Republican Budget Committee Members Call for Release of FY 2024 State Budget Plan that Will Be Voted on Tomorrow
Say There’s Been No Transparency from Democrats on Additions to Budget & Related Bills that Will Be Rushed to Enactment
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Governor Murphy and legislative Democrats to release the FY 2024 State Budget and explain the dozens of other bills that the Budget Committee will be called to vote upon tomorrow.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee called on Gov. Murphy and legislative Democrats to release the FY 2024 State Budget and explain the dozens of other bills that the Budget Committee will be called to vote upon tomorrow. (Pixabay)
“It’s outrageous that we’re going to be asked to vote on a record spending bill tomorrow by the Democratic Majority without anyone having seen a copy of the bill yet,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We don’t even have an outline of the plan to help us understand the billions of dollars of changes they are proposing. This is no way to run a government.”
Democrats Block Republican Efforts to Lower Energy Bills, Ensure Parental Rights in Education
New Jersey Senate Democrats blocked Republican efforts to advance legislation that would lower energy bills and ensure parental rights in education at the Senate session on June 20.
New Jersey Senate Democrats voted to block a Republican bill, S-3684, that would lower energy bills and ensure reliability as Governor Murphy pursues an increasingly costly and extreme green energy plan. (SenateNJ.com)
The first bill that Democrats blocked, S-3684, requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing the state’s Energy Master Plan (EMP) and to perform an economic and ratepayer analysis of proposed energy generation projects and the EMP in general.
“It’s disappointing that Democrats are unwilling to let energy affordability or reliability be considered as they plow ahead in blind support of Governor Murphy’s extreme green energy plan,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24), the sponsor of S-3684. “Ratepayers can’t afford green energy at any cost, and they need a reliable and diverse energy portfolio that works 100% of the time. Unfortunately, those are concerns that don’t seem to matter to the Democrats who have controlled the Legislature for the last 20 years.”
Senate Republicans Propose FY 2024 Budget Plan with $6 Billion of New Tax Relief, More Debt Reduction, Spending Moderation & Greater Transparency
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee proposed more than $6 billion of new tax relief, $1 billion for debt reduction, and greater transparency and fairness in State spending in a detailed plan (click here for PDF) to amend Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 2024 State Budget. The proposal would grow the budget surplus to nearly $6.5 billion.
Senate Republicans have proposed a comprehensive budget plan with $6 billion of new tax relief, including $4.3 billion of “Give It Back” property tax relief for towns and counties. (www.GiveItBack.us)
“With a sizable budget surplus and billions more set aside in debt and pandemic relief funds, the State has unprecedented resources that the Murphy administration has failed to use effectively to meet New Jersey’s needs,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We have proposed a comprehensive and responsible budget plan that would increase property tax relief by $4.3 billion, prevent toll hikes and payroll tax increases, repay more State debt, impose meaningful spending restraints, and restore transparency and fairness to government spending.”
Oroho Bill Protecting Homebuyers from Pitfalls of ‘House Flipping’ Advances
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho that would increase protections for homebuyers when purchasing recently renovated properties was approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Sen. Steve Oroho’s bill that would increase protections for homebuyers when purchasing recently renovated properties was approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. (©iStock.com)
“Homebuyers sometimes fall into a money pit when purchasing a house that was inadequately renovated by a real estate investor,” said Oroho (R-24). “Requiring short-term resellers to disclose that their work is up to code is a vital measure to safeguard homebuyers from acquiring properties that could be unsafe or require costly repairs. This legislation ensures greater transparency in the home buying process and enhances accountability for investors who flip houses.”
Senate Clears Oroho Bill Bolstering Protections of our Financial System
The New Jersey Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would increase financial safeguards for state domiciled insurance companies.
Sen. Steven Oroho’s legislation that would increase financial safeguards for state domiciled insurance companies was passed by the New Jersey Senate. (Pixabay)
“At a time when banks and insurance companies are facing steep economic challenges, we must find ways to maintain economic resiliency,” said Oroho (R-24). “By closely aligning state laws with federal regulations we can foster greater financial stability and safeguard the integrity of security agreements made between federal home loan banks and their member insurance companies. This legislation would not only benefit policyholders, but it would also ensure greater protection of our financial system.”
