Bucco & Testa Plan to Introduce a Bill to Repeal Controversial State Board of Education Ruling
Senators Anthony M. Bucco and Michael Testa announced that they plan to introduce legislation to repeal a controversial ruling made by the State Board of Education. The board should shift their focus to updating curriculum that will help students recover from learning loss, the senators said.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco and Sen. Michael Testa said they plan to introduce legislation to repeal a controversial ruling made by the State Board of Education. (Pixabay)
“We are going to introduce legislation to repeal the shortsighted policies recently adopted by the State Board of Education. Decisions of this magnitude should include input and guidance from the Legislature. A board of unelected government bureaucrats should not have sole authority over our children’s curriculum,” said Bucco (R-25). “Parents are rightfully concerned about their voices being dismissed while controversial curriculum gets pushed into the classroom with little to no oversight. This bill will help build stronger partnerships between parents and their local school communities to ensure that curriculum revisions are made in the best interest of their children.”
Bucco & Testa: State Board of Education Put Identity Politics Ahead of Parents
Senators Anthony M. Bucco and Michael Testa said that the State Board of Education is focused more on advancing identity politics than building stronger relationships between parents and teachers in response to the board’s vote to approve a proposal to remove “equality” in the “Managing for Equality and Equity in Education” Chapter of New Jersey’s Administrative Code. The board should be more respectful of parental rights, the senators said.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco and Sen. Michael Testa said that the State Board of Education is focused more on advancing identity politics than building stronger relationships between parents and teachers. (Flickr)
“All kids deserve the opportunity to succeed in-and-out of the classroom but the best way to ensure this success is by bringing their parents, teachers, and local school administrators together, not by driving a wedge between them. Today’s State Board of Education vote unfortunately drives a wedge further between these groups,” said Bucco (R-25). “Students are falling behind from pandemic-related learning loss and instead of prioritizing reading, writing, and math, the State Board is infusing progressive identity politics into the classroom. Parents are rightfully concerned about what’s being taught to their children and deserve to have a voice in their local school communities. We do not need government bureaucrats substituting on their behalf.”
Testa Urges Murphy to Order Performance Audit & State Oversight for French Arts Museum Project in Jersey City
Legislative Review Finds Excess & Waste in $200 Million Project
Senator Michael Testa urged Governor Phil Murphy to order a performance audit and State oversight to control costs related to the development of a French arts museum in Jersey City.
Sen. Michael Testa urged Gov. Phil Murphy to order a performance audit and State oversight to control costs related to the development of a French arts museum in Jersey City. (Pixabay)
The museum, Centre Pompidou x Jersey City, has received $58 million of State funding that is at risk of being wasted without oversight, Testa said in a letter to Murphy today.
“Governor Murphy continues to funnel tens of millions of dollars to the French arts museum project in Jersey City with little to no oversight of spending,” said Testa (R-1). “Our staff reviewed publicly available documents and found significant waste and excess, including more than 30 no-bid consultants, consultants hired to find other consultants, more than $10 million in fees to use the French ‘Pompidou’ name, and millions more that will be spent for the privilege of displaying art owned by France. It’s not clear why this extremely expensive project is a priority for the Murphy administration, but the least the governor can do is try to control costs that appear to be ballooning.”
Senate GOP Budget Members Call on Democrat Majority to Release Explanations for 400+ Line Items of Budget Pork
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on the Democrat Majority to immediately release explanations for the hundreds of line items that were added to the FY 2024 State Budget in the hours before its adoption.
Senate Republicans called on the Democrat Majority to immediately release explanations for the hundreds of line items that were added to the FY 2024 State Budget in the hours before its adoption. (Pixabay)
“Republicans complied with legislative rules and publicly posted all of our proposed tax decreases, spending restraints, reforms, and spending requests before the budget was voted on, and we’re calling on our Democrat colleagues to finally do the same,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “The common-sense requirement to release proposed budget changes and detailed spending requests was initiated by former Senate President Codey after two senators went to jail for steering money as part of extortion schemes. When there is complete transparency in members’ spending requests, it is less likely that abuses will occur or go unnoticed.”
Senator Testa Applauds Additional Funding for Manufacturing Voucher Program
Senator Michael Testa issued the following response commending Governor Murphy for providing additional funding for the New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program.
