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Oroho Bill Supporting ‘FIRST’ Robotics Programs in School Districts Advances
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would establish a pilot program in the Department of Education to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts was advanced by the Senate Education Committee.
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho that would establish a pilot program in the Department of Education to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts was approved by the Senate Education Committee. (Pixabay)
“All of the available data clearly shows that STEM fields are some of the fastest-growing in the country and will continue to be for some time,” said Oroho (R-24). “My legislation will put science, technology, engineering, and mathematics front and center in select New Jersey schools and inspire students to pursue education and career opportunities in those fields.”
Governor Signs Bateman Bill Enhancing Online Public Access to BPU Records
Legislation sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman that would establish an online electronic public records access service on the Board of Public Utilities’ web site was signed today by the Governor.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman that would establish an online electronic public records access service on the Board of Public Utilities’ web site was signed by the Governor. (SenateNJ.com)
The bill signed today, A-4556/4145/S-2611, requires BPU to utilize the access service to provide advance notice of every public meeting and hearing conducted by the board seven days prior to the meeting date.
Pennacchio: Commissioner Persichilli Said She’s Willing to Testify at Bipartisan Oversight Hearing, So Let’s Do It
Senator Joe Pennacchio called for a bipartisan legislative oversight hearing to be held to review the New Jersey Department of Health’s pandemic response after Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said yesterday she would be willing to participate.
Health Commissioner Persichilli refused to attend a March 5 hearing chaired by Sen. Joe Pennacchio where veterans home residents and families who lost loved ones in nursing homes were hoping for answers. (NJ Senate Republicans/Facebook)
“It’s been over a year since I first called for a bipartisan committee to look into directives issued by the Murphy administration and the Department of Health that led to thousands of deaths in our nursing homes,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Yesterday, Commissioner Persichilli said publicly during a budget hearing that she’d be willing to testify in a bipartisan oversight hearing. I urge my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Majority to waste no time in scheduling the comprehensive hearing that the Health Commissioner has finally agreed to attend.”
Kean/Singleton Bill Making Trunk Fighting a Crime Becomes Law
A bill sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Troy Singleton making trunk fighting with dogs an animal cruelty offense and a crime of the third degree was signed today by Governor Murphy.
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Troy Singleton making trunk fighting with dogs an animal cruelty offense and a crime of the third degree was signed by Governor Murphy. (©iStock)
The new law, S-975, defines trunk fighting as enclosing two or more dogs in the trunk of a motor vehicle and instigating them to fight to the death.
Republican Budget Members: Health Commissioner Continues to Dodge Questions, Refuses to Repeal Outdated Policies
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee said repeated claims by New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli at a budget hearing today that the Murphy administration has been transparent about pandemic response are demonstrably false. Further, they expressed shock that she refuses to admit that clearly outdated policies should be repealed to aid in New Jersey’s recovery
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli has not been transparent during the pandemic or at today’s budget hearing, and they expressed shock that she refuses to admit that clearly outdated policies should be repealed. (SenateNJ.com)
“Mourning families, concerned legislators, and investigative journalists have all bemoaned the wall of secrecy that has been put up by the Murphy administration and the Department of Health about tragic policy decisions that led to the massive loss of life in our nursing homes,” said Senator Steven Oroho (R-24), the Senate Republican Budget Officer. “Commissioner Persichilli cannot claim to have been transparent when her department has systematically denied public records requests and she has refused invitations to testify before legislators and the public.”
Pennacchio/Oroho/Bucco Bill Providing $10 Million to Support Lakes Advances
Measure Would Help Fund Maintenance of Lake Hopatcong, Greenwood Lake, Other Lakes in Highlands & Pinelands
The Senate Environment Committee has advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio, Senator Steven Oroho, and Senator Anthony M. Bucco to supply critical funding to maintain Lake Hopatcong, Greenwood Lake, and other lakes in the Highlands and Pinelands regions of New Jersey.