GOP Leaders Warn Gopal’s Power Grab Will Eliminate Competition Not Corruption
Senate and Assembly minority leaders Steve Oroho and John DiMaio warned Wednesday that legislation sponsored by Sen. Vin Gopal to ban county constitutional officers from serving as county party leaders will deal a blow to the electoral process, not prevent conflicts of interest.
Sen. Oroho and Asm. DiMaio warned that legislation sponsored by Sen. Vin Gopal to ban county constitutional officers from serving as county party leaders will deal a blow to the electoral process, not prevent conflicts of interest. (SenateNJ.com)
“This bill represents naked political partisanship,” said Oroho (R-Sussex). “The people of the State of New Jersey need leaders who will focus on addressing ever-increasing property taxes, declining school aid, and higher energy costs. Legislators should not be playing partisan political games and making unconstitutional power grabs.”
Oroho & Testa Slam NYC Congestion Pricing as “Tax Hike on New Jerseyans”
Senators Steven Oroho and Michael Testa criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the Transportation Department’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for moving forward with Manhattan’s congestion pricing plan.
Senators Steven Oroho and Michael Testa criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the Transportation Department’s Federal Highway Administration for moving forward with Manhattan’s congestion pricing plan. (SenateNJ.com)
“Manhattan’s new congestion pricing plan is yet another example of New York levying an unjust tax on New Jersey commuters,” said Oroho (R-24). “New York is trying to extract as much money as possible from New Jerseyans. First, it unfairly taxes former New Jersey commuters working from home since the pandemic. Now, it’s charging them a fee for traveling across the state border. This is just another scheme for New York to keep padding its budget at the expense of New Jersey.”
Oroho, O’Scanlon, Testa & Steinhardt Slam Murphy’s Mismanagement of Federal Stimulus Money
Senators Say Billions of Unspent COVID-19 Relief Funds at Risk of Biden Administration Claw Back.
Republican members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee slammed Governor Murphy’s mismanagement of federal COVID block grant funding after reports surfaced that President Biden may support bipartisan efforts to rescind idle federal stimulus funds.
Senators O’Scanlon, Oroho, Testa, and Steinhardt slammed Governor Murphy’s mismanagement of federal COVID block grant funding after reports surfaced that the federal government may rescind idle federal stimulus funds. (Pixabay)
“Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats have abused billions of taxpayer dollars and the federal government wants it back.” said Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon (R-13). “For two years, the Murphy administration has let billions of dollars wither away in idle accounts while struggling homeowners and businesses were decimated by inflation. We should be putting this money to good use to help businesses and taxpayers, but Democrats have consistently rejected sensible Republican proposals to put money into the hands of those who need it most. Governor Murphy’s abdication of allocating funds is a slap in the face to New Jersey taxpayers.”
Oroho, Space & Wirths Question DOH About Changing Vaccine Requirements for Students, Urge Parents to Stay Engaged
In response to the recent rule proposal regarding school vaccine requirements by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), Senator Steven Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths (all R-Sussex, Morris, Warren) are officially submitting questions and concerns to the NJDOH regarding these potential changes.
In response to the recent rule proposal regarding school vaccine requirements by the NJDOH, Senator Steven Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths are officially submitting questions and concerns to the DOH regarding these potential changes. (Pixabay)
“The very basic question we are asking, that parents need to know, is why the NJDOH reached out to stakeholders and requested input on proposed changes to vaccine requirements for school children,” said Senator Oroho. “If the administration does not plan on requiring the COVID-19 or HPV vaccines, it should be transparent in its actions with parents and legislators. This type of behavior raises many red flags and makes it seem as if the administration is trying to change policies behind closed doors.”
Oroho Bill Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Extortion Signed Into Law
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would establish the crime of sexual extortion to fight a growing trend that often victimizes minors was signed into law.
Sen. Oroho’s bill that would establish the crime of sexual extortion to fight a growing trend that often victimizes minors was signed into law. (Pixabay)
“I am pleased that this legislation was signed into law today to protect minors from sexual victimization in New Jersey. We will now be able to identify, convict, and punish the perpetrators who engage in this despicable behavior,” said Oroho (R-24). “This law upholds our commitment as legislators to ensure that justice will be served for the victims of this heinous abuse.”
