Thompson: Report Shows Rapidly Rising State Debt, Contradicting Murphy Administration Claims
Senator Sam Thompson said the new state debt report issued today by the Treasury Department directly contradicts claims by Governor Phil Murphy and Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio that they have reduced state debt.
Sen. Sam Thompson said the new state debt report issued today by the Treasury Department directly contradicts claims by Gov. Phil Murphy and Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio that they have reduced state debt. (Pixabay)
“The professionals in Treasury have produced a debt report verifying that New Jersey’s total debt increased by $44 billion last year, including a $4.3 billion increase attributable to Governor Murphy’s wasteful and unnecessary deficit financing,” said Thompson (R-12). “The truth about New Jersey’s debt that’s revealed in the professional report stands in stark contrast to the false claims by Treasurer Muoio and Governor Murphy that the administration has reduced state debt. They haven’t been honest with people at all.”
Testa: Murphy Could Have Stopped School Aid Cuts & Property Tax Increases With Money Earmarked for Illegals in New State Budget
Murphy’s New Budget Gives Illegals $500 Checks & Free Health Care While Raising Taxes & Tolls
Senator Michael Testa said Governor Phil Murphy could have prevented school aid cuts and resulting property tax increases with money that was earmarked for $500 checks and free health care for illegal aliens in the new state budget.
Sen. Michael Testa said Gov. Phil Murphy could have prevented school aid cuts and property tax increases with money that was earmarked for $500 checks and free health care for illegal aliens in the new state budget. (©iStock)
“Families in nearly 200 school districts across New Jersey will pay higher property taxes this year because Governor Murphy chose to slash their school aid in his new state budget,” said Testa (R-1), a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. “Instead of funding our schools and supporting New Jersey families, the governor chose to hand out $500 checks and free health care to illegal immigrants. For anyone wondering why New Jersey is so unaffordable, this expensive progressive nonsense from Democrats like Governor Murphy is exactly why.”
Holzapfel: Lavish Credit Card Spending by Rutgers Athletics is an Insult to New Jersey Taxpayers
One week after Senator Jim Holzapfel slammed Democrats’ $100 million giveaway to Rutgers athletics, an investigation by NorthJersey.com and USA Today uncovered nearly $10 million in credit card charges made by the athletics division.
One week after Sen. Jim Holzapfel slammed Democrats’ $100 million giveaway to Rutgers athletics, an investigation by NorthJersey.com and USA Today uncovered nearly $10 million in credit card charges made by the athletics division. (Pixabay)
“Rutgers athletics seems to have a penchant for wasting taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars,” said Holzapfel (R-10). “It runs up $10 million in credit card debt, receives $100 million from Democrats in the state budget, and all the while our K-12 schools face significant budget cuts and layoffs. As I’ve said before, our local schools should be funded first, period. We should not be using taxpayer dollars to bail out the athletics division yet again, especially in light of these recent credit card spending sprees. This wasteful spending is only driving the cost of college tuition higher for tens of thousands of New Jersey families who are already struggling with high taxes and inflation.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Catalano Blast Murphy’s Plan to Make Payments to Illegal Immigrants from Budget Slush Fund
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman John Catalano (all R-10) blasted Governor Phil Murphy’s apparent plan to use $53 million from a slush fund created by Democrats in the new state budget to make payments of $500 to illegal immigrants in New Jersey.
Sen. Jim Holzapfel, Asm. Greg McGuckin, and Asm. John Catalano blasted Gov. Phil Murphy’s apparent plan to use $53 million from a slush fund created by Democrats in the new state budget to make payments of $500 to illegal immigrants in New Jersey. (Pixabay)
“The Democrats who control the Legislature know that Governor Murphy’s program giving big cash payments to illegal immigrants is so unpopular with most New Jerseyans that they were afraid to fund it directly in the state budget,” said Holzapfel. “Instead, they created a slush fund that Governor Murphy controls that appears to have been designed specifically to continue making these ridiculous payments. If they think the program is so great and deserving of taxpayer funds, Democrats should have been brave enough to put it in the budget they enacted.”
Durr Says Murphy’s New Gun Restrictions Are “Empty Solutions”
Senator Ed Durr said new gun restrictions signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy are empty solutions that will not protect New Jerseyans from violent crime.
