Senate Republicans Announce $4.32 Billion of “Give It Back” Property Tax Relief for Towns & Counties
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) and Senator Michael Testa (R-1) announced a plan to provide $4.32 billion of “Give It Back” property tax relief to New Jersey’s towns and counties.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Sen. Michael Testa announced a plan to provide $4.32 billion of “Give It Back” property tax relief to New Jersey’s towns and counties. (Pixabay)
“The Murphy administration is sitting on billions of dollars of unallocated debt relief funds while towns and counties with substantial needs are being ignored,” said O’Scanlon, the Senate Republican Budget Officer. “Instead of letting that money waste away and get devalued by inflation, we are proposing to ‘Give It Back’ to towns and counties on a per capita basis to help them pay down debt and meet their important capital needs. Our proposal is a fair and transparent way to provide every New Jerseyan, every county, and every town with real property tax relief. There’s no other tax relief plan offered by anyone that comes close to what Republicans are proposing.”
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.”
Testa: Is Murphy’s DOH Changing School Vaccine Requirements Without Notifying Parents?
Senator Michael Testa called on Governor Murphy to clarify the intent of a request from the Department of Health (DOH) for proposed rule revisions on vaccine requirements for students.
“It is abundantly clear that the Murphy administration is attempting to railroad parental rights by soliciting egregious vaccine recommendations from anonymous stakeholders,” said Testa (R-1). “When the government tries to sneak in policy changes that would impact a child’s quality of education behind closed doors, that should immediately send a red flag to parents. There is no greater stakeholder in a child’s life than their parent or guardian.”
VIDEO: Testa Talks About Republican Efforts to Save the Whales on Fox News with Martha MacCallum
Senator Michael Testa (R-1) appeared on Fox News with Martha MacCallum on Monday to discuss Republican efforts to protect whales, dolphins, and the Jersey Shore from Big Wind.
VIDEO: Testa Talks About Wind Farm Concerns & Whale Deaths on Fox & Friends
Senator Michael Testa (R-1) appeared on Fox & Friends this morning to talk about Republican efforts to save whales and dolphins, protect the environment, and prevent economic harm to the Jersey Shore.
VIDEO: Senate Republicans Explore Whale Deaths & Wind Farm Concerns at Independent Hearing
New Jersey Senate Republicans hosted an independent hearing today where the surge of whale and dolphin deaths along the Jersey Shore and potential links to wind farms were discussed.
The panel was chaired by Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) and included Senator Vince Polistina (R-2), Senator Michael Testa (R-1), and Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13).
“We held a very informative hearing this morning on whales and wind farms,” Bucco said after the hearing. “It’s clear from the testimony we received that the wind farm projects were rushed, there’s data demonstrating real harm to marine life, and shore towns and fisheries will face serious economic impacts that have been completely ignored. We believe it makes a lot of sense to put a pause on these projects to investigate the legitimate concerns that were raised today in greater depth.”
Testa Calls for Passage of “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” Following Congressional Action
Senator Michael Testa called for the New Jersey Legislature to advance a proposal he sponsors to protect women’s sports to complement recent congressional action that is intended to preserve the spirit of Title IX.
Sen. Michael Testa called for the New Jersey Legislature to advance a proposal he sponsors to protect women’s sports to complement recent congressional action that is intended to preserve the spirit of Title IX. (Pixabay)
“Title IX was adopted in 1972 to ensure that girls and women are not discriminated against and have a fair playing field in sports and other school-related activities,” said Testa (R-1). “Sadly, that fair playing field that girls have enjoyed for 50 years is slowly disappearing as more male athletes who identify as transgender are choosing to compete in women’s sports, including swimming, track, and even power lifting. The House of Representatives was absolutely right to take action last week to protect women’s sports from this full frontal assault, and New Jersey shouldn’t hesitate to do the same.”
Testa Urges DEP to Work with Stakeholders to Produce Plan to Protect East Point Lighthouse
Says DEP Fining Itself Shows How Bureaucratic the Department Can Be
Senator Michael Testa urged the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to continue working with Maurice River Township and the Maurice River Historical Society on a plan to protect the East Point Lighthouse.
Sen. Michael Testa urged the DEP to continue working with Maurice River Township and the Maurice River Historical Society on a plan to protect the East Point Lighthouse. (East Point Lighthouse/Facebook)
“I’m concerned that the DEP hasn’t shown much urgency in developing a long-term plan to protect the historic East Point Lighthouse from future beach erosion,” said Testa (R-1). “We met with DEP officials several times last year to discuss the lighthouse, but we have not received a plan for shoreline stabilization as promised. With the current protective Geotube nearing its end of life, there isn’t much time to waste.”
Testa: State Board of Education Trying to Limit Participation in Public Hearings on Revisions to Student Learning Standards
Notice of Public Hearings Issued Day Before State Holiday and Easter Weekend with Noon Monday Deadline to Register to Testify
Senator Michael Testa said it is shockingly clear that the State Board of Education is trying to limit participation in three public hearings that have been planned to receive comments on draft revisions to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
The State Board of Education sent an email on Thursday with a deadline of noon on Monday to register to testify for three public hearings.
“The State Board of Education sent out notice of the three public hearings at midday on Thursday with a deadline of Monday at noon to register to testify,” said Testa (R-1). “They know that Friday is a State holiday and Sunday is Easter. It couldn’t be more obvious that they’re trying to limit public participation in what’s taught in our schools, just as they have in the past. They want public hearings without the public. It begs the question: what are they trying to hide?”
