Oroho, Greenstein: Manufacturing Caucus Roundtable Shows Need to Make ‘Made in New Jersey’ a Reality
Caucus leaders say New Jersey shouldn’t have to buy 90% of its PPE from overseas during a pandemic
More needs to be done to make “Made in New Jersey” a reality, said Senators Steve Oroho and Linda Greenstein, the co-chair and chair of the legislative manufacturing caucus, after today’s roundtable with manufacturers on the coronavirus crisis.
Sens. Steve Oroho and Linda Greenstein said more needs to be done to make “Made in New Jersey” a reality. (Pixabay)
“We learned today how resourceful New Jersey manufacturers were in working to retool their operations immediately to meet critical needs,” said Senator Oroho (R-Sussex). “New Jersey manufacturers kept working throughout the coronavirus crisis, and the lessons they learned about how to operate safely will be transferrable to other businesses as the economy reopens.
Pennacchio/Oroho Seeking to Curtail Governor’s Powers with Constitutional Amendment
Never again should New Jersey be subjected to open-ended executive orders
During times of emergency like the current COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Steve Oroho have a plan to restore policy-making balance to the state.
Senator Pennacchio and Senator Oroho have introduced a resolution for a state constitutional amendment that would ensure New Jersey would never again be subjected to open-ended executive orders. (New Jersey State Archives)
Governor Phil Murphy, who today announced he was lifting the months-long stay-at-home order, has utilized his pen and executive orders to circumvent the elected Legislature and avoid public scrutiny during his time in office. He plans to sign another executive order raising limits on the size of indoor and outdoor gatherings in the state.
Pennacchio and Oroho this week introduced a resolution (SCR-117) proposing a state constitutional amendment that would rein in gubernatorial powers.
Oroho to Murphy: Let’s Not Continue to Lag Our Peer States in Reopening
Senators Hear from Restaurant & Hospitality Industry on Reopening Plans
As a member of the Senate Fiscal Recovery Strategy Workgroup, Senator Steve Oroho participated in a virtual meeting today with restaurant owners, operators and caterers throughout the hospitality industry in the state to hear their comments and advice on how to advance their businesses’ safe reopening.
Sen. Steve Oroho participated in a virtual meeting with restaurant owners in the hospitality industry to hear their comments and advice on how to advance their businesses’ safe reopening. (Pixabay)
“Business owners and their employees in the restaurant and hospitality industry have planned, prepared, and are excited to get back to work under the protection of detailed protocols they have developed to maintain hygiene and safe social distancing for both workers and customers,” said Oroho (R-24). “It’s a shame that while restaurants across the Hudson and Delaware rivers have been trusted to reopen safely, New Jersey’s eateries remain shuttered under Governor Murphy’s executive orders. If the governor would approve industry-specific reopening plans that have been proposed, we could successfully open up many of our restaurants and retailers tomorrow, not days or weeks from now.”
District 24 Lawmakers Call Murphy Out For Do As I Say, Not As I Do Attitude
‘If it is safe enough to protest, it’s safe enough to open businesses’
Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblyman Parker Space and Assemblyman Hal Wirths today chastised Governor Phil Murphy for frustrating and confusing New Jersey residents with his statements and contradictory actions.
Senator Oroho and Assemblymen Space and Wirths said Governor Murphy’s participation in weekend protests defies logic when New Jersey businesses are being told it is too dangerous for them to open their doors. (SenateNJ.com)
After almost three months of emphasizing strict social distancing rules, during which Murphy closed the majority of businesses and all of the schools in the state and banned all large gatherings to protect public health and contain the coronavirus outbreak, the Governor threw away his own rulebook and walked shoulder-to-shoulder in Hillside and spoke at a large rally in Westfield.
“The right to protest is constitutionally protected, but we can’t be selective in who we allow to exercise that right and when they can do it,” said Senator Oroho. “Business owners who want to assemble to fight the continued lockdown because they are struggling to remain afloat, or church congregants who want to be able to worship more freely have equal rights to protest. The Governor’s words and latest actions don’t marry up, and frankly he lacks the authority and ability to speak with clarity and conviction about the lockdown anymore. We can open up safely, let’s do it now!”
Oroho to Murphy: Why the Lag? Let’s Open Up New Jersey
2.5 Million Job Surge in May Is Largest Increase Since 1939
Senator Steve Oroho is calling on Governor Phil Murphy to reopen New Jersey sooner rather than later. With 2.5 million new jobs added in May, the nation’s unemployment rate has fallen to 13.3%, showing that a quick economic recovery is possible.
Sen. Steve Oroho is calling on Gov. Phil Murphy to reopen New Jersey sooner rather than later. With 2.5 million new jobs added in May, the nation’s unemployment rate has fallen to 13.3%, showing that a quick economic recovery is possible. (Pixabay)
“With many areas of our nation successfully on the road to recovery, let’s stop slow-walking our reopening in New Jersey,” said Oroho (R-24). “Consumers are ready to reinvigorate our economy and our businesses’ survival depends on it. We’re on the heels of the largest one-month job gain since before World War II, which demonstrates that if we can reopen swiftly and smartly, we can supercharge New Jersey’s economic recovery.”
Oroho, O’Scanlon & Corrado: $500K Report Does Not Absolve Murphy Admin for Nursing Home Deaths
Senator Steven Oroho, Senator Declan O’Scanlon, and Senator Kristin Corrado said a superficial report commissioned by Governor Phil Murphy does not absolve his administration for its clear failures that led to the massive loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities due to COVID-19.