Sen. Ed Durr testified against new gun restrictions signed today by Gov. Murphy when the bills were considered by the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee on June 23, 2022. (NJ Senate Republicans/YouTube)
“Not a single one of the new restrictions that Governor Murphy is imposing on law-abiding gun owners today will do anything to protect New Jerseyans from tragic attacks like those in Highland Park, Uvalde, and Buffalo,” said Durr (R-3). “These are empty solutions that will not stop violent criminals who will ignore every new gun law that’s enacted. All these bills will do is put more legal gun owners at risk of being prosecuted for unintentional technical violations of the law.”
Testa: New Legislation Needed to Counter NJ ABC’s “Disastrous and Destructive” New License Conditions Limiting Brewery Activities
Responding to Friday’s issuance by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s (ABC) new license conditions that severely restrict local breweries from operating freely and fairly, Senator Michael Testa (R-Vineland) announced he will introduce new legislation to counter these rules and let freedom ring for breweries.
Sen. Michael Testa announced he will introduce new legislation to counter the rules recently issued by the NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control that restrict local breweries from operating freely and fairly. (Pixabay)
“These disastrous and destructive new conditions are an affront to the freedoms that our breweries should enjoy in pursuing their goals and trying to find a place in our state’s economy,” said Testa. “In my opinion, the ABC fell far short treating our local breweries fairly, which we must address with new legislation to aid these small businesses.”
Senate Approves Pennacchio Bill that Would Streamline Application Process for Veterans Benefits
Bill Would Simplify the Statutory Definitions of ‘Veteran,’ ‘Disabled Veteran,’ and ‘Service-Disabled Veteran’
Legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio that would streamline the application process for veterans benefits was approved last week by the New Jersey Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Pennacchio that would streamline the application process for veterans benefits was approved by the New Jersey Senate. (©iStock)
“The men and women who served our nation in the armed forces deserve to have access to the benefits they earned without having to go through excessive government red tape,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Currently, there are numerous statutory definitions of the terms ‘veteran’ and ’disabled veteran.’ This makes it extremely difficult for some service members to apply for benefits. In fact, there are over 20 definitions of the word ‘veteran’ alone. My legislation will reduce the number of definitions so that the brave men and women who served our country can more easily access the benefits they deserve.”
Holzapfel Slams $100M Giveaway to Rutgers Athletics
Senator Jim Holzapfel criticized New Jersey democrats for earmarking $100 million in the state budget for a Rutgers University basketball arena and football practice facility while simultaneously slashing school aid to Brick and Toms River.
Sen. Jim Holzapfel criticized New Jersey democrats for earmarking $100 million in the state budget for Rutgers athletics while simultaneously slashing school aid to Brick and Toms River. (Pixabay)
“It’s outrageous that the democrats are cutting funding to nearly 200 school districts while giving a huge gift to Rutgers athletics,” said Holzapfel (R-10). “Our public K-12 schools need to be funded first, period. Spending $100 million on something like this shouldn’t even be considered while our school children’s programs are being cut and teachers are being laid off. This is some of the most egregious fiscal behavior I’ve seen in years.”
Corrado Bill Addressing School Bus Shortage Signed by Governor
The New Law Extends the Regulated Service Life of School Vehicles by One Year
School districts and transportation companies will be able to keep buses on the road for another year under legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin Corrado and signed into law today.
School districts and transportation companies will be able to keep buses on the road for another year under legislation sponsored by Sen. Kristin Corrado and signed into law by the Governor. (SenateNJ.com)
Previously, school buses manufactured since 2007 could remain in service until the end of the school in June, 20 years after the date of manufacture, and vehicles produced between April 1977 and January 2007 had a 15-year service life.
Pennacchio Bill Supporting Education of Military Children Becomes Law
Provides Additional State Funding to School Districts with Students Living on Military Installations
Legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio that would provide additional state school aid to districts impacted by the loss of federal impact aid was signed today by the Governor.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Pennacchio that would provide additional state school aid to districts impacted by the loss of federal impact aid was signed by the Governor. (Pixabay)
For more than 70 years, school districts educating the children of active military parents have received impact aid from the federal government, but recently, the support from Washington has faded.
“This additional funding is much deserved,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “School districts take on the responsibility to educate the children of service members, and they deserve to be funded.”
