Pennacchio & Oroho Warn BPU of Growing Utility Bill Crisis
Under a moratorium on late fees and service disconnects mandated by Governor Murphy, more than a half million residential customers have fallen behind on their utility bills and the number is growing every day.
Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Steven Oroho today, in a letter to Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso, urged BPU to take pre-emptive measures to address a potentially dire problem.
Senator Pennacchio and Senator Oroho today urged the Board of Public Utilities to compile plans to prevent a financial crisis as hundreds of thousands of utility customers are falling behind in their payments under Gov. Murphy’s moratorium on late fees and service disconnections. (SenateNJ.com)
“There is more than $354 million owed. It’s essential that we have a workable plan in place,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “If residents are struggling to pay their monthly utility bills now, how will they be able to pay for a whole year in one chunk. If these payments aren’t made, it will fall on the backs of ratepayers, and we don’t want them stuck holding the bill. We need to come up with a plan now.
GOP Lawmakers Fault Dems for Failing to Rein In Murphy’s Executive Powers
State Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths assailed legislative Democrats for blocking attempts to end government by executive orders and restore legislative checks and balances.
After a motion by Republican lawmakers requiring the governor to seek legislative approval for his executive orders after 14 days was rejected, Senator Oroho and Assemblymen Space and Wirths assailed legislative Democrats for blocking attempts to end government by executive orders and restore legislative checks and balances. (SenateNJ.com)
“It is astonishing to me that the legislative process is now viewed as a burden to effective governance,” said Wirths. “There is no disagreement between the governor and the Democratic party about what needs to be done, so they will allow unilateral rule under a virtually single-party government. That is one reason why Democrats are leaving the Legislature behind on Covid-19 restrictions: it only slows down the final, inevitable decisions made by Governor Murphy.”
Oroho Bill Establishing Online Permit Processing Review System Advances
Bipartisan Measure Would Launch New Era of Construction Permitting
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today cleared legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would modernize the complex construction permitting and inspection process.
Senator Oroho sponsors legislation that would establish the Electronic Permit Processing Review System to modernize the slow, inefficient and outdated process currently in place. (SenateNJ.com)
Oroho’s bipartisan bill, A-1145/S-1739, establishes the Electronic Permit Processing Review System, a digital solution that would be available around the clock to accept requests and provide details about projects.
Oroho-Greenstein Bill to Boost New Jersey Manufacturing Approved by Senate
In an effort to improve the competitiveness of New Jersey manufacturers, legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho and Senator Linda Greenstein that would establish a permanent new source of funding for the New Jersey Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP), was approved by the Senate today. The funding would be up to $1.5 million.
Legislation sponsored by Sens. Oroho and Greenstein to establish a permanent new source of funding for the New Jersey Extension Program, Inc. was approved by the Senate. (SenateNJ.com)
“State support is critical to maintain a vibrant manufacturing industry which is a vital sector of New Jersey’s economy,” said Senator Oroho (R-Morris/Sussex/Warren). “NJMEP helps businesses navigate in a growing, competitive global market, and their success has aided our state in job creation and growth. Their efforts throughout the pandemic has furthered stamped their reputation for providing critical support and meeting needs for both clients and their customer base.”
Senate Approves Oroho/Sarlo Bill to Examine New York’s Unjust Taxation of New Jerseyans
Legislation Requires State Treasurer to Report on New York’s Continued Taxation of Former Commuters from New Jersey
The New Jersey Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho and Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo that would begin to address concerns that New York is unfairly taxing former New Jersey commuters who have been working from home in the Garden State during the pandemic.
The N.J. Senate has approved a bill by Sen. Steven Oroho and Sen. Paul Sarlo to address concerns that New York is unfairly taxing former New Jersey commuters who now work remotely. (Pixabay)
“It’s no surprise that New York wants to keep padding its budget at the expense of New Jersey, even if it no longer has a legitimate claim to our residents’ tax dollars,” said Oroho (R-24). “What is surprising, however, is that New Jersey has been so timid in addressing New York’s unjust taxation of New Jerseyans who are working from home and no longer commuting across the Hudson. The report that the Treasurer will be required to produce under this legislation will show the scope of the problem and set the stage for future action.”