The Senate Environment Committee has advanced $10 million of funding sponsored by Sen. Joe Pennacchio, Sen. Steven Oroho, and Sen. Tony Bucco to maintain Lake Hopatcong, Greenwood Lake, and other lakes in the Highlands and Pinelands regions of New Jersey. (SenateNJ.com)
“Our lakes are critical to the ecological and economic well-being of New Jersey, but they have been consistently underfunded by the State,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “This appropriation represents the most significant investment in Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake in recent memory, if not ever. We’ll continue fighting to make this funding permanent to ensure our lakes get the support they need each and every year.”
The legislation, S-3618, makes a supplemental appropriation of $10 million for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes.
Panel Clears Bateman Bill Emphasizing NJ’s Clean Energy Goals
The state has embraced ambitious energy goals under the 2019 Energy Master Plan, and today the Senate Environment and Energy Committee approved Senator Kip Bateman’s bill codifying those targets.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Kip Bateman to codify ambitious clean energy goals endorsed by the state under the 2019 Energy Master Plan cleared the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. (Pixabay)
“These are the goals we are aiming for, and these are the goals we will achieve,” said Bateman (R-16). “The numbers reflect a very aggressive approach, but technological advancements make them feasible, and with the support of New Jersey residents, we are already making strides in the right direction.”
Oroho Calls on Murphy to Stop Rolling Over for New York in Interstate Tax Fight
Says State and New Jersey Taxpayers Losing Billions Through Governor’s Inaction
Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) called for Governor Phil Murphy to stop giving in without a fight to New York tax officials who are stepping up enforcement to claim income tax payments they don’t deserve from New Jersey residents.
Sen. Steven Oroho called for Gov. Phil Murphy to stop giving in without a fight to New York tax officials who are stepping up enforcement to claim income tax payments they don’t deserve from New Jersey residents. (Pixabay)
“It’s shocking to watch as Governor Murphy continues to sit silent while a horde of tax officials in Albany are issuing billions of dollars of tax bills to New Jersey residents for income earned here in the Garden State during the pandemic,” said Oroho, the Senate Republican Budget Officer. “The ‘convenience of the employer’ rule that New York is using to stake its claim clearly shouldn’t apply if offices were closed due to the pandemic and workers had no choice but to work from home in New Jersey. If there ever was a time to fight back against New York’s unfair taxation of New Jerseyans, it’s now.”
Panel Clears Holzapfel Bill Protecting School Children on Buses
School buses would be subject to surprise safety inspections under legislation sponsored by Senator Jim Holzapfel and advanced by the Senate Transportation Committee.
New Jersey school buses would be subject to surprise safety inspections under legislation sponsored by Senator Jim Holzapfel and advanced by the Senate Transportation Committee. (SenateNJ.com)
Many of New Jersey’s precious children board school buses twice a day. The safety of those youngsters are of utmost importance,” said Holzapfel (R-10). “The promise of unscheduled inspections will encourage transportation companies to identify and repair problems earlier, helping make school buses safer for students, bus drivers, and others on the road.”
Corrado & Kean Host “Return to School Roundtable” with Parents, Students, Educators & Experts
Senator Kristin Corrado and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean hosted a virtual “Return to School Roundtable” with parents, students, educators, and experts to discuss returning students to classrooms full time and the various challenges that have resulted from the pandemic.
The meeting was held this morning via Zoom and livestreamed for public viewing on Facebook Live.
Sen. Kristin Corrado and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean hosted a Return to School Roundtable on Friday, May 7, 2021. (NJ Senate Republicans/YouTube)
“I’m glad we could provide a forum for parents, students, and education advocates to have an open discussion with their lawmakers about the importance of returning to school in a manner that is both responsible and safe,” said Corrado (R-40). “There was broad consensus that many students are missing out on a variety of important interactions and support systems both inside and outside of their classrooms resulting in learning loss and physical and emotional harm. It’s imperative that we get kids back into the classroom full time as soon as possible.”
“There was a clear and uniform sentiment expressed by our panelists that the potential risks to students of COVID-19 in a school setting is less than the real harm that is impacting students due to learning loss and social isolation with continued hybrid and remote learning,” said Kean (R-21). “We also heard repeated concerns that districts have struggled with differing county and local health department requirements leading to a wild inconsistency in school closures and pandemic response measures. It’s clear that we need to open up our schools fully and trust that our administrators know how to keep their students and teachers safe.”
