VIDEO: Testa Calls Purchase of SUVs with Pandemic Funds to Chauffeur Democrat Leaders Disturbing
Senator Michael Testa issued the following statement after it was revealed that Governor Phil Murphy and Democrat legislative leaders spent $522,783 of federal pandemic relief funds on a fleet of new Chevy Suburbans for the State Police’s Executive Protection Unit:
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“It’s disturbing that Governor Murphy and Democrat leaders chose to spend pandemic relief funds to buy new SUVs for the State Police to chauffeur them around the state. Instead of putting the billions in unspent relief funds that have sat idle in state accounts for two years to effective use, Democrats prioritized their own comfort and convenience over helping people. It’s despicable.”
Amid Chinese Buying Spree, Steinhardt Bill Would Prohibit Foreign Ownership of New Jersey Farmland
Senator Says Food Security Is National Security
Senator Doug Steinhardt has introduced legislation that would prohibit foreign ownership of New Jersey farmland amid rising concerns about a Chinese buying spree of American farms.
Sen. Doug Steinhardt has introduced legislation that would prohibit foreign ownership of New Jersey farmland amid rising concerns about a Chinese buying spree of American farmland. (Wikimedia Commons)
“We need to pay attention to the fact that China and its proxies have been buying up farmland across the United States,” said Steinhardt (R-23). “When you recognize that food security is national security, it quickly becomes clear that we need to prevent our agricultural lands in New Jersey from falling under the control of hostile foreign governments.”
Testa/O’Scanlon: You Know Murphy’s Mismanagement of SHBP Rate Hikes Is Bad When Dysfunctional Trenton Looks Smart for Jumping Ship
Say Exodus of Local Governments Could Be Disastrous for State Benefits Health Plan
Senator Michael Testa and Senator Declan O’Scanlon said a decision by the City of Trenton to leave the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) for a private insurer to avoid millions in health care premium increases could signal a coming exodus of local governments from the state plan.
Sen. Michael Testa and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said a decision by the City of Trenton to leave the SHBP for a private insurer to avoid a 23% premium increase could signal a coming exodus of local governments from the state plan. (©iStock.com)
The senators said a 22.8% rate hike this year for local governments in the SHBP was driven by the Murphy administration’s failure to achieve promised savings that had been highly trumpeted and its refusal to consider cost-saving proposals offered by public employee unions, towns, and counties.
“You know Governor Murphy’s mismanagement of SHBP rate hikes is really bad when the often dysfunctional city government in Trenton looks smart for jumping ship from the state plan,” said Testa (R-1). “More local governments are likely to realize they can achieve significant savings for both their workers and property taxpayers by shopping for health insurance in the private market. Nobody who can avoid it will pay the 23% premium increase pushed through by the Murphy administration.”
Pennacchio Highlights Reforms After AG Launches Investigation Into Voting Machine Problems
In response to a new investigation launched by the New Jersey Attorney General into the 2022 Monmouth County election, where an error led to the double counting of votes in multiple towns, Senator Joe Pennacchio called on the Senate to advance his legislation that would increase transparency by requiring open source voting technology.
In response to a new investigation launched by the Attorney General into Monmouth County voting machine problems, Sen. Joe Pennacchio called on the Senate to advance his legislation that would require open source voting technology. (SenateNJ.com)
“The news coming out of Monmouth County is just another reason why we can’t rely on voting machines that use proprietary software for error-free results,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Two years ago, I introduced legislation that would dramatically increase election transparency and integrity by requiring all voting machine technology to be open source. People have the right to demand elections that are fair and honest, and this bill would help restore faith in the process.”
Republican Budget Members Blast Murphy Administration Plans to Tax Cloud Computing & Software Subscription Services
Report from NJ Division of Taxation Comes Just Weeks After Gov. Murphy Pledged “Absolutely No New Taxes”
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee blasted a new report issued by the New Jersey Division of Taxation that calls for the taxation of cloud computing and software subscription services.