Oroho/Sarlo Bill to Examine New York’s Unjust Taxation of New Jerseyans Advances
Legislation Requires State Treasurer to Report on New York’s Continued Taxation of Former Commuters from New Jersey
The Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee has advanced legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho and Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo that would begin to address concerns that New York is unfairly taxing former New Jersey commuters who have been working from home in the Garden State during the pandemic.
Legislation by Sen. Steve Oroho and Sen. Paul Sarlo that would begin to address concerns that New York is unfairly taxing former New Jersey commuters who are now working remotely has advanced. (Pixabay)
“If New York were prevented from taxing New Jersey residents who no longer go to work across the Hudson, we could generate hundreds of millions – perhaps billions – of tax dollars for New Jersey, all while lowering the income tax bills of former commuters substantially,” said Senator Oroho. “It’s imperative that we understand the scale of this unfair taxation of our workers, which will be the first step in pursuing tax fairness with New York.”
Oroho, Wirths & Space: Without Increased Indoor Dining Limits, Onset of Cold Weather Could Freeze Restaurants Out of Business
Call for Governor to Expand Seating Capacity for Struggling Eateries
The nights are getting longer, temperatures are falling, and the allure of outside dining is waning. For restaurants struggling to stay afloat, especially in the north-west corner of the state, the 24th District legislators said the changing season is a very real threat to survival.
With cooler weather making outdoor dining impractical, Senator Oroho and Assemblymen Wirths and Space today renewed calls on the Governor to increase the capacity for indoor dining. (FB/Morristown Partnership)
“It’s the cold reality. If the Governor fails to increase the capacity limit for indoor dining now, we will witness an inevitable catastrophe of business failures,” said Senator Steven Oroho. “The weather has changed and only the most hardened diners are willing to sit out in the cold for a bite to eat. Restaurants and taverns cannot possibly generate enough revenue at 25 percent occupancy to pay expenses and keep the doors open for business.”
Oroho Urges Murphy to Dedicate More CARES Act Funds to Support Small Businesses
Warns that Using CARES Act Funds to Pay for Existing State Employees Could Be Problematic & Require Return of Money to Federal Government
Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho (R-24) sent a letter today to Governor Phil Murphy warning that the administration’s plans to use $450 million of CARES Act funds to pay for existing State employees could be problematic.
Sen. Steven Oroho warned Gov. Phil Murphy that plans to use $450 million of CARES Act funds to pay for existing State employees could be problematic, and urged those funds to be reallocated to boost underfunded grant programs that support small businesses and nonprofits. (©iStock)
He urged those funds to be reallocated to support struggling small businesses and nonprofits that are engines of the Garden State economy and provide critical social services to local communities.
Pennacchio, Corrado & Oroho Welcome New Leadership at New Jersey’s Veterans’ Homes
Call for More Accountability and Transparency in Wake of Tragic COVID Outbreaks
After news of a leadership shake-up at the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Senator Joe Pennacchio, Senator Kristin Corrado and Senator Steve Oroho called the changes “necessary and long over-due.”
After news of a leadership shake-up at the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Senator Pennacchio, Senator Corrado and Senator Oroho called the changes ‘necessary and long over-due.’ (SenateNJ.com)
“While I am pleased this is an attempt to address some of the administration’s failures, there still is much work to be done after the disastrous COVID toll in all of our nursing homes,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “An independent legislative review, a Senate Select Committee with subpoena powers, is still necessary to determine how more than 7,100 people died in nursing homes across the state to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Greenstein, Oroho, Karabinchak, DeCroce Push Bipartisan ‘Made in NJ’ Manufacturing Bill for PPE Needed in Pandemic
In an effort to better equip New Jersey for any future public health crises, members of the Legislature have introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize New Jersey manufacturers to convert their productions to focus on creating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which many were unable to do during the pandemic without federal approval.
To better equip New Jersey for any future public health crises, Senator Oroho and members of the Legislature have introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize New Jersey manufacturers to convert their productions to focus on creating Personal Protective Equipment. (SenateNJ.com)
The bill, S-2991/A-4811, would create a state-level certification program to allow manufacturers in the state to produce PPE. The measure would help to strengthen our stockpiles, which faced severe shortages of masks, gloves, gowns, and other personal protective equipment at the height of the pandemic.
