Bucco: Electric Bills to Rise in June, More Hikes to Come Under Murphy’s Expensive Energy Plan
Senator Anthony M. Bucco said price increases that are set to hit most New Jersey electric bills in June won’t be the last under Governor Phil Murphy’s new energy plan.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco said price increases that are set to hit most New Jersey electric bills in June won’t be the last under Gov. Phil Murphy’s new energy plan. (Pixabay)
“Governor Murphy has pledged a radical upheaval of New Jersey’s energy supply and infrastructure, which will lead to huge cost increases for our families and small businesses,” said Bucco (R-25). “As the governor’s plan is implemented, New Jerseyans will be hit with a massive energy tax that will make living in New Jersey even more unaffordable. The electric rate hikes that will hit bills in June are likely the first of many if the governor has his way.”
Deployed Service Members Get More Options on College Courses under Brown’s Bipartisan Bill
Service members who are enrolled in a course at a public college or university but are unable to complete a course due to deployment, reassignment, or other military obligation will have more flexibility in making a decision that works for them under a bipartisan bill sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown.
Sen. Chris Brown’s legislation would provide service members enrolled at a public college or university with more options when they are unable to complete a course due to deployment, reassignment, or other military obligation. (SenateNJ.com)
“Your life can turn around quickly when the military calls you into action,” said Brown, who was in law school and had already paid for his tuition and books when he was deployed to serve in the Persian Gulf War. “Men and women in uniform should not be penalized when our country sends them overseas to fight our enemies, so this bill gives those college students a menu of options to get their academic affairs in order when they are deployed while also making it easier for them to resume their education when they return.”
Corrado/Oroho: National Democrats Block Export of “Toxic Culture” Ignored by Gov. Murphy
Host Committee for Democratic National Convention Fires Murphy Political Advisors for Creating “Toxic and Unstable Working Environment” for Women
Senator Kristin Corrado and Senator Steven Oroho said a toxic culture of misogyny that has long surrounded Governor Phil Murphy was thrust into the national spotlight in recent days when it was revealed that a pair of the governor’s political advisors were accused of abusive behavior and fired from their positions helping to organize the Democratic National Convention.
Sen. Kristin Corrado and Sen. Steven Oroho said a toxic culture of misogyny that has long surrounded Gov. Phil Murphy was thrust into the national spotlight when a pair of his political advisors were fired from their positions helping to organize the Democratic National Convention for abusive behavior. (SenateNJ.com)
Corrado said she hopes the news out of Milwaukee will push the Governor to join a bipartisan legislative effort to fix the culture of Trenton.
“Perhaps being in the national spotlight for the wrong reasons will provide Governor Murphy the incentive he needs to start addressing the misogynistic culture that he and his administration have helped perpetuate,” said Corrado (R-40). “Instead of always rushing to defend the indefensible, the governor should lead by example and hold his team accountable when they do wrong. If he doesn’t, nothing will change.”
Testa Applauds Grant Funding to Combat Opioid Addiction in South Jersey
Senator Michael Testa applauded more than $100,000 in state grant funding to help combat the opioid epidemic in Cumberland and Cape May counties.
Sen. Michael Testa applauded more than $100,000 in state grant funding to help combat the opioid epidemic in South Jersey. (Pixabay)
“The opioid crisis has hit South Jersey hard, and no family is immune to its devastating impact,” said Testa (R-1). “It’s so important for elected officials on a bipartisan basis to help our local communities tackle this crisis, providing those with substance abuse problems a second chance at life. While the road to recovery isn’t easy, this much-needed funding will assist in expanding and improving treatment services for our friends and family struggling with addiction in Cape May and Cumberland counties.”
Editorial: Murphy’s Sanctuary State Policies Handcuff Law Enforcement & Set Criminal Aliens Free
The following editorial by Senator Michael Testa (R-1) on the outrageous outcomes of Governor Phil Murphy’s sanctuary state policies was published by NJ.com on February 4, 2020:
The sanctuary state policies implemented by Gov. Phil Murphy and his administration have handcuffed the ability of New Jersey’s dedicated law enforcement officers to keep the Garden State safe.
In this NJ.com editorial, Sen. Michael Testa explains how Gov. Phil Murphy’s sanctuary state policies have handcuffed law enforcement and set dangerous criminal aliens free, including a fugitive accused of child rape. (ICE)
That was made clear by President Donald Trump during his visit to New Jersey several days ago, when he highlighted the disturbing case of Luciano Trejo-Dominguez, an illegal alien who was arrested and temporarily jailed last August for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Vineland.
