Testa Says Democrats Trying to Blame OLS for Their Budget Mess
Senator Michael Testa (R-1), a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement:
Sen. Michael Testa said Democrat leaders are trying to blame OLS for their own failure to stop the feeding frenzy at the budget trough. (Pixabay)
Last night, our Republican Budget Committee members were asked by Democrats to vote on a totally inaccurate and unreliable advisory summary of the budget known as a “score sheet.” It was not the actual budget. When a budget bill was finally produced just before midnight after the Budget Committee had already voted, the numbers didn’t match the score sheet we were given. What legislators voted on last night over Republican objections was a misleading document that was more than $1 billion off from the budget bill that was later produced.
Republican Budget Committee Members Call for Release of FY 2024 State Budget Plan that Will Be Voted on Tomorrow
Say There’s Been No Transparency from Democrats on Additions to Budget & Related Bills that Will Be Rushed to Enactment
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Governor Murphy and legislative Democrats to release the FY 2024 State Budget and explain the dozens of other bills that the Budget Committee will be called to vote upon tomorrow.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee called on Gov. Murphy and legislative Democrats to release the FY 2024 State Budget and explain the dozens of other bills that the Budget Committee will be called to vote upon tomorrow. (Pixabay)
“It’s outrageous that we’re going to be asked to vote on a record spending bill tomorrow by the Democratic Majority without anyone having seen a copy of the bill yet,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We don’t even have an outline of the plan to help us understand the billions of dollars of changes they are proposing. This is no way to run a government.”
Bucco, Polistina & Testa: Feds are Taking Whale Deaths Seriously While Murphy Administration Dawdles
Senator Anthony M. Bucco, Senator Vince Polistina, and Senator Michael Testa said they are glad the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has opened an investigation into the impact of offshore wind development on whale deaths along the Jersey Shore.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, Sen. Vince Polistina, and Sen. Michael Testa said they are glad the GAO has opened an investigation into the impact of offshore wind development on whale deaths along the Jersey Shore. (Pixabay)
“We’ve had dozens of whales and dolphins that have died in our waters and on our beaches since the start of offshore wind farm survey work last year,” said Bucco (R-25). “While the Murphy administration has been content to turn a blind eye as the number of dead marine mammals continues to rise, we’re glad the GAO will give this ongoing tragedy the review it deserves. New Jerseysans deserve to know the full impact of offshore wind development on our environment and our economy.”
Testa & Bucco Renew Calls to End COVID-19 State of Emergency
Senator Michael Testa and Senator Anthony M. Bucco issued the following response after Governor Murphy lifted COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care employees but didn’t end New Jersey’s pandemic state of emergency.
Sen. Michael Testa and Sen. Anthony Bucco issued a response after Governor Murphy lifted COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care employees but didn’t end New Jersey’s pandemic state of emergency. (SenateNJ.com)
“I’m glad to see certain vaccine restrictions coming to an end, but it is utterly inexcusable that Governor Murphy hasn’t ended the pandemic state of emergency. The rest of the country has acknowledged that the pandemic is over, why can’t we?” questioned Testa (R-01). “The Murphy administration’s delayed reaction in lifting vaccine requirements for healthcare workers exacerbated staffing shortages that have plagued hospitals and healthcare facilities in New Jersey. It is time for Governor Murphy to give up his emergency powers so we can address these challenges and put an end to all unnecessary COVID-19 directives once and for all.”
Senate Republicans Propose FY 2024 Budget Plan with $6 Billion of New Tax Relief, More Debt Reduction, Spending Moderation & Greater Transparency
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee proposed more than $6 billion of new tax relief, $1 billion for debt reduction, and greater transparency and fairness in State spending in a detailed plan (click here for PDF) to amend Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 2024 State Budget. The proposal would grow the budget surplus to nearly $6.5 billion.
Senate Republicans have proposed a comprehensive budget plan with $6 billion of new tax relief, including $4.3 billion of “Give It Back” property tax relief for towns and counties. (www.GiveItBack.us)
“With a sizable budget surplus and billions more set aside in debt and pandemic relief funds, the State has unprecedented resources that the Murphy administration has failed to use effectively to meet New Jersey’s needs,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We have proposed a comprehensive and responsible budget plan that would increase property tax relief by $4.3 billion, prevent toll hikes and payroll tax increases, repay more State debt, impose meaningful spending restraints, and restore transparency and fairness to government spending.”
Testa & Durr: Despite Democrat Fearmongering, Nobody Is Looking to Ban Books
Senator Michael Testa and Senator Ed Durr said that despite fearmongering from Governor Phil Murphy and Trenton Democrats, nobody is looking to ban books of any kind.
Sen. Michael Testa and Sen. Ed Durr said that despite fearmongering from Gov. Phil Murphy and Trenton Democrats, nobody is looking to ban books of any kind. (Wikimedia Commons)
“It’s a total misrepresentation for Democrats to say that parents are looking to ‘ban books’ simply for expressing their concerns about the unrestricted availability of content that’s not age-appropriate in their school libraries,'” said Durr (R-3). “Nobody is looking to stop adults from buying these books or suggesting that parents shouldn’t be able to provide them to their children at their discretion. Any suggestion by Governor Murphy or Trenton Democrats that children’s access to books in school libraries has to be all or nothing is just fearmongering of the worst kind. We believe there are workable solutions that could address the concerns of parents and ensure continued access to books with sexual content with reasonable restrictions.”
Testa Renews Call for Criminal Justice Reforms to Help Towns Maintain Law & Order
Senator Michael Testa is calling on the New Jersey Legislature to approve criminal justice reform bills that would help towns to reverse a trend of lawlessness by drunk and rowdy teenagers. His comments followed a weekend of chaos in several Shore communities, including Ocean City, which adopted strict new beach and boardwalk restrictions to try to maintain law and order.
Sen. Michael Testa is calling on the New Jersey Legislature to approve criminal justice reform bills that would help towns to reverse a trend of lawlessness by drunk and rowdy teenagers. (Flickr)
“The lawlessness that I saw play out in our Shore towns over Memorial Day weekend was shocking. Large crowds and pop-up parties continue to cause damage to local communities and it will only get worse as summer approaches,” said Testa (R-1). “Underage drinking, vandalism, and drug use were all on display with very little consequences to those in attendance. Residents and tourists fear for their safety and business owners will suffer the consequences unless the Legislature and the Governor step up and address this issue head on.”
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.”
