Panel Passes Oroho/Madden Bill Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Extortion
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) and Senator Fred Madden (D-4) that would establish the crime of sexual extortion to fight a growing trend frequently victimizing minors was advanced today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho (R-24) that would establish the crime of sexual extortion to fight a growing trend frequently victimizing minors was advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Pixabay)
Law enforcement agencies have cited an alarming increase in reports of sexual extortion, or sextortion, which often victimizes teenagers and children who are targeted by adults online.
“This despicable conduct cannot be tolerated,” said Oroho (R-24). “This is cyber bullying at the highest level, and the young victims deserve the support and protection offered by this bill.
“It is time to empower the legal system to identify, convict and punish the perpetrators with a law that fits the crime.”
Republican Budget Members Call Out Treasurer for Lack of Transparency on State’s Health Insurance Plans
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee criticized the State Treasurer today for not responding to nine pages of budget questions, and requests for data, about the State’s health insurance plans for public employees submitted seven months ago.
Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called out the State Treasurer for not responding to nine pages of budget questions about the State’s health insurance plans for public employees submitted seven months ago. (©iStock)
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho, Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Sam Thompson, and Senator Michael Testa again requested that Treasurer Muoio finally admit her lack of transparency and failure to ever provide responsive answers to routine budget questions and requests for data that are answered every year (except this one) as part of the budget process.
Republican Budget Members Call for Subpoena Power to Compel Treasury Docs & Testimony on Health Benefit Rate Increases
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee have called for the committee to be given the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the Treasurer to provide documents and testimony under oath related to massive increases in State health benefit premiums.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee have called for the committee to be given the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the Treasurer to provide documents and testimony under oath related to massive increases in State health benefit premiums. (©iStock.com)
The request was made in a letter sent by Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho, Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Sam Thompson, and Senator Michael Testa to Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, and Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo.
The Republican senators said subpoenas were necessary since the Murphy administration has refused to answer important questions or provide documents that could help the Legislature, impacted employees and retirees, and the public to understand the recent 22% rate increase.
Senate Advances Oroho Bill Freeing Raw Honey from Cottage Food Regulations
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would exempt raw, unprocessed honey from Department of Health cottage food regulations was approved today by the New Jersey Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho that would exempt raw, unprocessed honey from Department of Health cottage food regulations was approved by the New Jersey Senate. (Pixabay)
“For far too long, beekeepers have been subject to unnecessary government red tape that prevents them from easily distributing fresh, unprocessed honey,” said Oroho (R-24). “My legislation will exempt raw honey from these needless Department of Health regulations so that beekeepers and farmers can get their product to the public in an efficient manner.”
Oroho Resolution Calling for the Establishment of a Northwest NJ Vet Center Advances
A new Vet Center for the northwestern part of the state could move closer to reality under Senator Steven Oroho’s resolution, endorsed during today’s Senate session.
Senator Steven Oroho’s resolution which could bring a new Vet Center to the northwestern part of the state was endorsed by the Senate. (Flickr)
“A new state-of-the-art complex in this area would be embraced by the almost 50,000 veterans living in Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon and Warren counties,” said Oroho (R-24). “It would ensure easier, quicker access to care, counseling, and other assistance for the men and women who earned it.”
Senate Passes Oroho Bill to Make Franklinite the Official State Mineral
A mineral often found in the northwest portion of New Jersey but regarded as rare around the globe would become the official mineral of the state under legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho and approved today by the Senate.
Franklinite, a mineral only found in the northwest portion of New Jersey would become the official mineral of the state under legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho and approved by the Senate. (Wikimedia Commons)
The legislation, S-1727, would elevate franklinite in a nod to Sussex County’s rich mineral mining heritage.
“This bill recognizes the many contributions of mining in the area,” said Oroho (R-24). “Franklinite is known around the world and this legislation acknowledges the role of the mines and the miners throughout our state’s history for their positive contributions to New Jersey’s mining heritage.”
Republican Budget Members Call on Treasurer to Reveal Information Critical to Health Care Premium Increases
Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio to come clean with long-overdue responses to the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) requests for data related to the steep increases in the cost of health care benefits.
Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio to come clean with long-overdue responses to OLS requests for data related to the steep increases in the cost of health care benefits. (SenateNJ.com)
The Treasurer has indicated her Department has not withheld information. OLS has no record of receiving a response.
In their letter (click here for PDF), the Republican Senators wrote: “Unless we are mistaken in our understanding that your department failed to answer the attached questions posed by OLS during the budget process, or unless you have simply been unaware of that reality, your position is disingenuous at best. All parties involved deserve the level of transparency that you’ve indicated has already occurred.”
Oroho/O’Scanlon Renew Call for Immediate Action on Public Workers Health Coverage Crisis
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho and Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon today urged Senate Majority leaders to convene a special committee to address skyrocketing public health care premiums.
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho and Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon today urged Senate Majority leaders to convene a special committee to address skyrocketing public health care premiums. (©iStock.com)
The full text of the letter (click here for PDF) is below:
October 13, 2022
Honorable Nicholas P. Scutari
Senate President
Honorable M. Teresa Ruiz
Senate Majority Leader
Honorable Paul A. Sarlo
Chair, Senate Budget Committee
Dear Senators Scutari, Ruiz and Sarlo:
We are writing to respectfully request that if you will not convene a special committee to review and address skyrocketing public health care premium increases — as Republican Senators have unanimously supported — that the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee be charged with a similar mission on an immediate basis.
Republican Budget Committee Members Call for Required Oversight of Pandemic Relief & Debt Funds
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Democrats to hold required oversight hearings to review proposed uses of federal pandemic relief funds and a state fund intended to pay down and prevent new debt.
Senate Republicans called on Democrats to hold required oversight hearings to review proposed uses of federal pandemic relief funds and a state fund intended to pay down and prevent new debt. (©iStock)
The request was made in a letter from Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24), Republican Budget Office Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), Senator Sam Thompson (R-12), and Senator Michael Testa (R-1) to Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-22), Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-29), and Budget Chair Paul Sarlo (D-36).
Oroho Legislation to Help Service-Disabled Veteran Business Owners Advances
Senator Steve Oroho’s legislation to secure a share of projects funded through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans passed the Senate Environment and Energy Committee today.
Sen. Steve Oroho’s legislation to secure a share of projects funded through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans passed the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. (SenateNJ.com)
“Veterans who were disabled as a result of serving our country have earned special consideration,” said Oroho (R-24). “This legislation will help provide dollars and opportunity to veterans who were injured and are now in the contracting business or provide services or materials for government projects.”