Sen. Michael Testa commended Governor Murphy for providing additional funding for the New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program. (Pixabay)
“New Jersey manufacturers send their products all over the world and play an integral role in driving the success of our economy. One must only look as far as the Lower Trenton Bridge, which proudly proclaims, ‘Trenton Makes The World Takes,’ to fully understand that New Jersey is a place where manufacturing not only survives, but thrives, in a forever growing industry. Investments such as this give that sign meaning and tells manufacturers around the country that New Jersey is leading from the front, ” said Testa (R-01). “I applaud Governor Murphy for making a profound investment into the Manufacturing Voucher Program to support the growth of our State’s manufacturing industry. Since its creation in 2022, the Manufacturing Voucher Program has given manufacturers the ability to expand their businesses and modernize their operations in a constantly evolving technological world. This additional funding will bolster our economy by ensuring that manufacturers will have access to necessary resources.”
VIDEO: Governor Murphy just gave BIG WIND a BIG GOVERNMENT bailout!
Governor Phil Murphy just gave BIG WIND a BIG GOVERNMENT bailout.
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He took $1 BILLION from utility customers and gave it to a HUGE foreign wind developer.
New Jersey families and businesses are already paying higher electric bills to build offshore wind farms.
Testa: BPU Overstepping Its Authority with Plan to “Decarbonize” New Jersey
Says Proposal Sets Environmental Policy Outside of BPU’s Purview
Senator Michael Testa said the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) would be overstepping its authority if it adopts a plan to begin the “decarbonization” of New Jersey’s many homes and buildings.
Sen. Michael Testa said the BPU would be overstepping its authority if it adopts a plan to begin the ‘decarbonization’ of New Jersey’s many homes and buildings. (SenateNJ.com)
“The BPU doesn’t have the legal authority to use its regulatory powers to set environmental policy for the state,” said Testa (R-1). “While the so-called ‘decarbonization’ of buildings may be a goal of the Murphy administration, the BPU’s plan would increase electricity usage and destabilize our electric grid in apparent contravention of state law. The BPU also has no power to regulate carbon emissions, which is the clearly stated purpose of the plan. For many reasons, the BPU’s decarbonization proposal is a clear overreach of the agency’s authority.”
Testa Responds to Murphy’s Bailout of Foreign Wind Company at Ratepayer Expense
Senator Michael Testa responded to Governor Murphy’s signing of legislation that provides a massive bailout to a foreign wind company at the expense of New Jersey utility customers.
Sen. Michael Testa responded to Gov. Murphy’s signing of legislation that provides a massive bailout to a foreign wind company at the expense of New Jersey utility customers. (Pixabay)
“Democrats like Governor Murphy who often complain about corporate welfare had absolutely no problem giving $1 billion to a foreign wind farm developer at the expense of New Jersey ratepayers,” said Testa (R-1). “Other wind farm developers are already lining up at the trough of big government begging for their own bailouts, which Governor Murphy is likely to give them. It’s more proof that wind power doesn’t make economic sense without massive government subsidies.”
Senate Approves Testa Bill to Invest in Coastal Communities
The New Jersey Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senator Michael Testa that would establish a Boardwalk Preservation Fund to construct, repair, and maintain boardwalks and structures throughout the state’s coastal communities.
Sen. Michael Testa’s bill that would establish a Boardwalk Preservation Fund to construct, repair, and maintain boardwalks and structures throughout the state’s coastal communities was passed by the New Jersey Senate. (©iStock)
“Boardwalks are an economic driver for shore town communities and generate millions of dollars in revenue for the state. The Senate’s approval of my bi-partisan legislation supports coastal counties and municipalities by making a historic investment to improve the infrastructure of these iconic tourist attractions,” said Testa (R-01). “Millions of tourists flock to the Jersey Shore each year to enjoy our boardwalks and our beautiful beaches. This bill would provide grants to help cities and counties preserve and maintain these vital features of the Jersey Shore for generations to come.”
VIDEO: Testa & O’Scanlon Call Out Democrats for Voting on State Budget with No Bill, Inaccurate Information
The Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee voted on the FY 2024 State Budget last night before it was even written (over Republican objections), with only an error-filled scoresheet provided to legislators that failed to include more than $1 billion of spending added by Democrats at the last minute.
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Here’s how the vote went down, featuring comments from Senator Michael Testa (R-1) and Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13).