Sen. Steven Oroho, Sen. Declan O’Scanlon, and Sen. Kristin Corrado said a superficial report commissioned by Gov. Phil Murphy does not absolve his administration for its clear failures that led to the massive loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities due to COVID-19. (SenateNJ.com)
“The Murphy Administration paid a consulting firm $500,000 to rush a report that attempts to shift blame for thousands of nursing home deaths to anyone but the governor,” said Oroho (R-24). “What taxpayers received back is a glossy report that repackages the State’s data in colorful graphs and charts. The report glosses over the fact that the administration forced our LTC facilities to admit COVID-19 patients, which led to thousands of deaths. With that glaring deficiency, the entire report is suspect.”
Republican Senators Urge Sweeney to Issue Preservation Letters to Health Department
Following troubling accusations of dysfunction and potential misconduct within the Department of Health, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21), Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40), Senator Steven Oroho (R-24), Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26), and Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) wrote to Senate President Steve Sweeney today (click here for PDF) urging for preservation letters to be issued to the Department and appropriate parties who may be in possession of evidence in matters that may be reviewed by the bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee.
Following troubling accusations of dysfunction and potential misconduct within the Department of Health, Senators Kean, Corrado, Oroho, Pennacchio, and O’Scanlon urged Senate President Sweeney to issue preservation letters to the Department and appropriate parties who may be in possession of evidence in matters that may be reviewed by the bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee. (SenateNJ.com)
The full text of the letter is below:
June 2, 2020
Dear Senate President Sweeney,
As you are aware, the Senate Republican caucus has called on the Senate to form a select committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the State’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, several areas of concern have emerged and highlighted the need for legislative oversight, including the unconscionable number of deaths that have occurred at New Jersey’s long-term care facilities. We thank you again for sharing our concerns and announcing jointly with our caucus on May 22, 2020 your commitment to the formation of the bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee.
We write you today in light of troubling accusations of dysfunction and potential misconduct within the Department of Health, as identified by whistleblowers within the department. Among other assertions, published reports have pointed to the possible misuse of federal funds and suggested that Assistant Commissioner Christopher Neuwirth was terminated in an attempt to hide misconduct within the Administration. Additional accusations were raised in correspondence from the whistleblowers to you and Leader Kean, leading to serious new questions about the Administration’s handling of the crisis, particularly as it pertains to long-term care facilities.
Republican Senators Urge Sweeney to Ensure Protections for Disabled Residents, Provide Committee with Subpoena Power
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26), Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40), Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), and Senator Steven Oroho wrote to Senate President Steve Sweeney today (click here for PDF) urging that a recently announced Senate committee review new concerns regarding the State’s COVID-19 response to group homes and other facilities that care for residents with disabilities. They also reiterated their call for the new Senate Review and Recovery Committee to be given subpoena power to compel the appearance of witnesses.
Senators Pennacchio, Corrado, O’Scanlon, and Oroho urged Senate President Steve Sweeney to allow a recently announced Senate committee to review new concerns regarding group homes and other facilities that care for residents with disabilities, and to give the committee subpoena power to compel the appearance of witnesses. (SenateNJ.com)
The full text of the letter is below:
May 29, 2020
Dear Senate President Sweeney,
Two weeks ago, our Senate Republican caucus wrote to you calling for the formation of a Senate Select Committee to investigate the Murphy administration’s response to COVID-19, including the orders that contributed to the loss of life in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities.
We are thankful that you listened to our requests and announced jointly with Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean the formation of a bipartisan Senate Review and Recovery Committee for this purpose. This is a positive step that will allow New Jersey to learn from its mistakes and improve our State’s response as we look to reopen safely.
Oroho: Child Care Centers & Camp Operators Tell Senators They Have Detailed Plans to Operate Safely
Says Working Parents Need Clarity on Reopening of Child Care from Administration
After hearing directly from child care providers and camp operators about their plans to operate safely, Senator Steven Oroho said the Murphy Administration must produce a clear timeline for the reopening of child care centers and summer camps.
After hearing directly from child care providers and camp operators about their plans to operate safely, Sen. Steven Oroho said the Murphy Administration must produce a clear timeline for the reopening of child care centers and summer camps. (Pixabay)
“Without access to child care and summer camps, it will be impossible for many parents to leave their homes to earn a living as their workplaces reopen,” said Oroho (R-24). “Thankfully, it’s clear that child care and camp operators have produced detailed plans that demonstrate their ability to keep children safe and healthy as their parent get back to work.”
Sweeney – Oroho Bill Would Establish Electronic Bidding Process for State Projects
Trenton – The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today endorsed a bill sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Republican Budget Officer Steve Oroho that would establish an electronic construction procurement process for state public works construction projects.
A panel today cleared legislation sponsored by Senate President Sweeney and Senate Republican Budget Officer Oroho that would utilize technology to bolster the construction procurement process for state public works construction projects. (SenateNJ.com)
The process would use computer technology and the Internet for the advertising and submission of public bids to determine the lowest responsible bidder.
“Over the past decade, states across the country have taken steps to take advantage of advances in technology and create governmental efficiencies, including electronic bidding,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “The COVID shutdown underscores the value of electronic bidding but it is a process that should be available at all times. It can result in a more efficient process and produce cost savings.”
“This is part of our ongoing effort to streamline government and make it more efficient and cost effective,” said Senator Oroho. “We’ve all learned during the coronavirus lockdown how much important work can be done remotely through technology. It’s important that our procurement laws not deter these capabilities from being employed wherever feasible by the state, local governments, and our school districts and colleges.”
