Senate Republicans Propose Special Committee to Investigate Massive Increase in Public Employee Health Benefit Costs
Proposed Premium Hikes Up to 24% Will Squeeze Local Budgets, Drive Property Taxes Higher
Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) and Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) have introduced legislation to form a special legislative committee with subpoena power to investigate massive proposed premium increases for the health plans that cover state government, local government, and school employees.
Sen. Steven Oroho and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon have introduced legislation to form a special legislative committee with subpoena power to investigate massive proposed premium increases for the health plans that cover state government, local government, and school employees. (©iStock)
“The proposed premium increases will impact hundreds of thousands of state and local government workers, teachers, and retirees who will see their health care costs soar if the proposal is adopted,” said Oroho, the Senate Republican Leader. “These higher premiums will also have a huge impact on school districts and local governments that pay a large portion of the total premiums for their employees. Any higher costs they pay will translate directly into higher property taxes for our families. We must investigate the failures that led to these catastrophic premium increases to develop an effective plan going forward.”
Oroho/Pennacchio/Corrado Chide Trenton Democrats for Muddled Priorities
Senator Steven Oroho, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Kristin Corrado today blasted Democrat leadership in Trenton for their response to the price of concert tickets.
Sens. Oroho, Pennacchio and Corrado said the Legislature should be focused on more important issues than concert ticket prices. (Pixabay)
“The priorities in Trenton are off the rails,” said Oroho (R-24). “There is more interest in investigating the price of admission to a Bruce Springsteen concert than there has ever been for unraveling the bureaucratic confusion that led to the deaths of almost 10,000 people in nursing homes.”
Republican Leadership Calls for Investigation of Murphy Administration’s Failure to Control Health Care Costs for Public Employees, Retirees & Taxpayers
Notification of 24% Premium Increase Follows News that Governor’s Office Squashed Attempts to Recover Tens of Millions for Failed Cost-Saving Program from Horizon
Republican leadership in the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly called for the formation of a special legislative committee to investigate massive health care premium increases that will be paid by active and retired public employees and taxpayers.
Republican leadership in the N.J. Legislature called for the formation of a special legislative committee to investigate massive health care premium increases that will be paid by active and retired public employees and taxpayers. (©iStock.com)
“Governor Murphy has completely failed to control health care premiums paid by the state, local governments, and active and retired public employees,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-Sussex). “The 24% premium increase proposed for most active employees will take thousands more out of their paychecks annually and lead to huge costs for local governments that will translate into higher property tax bills for struggling families. We must investigate the failures that led to these catastrophic premium increases to develop an effective plan going forward.”
Premiums for active employees covered by the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) are set to increase by 24%, while those for school employees and teachers covered by the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) are set to rise by 15.6%
Oroho Blasts Murphy Administration Weakness After Report Details $850 Million Giveaway to New York
Following a report in The Record detailing how Governor Phil Murphy surrendered $850 million of federal transportation funds to New York that should have come to New Jersey, Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho blasted the Murphy administration for its weak representation of Garden State farepayers and taxpayers.
Following a report detailing how Gov. Phil Murphy surrendered $850 million of federal transportation funds to New York, Sen. Steven Oroho blasted the Murphy administration for its weak representation of Garden State farepayers and taxpayers. (Wikimedia Commons)
“It looks like the longer the Murphy administration negotiated with New York, the worse the deal kept getting for New Jersey,” said Oroho. “If it wasn’t for the federal deadline to come to an agreement, Governor Murphy may have given away even more than the $850 million he ultimately surrendered to New York. It was a total failure.”
Oroho Says Gov. Murphy Has Been Gaslighting Parents on Sex Education Standards
NJDOE Confirms Districts Will Be Penalized for Not Complying with Controversial New Standards
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho said the Murphy administration’s confirmation that school districts will be penalized for not teaching controversial new sex education standards directly undercuts Governor Murphy’s assertions that parents and local school boards control what’s taught in their classrooms.
