republican budget officers in the Senate and General Assembly, made their request in a letter (click here for PDF) to Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36) and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D-29), co-chairs of the JBOC.
Kean Says Treasury Announcement on Ben & Jerry’s Shows Success of Law Prohibiting State Investment in Companies that Boycott Israel
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) said an announcement by the New Jersey Department of Treasury today demonstrates the success of a 2016 law which prohibits the investment of state public employee retirement funds in companies that boycott Israel.
Sen. Tom Kean said an announcement by the Treasury Department demonstrates the success of a 2016 law which prohibits the investment of New Jersey public employee retirement funds in companies that boycott Israel. (Pixabay)
“Our anti-BDS law was one of the first in the nation to use the power of state investment decisions to remove support for businesses that boycott Israel,” said Kean. “The announcement by Treasury that state investment will be prohibited in the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s following a review we requested pursuant to the law we enacted is yet another example that the process works as intended.”
Testa: Not a Single Democratic Legislator Has Signed Petition to Stop Gov. Murphy’s Payroll Tax Increase Next Month
Senator Michael Testa (R-1) said that nearly two weeks after a petition was sent to their offices, not a single Democrat in the New Jersey Legislature has signed on to an effort to convene a special legislative session to prevent an upcoming payroll tax increase on employers, repay debt, and restore stability to the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fund.
Sen. Michael Testa said not a single Democrat in the New Jersey Legislature has signed a petition they were sent to convene a special legislative session to prevent an upcoming payroll tax increase on employers. (©iStock)
The petition, signed by every Republican member of the Legislature, would constitutionally require Governor Phil Murphy to call a special session if signed by a majority of the members of each house of the Legislature.
“It’s extremely disappointing that none of the Democratic legislators who put out press releases bemoaning Governor Murphy’s looming payroll tax increase were brave enough to sign the petition that was presented to them,” said Testa, a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. “Their inaction when offered a clear opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner to stop the tax increase on New Jersey’s struggling employers speaks louder than their empty words.”
Affordable Housing Project in Howell Underscores Need for Legislative Reform, Say Singer, Kean and Thomson
Sen. Robert Singer and Assemblymen Sean Kean and Edward Thomson, lawmakers from Legislative District 30, which includes Howell, say a proposed 319-unit project in the township illustrates the urgent need for affordable housing reform. When the Legislature reconvenes after the November election, they are calling on lawmakers to immediately consider affordable housing policy that includes eliminating mandatory construction, and ensuring housing obligation calculations account for the town’s infrastructure, among other factors.
Sen. Robert Singer, Asm. Sean Kean, and Asm. Edward Thomson, lawmakers from District 30, say a proposed 319-unit project in Howell illustrates the urgent need for affordable housing reform. (Pixabay)
“When a judge mandates hundreds of new housing units for a town, they often fail to consider the uniqueness of each community and the impact on the town’s quality of life,” said Singer. “It is time for the Legislature to fulfill its responsibility to enact a sensible affordable housing policy which serves the best interest of the communities we represent.”
Pennacchio to Federal Government: Stop Treating Morris County Like an Orphan
Ida Recovery and Flood Mitigation Efforts Need State and Federal Support
Senator Joe Pennacchio said Morris County needs immediate State and federal support to address flood damage caused by Hurricane Ida and to mitigate the impact of flooding in the future.
Morris County was not among the counties listed in a federal disaster declaration on September 5 as a result of Hurricane Ida, leaving residents ineligible for direct recovery assistance. (FEMA)
“It’s extremely disappointing that President Biden didn’t declare a Major Disaster Area for Morris County following Hurricane Ida and his visit to New Jersey,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Instead of fighting for help when they had the chance, our representatives in Congress settled for a photo op with the President. Our residents need federal disaster funding for Morris County, not pictures on Facebook.”
