Testa Calls for Senate to Advance Voter Roll Clean-up Bill in Wake of Report on Duplicate Voter Registrations
Senator Michael Testa today called for the New Jersey Senate to hold hearings on legislation he cosponsors that would require the Secretary of State to clean up the state’s voter rolls to remove duplicate, incorrect, incomplete, and outdated voter registrations.
en. Michael Testa called for the New Jersey Senate to hold hearings on legislation he cosponsors that would require the Secretary of State to clean up the state’s voter rolls to remove duplicate, incorrect, incomplete, and outdated voter registrations. (SenateNJ.com)
“The fact that we are still dealing with incorrect voter registrations after so many calls to fix our voter rolls is as infuriating as it is mystifying,” said Testa (R-1). “The Senate must move forward after four-plus years of Murphy administration inaction to help secure and strengthen the faith of voters in our democratic process. I’m calling on Senate leadership to schedule a hearing on legislation I have cosponsored with other members of the Republican caucus to protect the integrity of New Jersey’s elections.”
Testa Bill that Would Increase Benefits for Veterans and Their Spouses Clears Committee
Veterans with service-connected injuries, and spouses of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, may soon receive additional financial benefits from the State of New Jersey thanks to legislation sponsored by Senator Michael Testa and approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Veterans with service-connected injuries may soon receive additional financial benefits from the State of New Jersey thanks to legislation sponsored by Sen. Michael Testa and approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. (©iStock)
“It is our duty to ensure the well-being of New Jersey’s veterans and their spouses,” said Testa (R-1). “Some veterans have suffered significant disabilities in the line of duty including permanent paralysis and loss of sight. This bill will offer some much needed financial relief and stability to these injured veterans, and their loved ones, during their time of need.”
Testa’s Bill Requiring Schools to Teach Information Literacy Advances
Senator Michael Testa’s legislation requiring New Jersey school students to be educated in information literacy was advanced today by the Senate Education Committee.
Sen. Michael Testa’s legislation requiring New Jersey school students to be educated in information literacy was advanced today by the Senate Education Committee. (Pixabay)
Testa’s bill, S-588, would direct the State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards in the separate content area of Information Literacy to better prepare students to find reliable, useful content online and avoid invalid and deceptive materials.
Testa Calls for Treasurer Muoio to Explain Unauthorized Transfer of Pandemic Relief Funds to Pay for $2k Checks to Illegal Immigrants
Senator Michael Testa called for answers from New Jersey Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio after it was revealed today that $10 million of unauthorized transfers were made to the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund, a Murphy administration program that would provide illegal immigrants with $2,000 payments and up to $4,000 per household.
Sen. Michael Testa called for answers from N.J. Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio after it was revealed today that $10 million of unauthorized transfers were made to the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund, a Murphy administration program that would provide illegal immigrants with $2,000 payments and up to $4,000 per household. (Pixabay)
“The current state budget includes language that allows Governor Murphy to make appropriations of up to $10 million from federal pandemic relief funds for any single relief program without legislative approval,” said Testa (R-1), a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. “It seems clear the Murphy administration exceeded that authority by appropriating $20 million for payments to illegal immigrants without the sign-off of the Legislature. Treasurer Muoio should be called before the Budget Committee to explain the Murphy administration’s disregard for the law.”
Senate Republicans Propose $8 Billion of New Tax Relief, Bolstering Surplus, Doubling Debt Repayment & Increasing Oversight in Budget Plan
Republicans serving on the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee proposed $8 billion of new tax relief, increasing the state surplus to $5 billion, more than doubling proposed debt repayments, and increasing legislative oversight of Murphy administration spending in a detailed budget plan (click here for PDF) to amend Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 2023 State Budget.
Senate Republicans have proposed a comprehensive budget plan with $8 billion of new tax relief, including ‘Give It Back’ rebates totaling $1,500 for most New Jersey families. (www.GiveItBack.us)
“Senate Republicans have offered a detailed budget plan to make responsible use of an unprecedented $11 billion windfall of state and federal taxpayer funds to support struggling families, solve long-term problems, and ensure that New Jersey is well prepared for the next recession,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We’re leading the way in showing Governor Murphy and the Democrat legislative majorities how to give back billions to taxpayers while building a responsible surplus and paying down substantial additional debt. It’s no surprise that everyone else is suddenly rushing to find ways to ‘Give It Back’ as Senate Republicans have advocated for months.”