New Jersey Senate Republicans have proposed the “Three Rs” plan to repeal, replace, and restore to fix New Jersey’s controversial sex education and diversity and inclusion curriculum requirements. (©iStock)
“We have absolute proof that Governor Murphy has been gaslighting parents who have expressed their serious concerns about new sex ed requirements that many believe are inappropriate for young children,” said Oroho (R-24). “After the governor spent all spring telling parents that their concerns about the sex ed mandates were unfounded, the NJDOE is now saying school districts will be punished if they don’t teach students about topics including vaginal, anal, and oral sex as the new standards require. The Murphy administration is sending a message shrouded in a threat that parents and local school boards really don’t have any choice at all when it comes to sex education.”
Oroho, Space & Wirths Introduce Resolutions Opposing the Redesignation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths (all R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) announced that they have introduced resolutions in their respective houses to oppose changing the designation of the Delaware Water Gap from a National Recreation Area to a National Park and Preserve and oppose certain parts of National Park Service’s “Vision 2030” for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths announced they have introduced resolutions to oppose changing the designation of the Delaware Water Gap from a National Recreation Area to a National Park and Preserve. (Pixabay)
“We have heard from many area residents and local officials opposing this change in designation and we support them,” said Oroho, who serves as the Senate Republican Leader. “This idea surfaced roughly seven years ago, and we opposed it then; now it is back, and we will continue to fight it.”
Oroho Votes Against State Budget that Skimps on Tax Relief, Creates Slush Funds
Says the Budget Represents Missed Opportunities to Help Taxpayers
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho voted against a massive $50.6 billion budget proposed by Democrats today that skimps on tax relief and creates multi-billion-dollar slush funds that the Murphy administration could easily abuse.
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho speaking in opposition to the FY 2023 State Budget during a Senate floor debate on June 29, 2022. (SenateNJ.com)
“This budget misses a historic opportunity to give back billions to taxpayers who are struggling with high taxes and inflation,” said Oroho (R-24). “Instead of the $8 billion of tax relief that Republicans proposed, Democrats are giving back scraps while doling out billions of dollars for pork projects that we can do without.”
Following revelations that the state has nearly $9 billion of tax overcollections this year, Senate Republicans proposed $8 billion of tax relief that Democrats ignored, including:
Democrats Vote Against $8 Billion of Tax Relief Proposed by Republicans to Help Families & Small Businesses
O’Scanlon’s Amendment Tabled by Democratic Majority in Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee
Democrats in the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee voted against $8 billion of tax relief proposed by Senate Republicans to help New Jersey families and small businesses struggling with high gas prices, inflation, and property taxes.
Democrats in the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee voted against $8 billion of tax relief proposed by Senate Republicans to help New Jersey families and small businesses struggling with high gas prices, inflation, and property taxes. (Pixabay)
“Democrats have offered shockingly little tax relief in their budget proposal despite the Murphy administration having $9 billion in tax overcollections and another $3 billion in federal pandemic relief funds sitting in the bank,” said O’Scanlon (R-13), the Senate Republican Budget Officer. “We gave them an easy opportunity to support the $8 billion of tax relief that Senate Republicans proposed, but they refused yet again to help struggling families across New Jersey. Their resistance to giving money back to taxpayers immediately as we proposed is absolutely mystifying.”
Oroho Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho issued the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade:
Statement from Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho on United States Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. (Wikimedia Commons)
“The United States Supreme Court has reversed the flawed logic of Roe v. Wade and reasserted the democratic principle that elected state legislatures and the communities they represent should have the opportunity to make their own decisions on abortion without the mandates of an overbearing unelected federal judiciary,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24). “I believe in the sanctity of life. I also believe in medical science. Looking at the laws governing abortion in New Jersey, I believe we should follow the most up-to-date science when determining viability and legislate accordingly. I call on my colleagues from both parties to begin a bipartisan discussion on reforming New Jersey’s laws.”
Oroho, Space & Wirths Applaud U.S. Supreme Court Upholding the Second Amendment
District 24 Legislators to Use Court Decision to Defend Rights in New Jersey
Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths (all R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) applaud today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen which reinforced the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for the protection for themselves and their families in public.
Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths applaud the U.S. Supreme Court decision reinforcing the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for the protection for themselves and their families in public. (Wikipedia Commons)
“I believe today will go down as a victory for freedom and that many generations of Americans to come will look upon today as a beacon in defense of liberty,” said Oroho. “Now we have to look towards New Jersey government to do what is right and end their decades-old infringement on New Jersey freedoms.”