“The latest report from Taxation makes it clear that the Murphy administration is looking at new taxes on many Internet-based services,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “So much for Governor Murphy’s recent statements that there would be ‘no new taxes.’ That certainly didn’t last long.”
Bucco: It’s No Shock Murphy is Delaying Hearings on His Expensive Green Energy Plan
Senator Anthony M. Bucco said it’s no shock that Governor Phil Murphy is pushing back hearings on his increasingly unpopular Energy Master Plan until “later in the year.”
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco said it’s no shock that Gov. Phil Murphy is pushing back hearings on his increasingly unpopular Energy Master Plan until ‘later in the year.’ (SenateNJ.com)
“Let’s be clear that ‘later in the year’ means after Election Day,” said Bucco (R-25). “Trenton Democrats are scared that New Jerseyans might learn before November how much their energy bills will rise and how expensive it’ll be to convert their homes and businesses from gas to electric under Murphy’s extreme green energy plan. People deserve the truth.”
Southern Shore Lawmakers Say Unprecedented Whale Deaths Warrant Suspension of Offshore Wind Projects
Sen. Michael Testa and Assemblymen Erik Simonsen and Antwan McClellan are intensifying calls to suspend offshore wind projects following an unprecedented number of whale deaths along the coasts of New Jersey and New York. They join a chorus of concerned elected officials and environmental and commercial fishing groups who are worried the push for more offshore wind development has contributed to the death of seven whales in a little over a month, including two on the endangered species list.
Sen. Michael Testa, Asm. Erik Simonsen, and Asm. Antwan McClellan are intensifying calls to suspend offshore wind projects following an unprecedented number of whale deaths along the coasts of New Jersey and New York. (Pixabay)
Despite the opposition, Gov. Phil Murphy continues his aggressive green energy goals, which calls for increasing offshore electric wind generation to 11,000 megawatts by 2040. To date, three offshore wind projects have been approved by the state Board of Public Utilities. One would add 98 wind turbines in Ocean and Cape May counties and others could produce as many as 350 along Atlantic County’s shoreline.
VIDEO: What’s the Next Extreme Plan Democrats are COOKING UP for New Jerseyans?
What’s the next extreme plan Democrats are COOKING UP for New Jerseyans?
O’Scanlon: WTF JBOC?
Joint Budget Oversight Committee Still Not Considering Plans to Put Billions in Idle Pandemic & Debt Relief Funds to Effective Use
Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon responded with dismay after the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC) issued an agenda for its meeting on Monday that fails to consider proposals to put to use billions in idle pandemic relief funds and billions more set aside for debt relief in the FY 2023 State Budget.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon responded with dismay to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee’s continuing failure to consider plans to put billions in idle pandemic and debt relief funds to effective use. (Pixabay)
“We have billions in unspent federal relief funds sitting idle in State accounts for nearly two years that’s getting devalued by inflation,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth), a member of the committee. “We have billions more set aside in the current State Budget to pay down debt that hasn’t been touched for more than six months. Since JBOC is responsible for approving the use of these funds, why has no plan been presented by Governor Murphy or the Democratic majority for approval? WTF are you waiting for?”
Oroho: New Jerseyans Can’t Afford More of Murphy’s Expensive Green Energy Extremism
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho responded to Governor Phil Murphy’s announcement that planning has begun for the next iteration of his Energy Master Plan by warning that New Jerseyans can’t afford his existing green energy roadmap.
Sen. Steven Oroho responded to Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement that planning has begun for the next iteration of his Energy Master Plan by warning that New Jerseyans can’t afford his existing green energy roadmap. (Pixabay)
“New Jersey can’t afford more of the expensive green energy extremism that Governor Murphy has been trying to impose on our families and businesses,” said Oroho (R-24). “If his next Energy Master Plan continues on the same course, New Jerseyans will lose affordable energy choices, pay higher energy bills, and be hit with costly mandates to convert our homes and businesses from gas to electric.”