Testa to Introduce Bill Allowing Parents to Opt-Out of School Districts with Mask Mandates
Senator Michael Testa will introduce legislation to allow parents to create a path to choose a different school district if their home district unilaterally adopts a mask policy for students.
Sen. Michael Testa will introduce legislation to allow parents to create a path to choose a different school district if their home district unilaterally adopts a mask policy for students. (Pixabay)
Over the weekend, the Franklin Township school district in Somerset County announced via a pop up on their website that a mandatory masking policy would be reintroduced today.
“Sadly, we expected school bureaucrats to once again push their power over students and their parents with renewed masking mandates,” said Testa (R-1). “This bill gives parents the ability to fight back and the power to ensure their children are not forced to mask up.”
Testa Bill to Increase Payments for Permanent Wartime Service Injuries Clears Panel
New Jersey veterans blinded or paralyzed from wartime service injuries would see an increase in monthly payments from the state’s Catastrophic Entitlement Fund under Senator Michael Testa’s legislation advanced today by the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Veterans blinded or paralyzed from wartime service injuries would see an increase in monthly payments from the state’s Catastrophic Entitlement Fund under legislation sponsored by Sen. Michael Testa and cleared by the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. (SenateNJ.com)
“These brave men and women went to war to defend our nation, and they are force to live with their devastating injuries every day,” said Testa (R-1). “No amount of money can make up for what they have endured, but New Jersey can do better than the $62.50 monthly payment. Heroes deserve better.”
Republican Budget Members: Governor’s Warmed Over ANCHOR Proposal is Pathetic Attempt at Tax Relief
Again Call for ‘Give It Back’ Tax Rebates to Provide $4.5 Billion of Direct, Immediate Relief
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Governor Phil Murphy and legislative leaders to commit to expanding tax relief in light of the Administration admitting to a total of more than $9 billion of tax overcollections in the current year and almost $7.8 billion more in revenue available for the upcoming budget year than projected just two months ago.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee called on the Governor and legislative leaders to commit to expanding tax relief in light of the Administration admitting to a total of almost $7.8 billion more in tax revenue available for the upcoming budget year than projected just two months ago. (©iStock)
“The Murphy Administration finally admitted the obvious – that they are collecting $9 billion more out of the pockets of taxpayers than budgeted for the current year,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24). “New Jersey families are struggling with soaring prices and inflation, and Republicans have proposed $1,500 rebates to be returned to more than 4 million families this Spring. The Murphy Administration must commit to giving back at least this $1,500 to 4 million families this Spring.”
Republican Budget Members Call for Murphy to Dedicate Billions for Tax Relief as State Revenues Soar
Senate Republicans Have Already Proposed “Give It Back” Tax Rebates to Provide $4.5 Billion of Direct, Immediate Relief — More Planned
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Governor Phil Murphy to commit to expanding tax relief in the upcoming State Budget in advance of a revenue update from the Treasurer that is expected to show soaring tax collections that are $5 billion higher than the administration projected just two months ago.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee called on Gov. Phil Murphy to expand tax relief in the upcoming State Budget as tax overcollection soar by billions. (©iStock)
“Tax collection reports make it clear that the Murphy administration must acknowledge on Thursday that his tax policies are taking at least $5 billion more out of the pockets of taxpayers than the governor projected in March, and possibly billions more,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24). “When New Jersey families are struggling with soaring prices and inflation, we believe Governor Murphy must commit to giving back these overcollections immediately to families that are suffering today. We plan on expanding the ‘Give It Back’ rebates that Senate Republicans have already proposed.”
Testa Statement on Marijuana Sales in NJ
In response to a story in Politico about a memo from the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association warning members against off-duty recreational use of marijuana, Senator Michael Testa had the following comment:
Sen. Michael Testa said all state residents should take note of a statement by the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association president warning members against off-duty recreational use of marijuana. ( CC0 Public Domain)
“If the very people who enforce our laws in New Jersey are concerned about the many legal ramifications for recreational pot use by their members, it should give us all pause. This reckless and short-sighted law and Phil Murphy’s continuing ignorance about how our federal system of government works will likely cause an unsuspecting citizen to suffer real and long-lasting legal consequences. Federal law precludes a user of marijuana from owning a gun. That is something that the legalization proponents likely never considered.