Instead of honoring a request to hold Trejo-Dominguez for transfer to federal immigration officials for deportation proceedings, the accused child rapist was released by the Cumberland County jail back into the community.
O’Scanlon Bill Protecting Seniors from Scammers Advances
Senator Declan O’Scanlon’s legislation to protect vulnerable senior citizens and people with disabilities from theft scams passed the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
The Senate Law & Public Safety Committee advanced Sen. Declan O’Scanlon’s bill that would make fiscal victimization of senior citizens or people with disabilities a crime, protecting vulnerable populations from theft scams. (SenateNJ.com)
“Seniors have always been prime targets for criminals who prey on their trusting nature and easy demeanor,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “As technology has developed, it has become easier to find victims and raid their life savings. This can be devastating for people living on fixed incomes.”
Editorial: Murphy’s Energy Plan Will Create Big Tax for NJ Residents
The following editorial by Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) on Governor Murphy’s new Energy Master Plan was published by The Record on January 31, 2020:
In the state with the highest property tax bills in the nation and a crisis of affordability that’s driving a mass exodus to more affordable places, it’s outrageous that Gov. Phil Murphy would proactively add to the financial burden of New Jersey residents with a costly new energy tax.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco explains how Gov. Murphy’s new Energy Master Plan will drive up utility bills and eliminate consumer choice in this editorial. (Pixabay)
Murphy’s new Energy Master Plan (EMP) has an end game of eliminating consumer choices by rapidly shutting off access to natural gas, and requiring mass electrification even though the technologies don’t exist to meet the round-the-clock, on-demand energy needs of our 9 million residents. It also ignores the fact that 75 percent of homes need natural gas for heating and cooking, and our businesses want it for clean, reliable and affordable power.
Kean: Chronic Student Outmigration Will Impact Higher Education & Economy
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean released the following statement on New Jersey’s Top Ten ranking in Wallethub’s 2020’s Most and Least Educated States in America:
Sen. Tom Kean said New Jersey’s top-ten ranking by Wallethub as one of the most educated states in America is threatened by a ‘brain drain’ of college students who leave the state and can’t afford to return. (Pixabay)
“While New Jersey is currently one of the ‘Most Educated States’ in the nation, our outmigration problem may put this notable statistic at risk in the future. Many high school graduates choose to attend college outside of New Jersey. Once these students leave, many never return to New Jersey to help build our workforce, support their families, or contribute to our communities. This is because our state is simply too expensive.
Kean: Rail Commuters Deserve Improvement, Not Delays & Excuses
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean responded to serious concerns about New Jersey Transit (NJT) that were raised in a new report by the State Auditor.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean responded to serious concerns about New Jersey Transit that were raised in a new report by the State Auditor. (SenateNJ.com)
“Virtually every aspect of New Jersey Transit’s rail operations, including poor on-time performance, problems with safety upgrades, and badly maintained infrastructure were laid bare in the State Auditor’s report,” said Kean. “As I’ve said repeatedly, rail commuters deserve improvement from New Jersey Transit, not more delays and excuses.”
As a member of both the Legislative Oversight Committee and the Senate Select Committee on New Jersey Transit, Kean has investigated in depth the myriad problems at NJT that have plagued commuters in recent years.
“We’ve worked closely with commuters, local officials, and transportation advocates to hold New Jersey Transit accountable for the thousands of delays, canceled trains, and the unacceptable quality of rail service overall,” added Kean. “Unfortunately, the State Auditor’s findings reinforce much of what we already know. New Jersey Transit isn’t doing enough to fix what’s wrong. New Jersey’s rail commuters deserve better.”
Committee Advances Connors, Rumpf & Gove Bill to Enhance Megan’s Law
The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee advanced a Megan’s Law legislative initiative (S-205) introduced by Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove to enhance the community notification process.
The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee advanced a Megan’s Law legislative initiative introduced by Connors, Rumpf & Gove to enhance the community notification process. (©iStock)
Under the 9th District delegation’s legislation, the State Attorney General would be required to establish a means for providing e-mail notifications when a sex offender listed on the Internet registry registers a new address in a different county or zip code from the offender’s previous address.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove issued the following statement regarding the committee’s advancement of their Megan’s Law initiative:
“Community notification is the core purpose of Megan’s Law in the overall effort to safeguard our communities against sexual predators.
“To be more effective, we’re proposing to upgrade Megan’s Law by instituting the use of e-mail notifications which would help in addressing complications encountered by law enforcement due to the transient nature of sexual offenders. Residents could stay better informed if they received e-mail notifications in instances when a registered sex offender moves to a new address.
