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.”
O’Scanlon: “I Have a Solution to the Congestion Pricing Debacle”
Urges Lawmakers to Pass The Automated Enforcement Inoculation Act
Senator Declan O’Scanlon urged lawmakers to pass the Automated Enforcement Inoculation Act to protect New Jersey drivers from predatory fines for out-of-state traffic violations.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon urged lawmakers to pass the Automated Enforcement Inoculation Act to protect New Jersey drivers from predatory fines for out-of-state traffic violations. (SenateNJ.com)
“New Jersey drivers are under siege from out-of-state politicians who want drive up costs for travelers for the purpose of making a quick buck,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “Through bipartisan efforts we fought and defeated camera enforced violations in New Jersey because we recognized that it was nothing more than government-sanctioned-theft. While half of all states have rejected these corrupt schemes, New York has decided to implement them and is doubling down with absurd congestion price taxes. By passing this legislation, Republicans and Democrats can stand together and deter at least one of the many invasive and unjust taxes that New York State is trying to impose on New Jersey families.”
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.”
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.”
Monmouth County Legislators React to Busing Cuts Due to Loss of State Funding
In reaction to the news that Freehold Regional High School District will need to limit busing routes for the families it serves from multiple Monmouth County towns, State Leaders from Legislative District 13 call upon the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to take immediate steps to restore school state aid cuts as a means to fund bus transportation for next school year.
In reaction to the news that Freehold Regional High School District will need to limit busing routes, State Leaders from Legislative District 13 call upon the NJDOE to take immediate steps to restore school state aid cuts as a means to fund bus transportation for next school year. (SenateNJ.com)
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth), Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn (R-Monmouth) and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-Monmouth) have been staunch advocates for the full restoration of State funding to all schools in Monmouth County since the introduction of the Governor’s FY24 Budget. There is $8 billion in surplus in the State’s coffers; yet, the Department of Education slashed $20 million from Monmouth County schools. While the Legislature has taken action to reverse that decision by returning 65% of that aid, there are schools that will still be left without sufficient funding to address essential services like busing.
O’Scanlon Stands with Residents, Local Officials in Effort to Save National Scientific Landmark
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) expressed his support of local efforts to preserve the historic Horn Antenna in Holmdel. The Horn Antenna, a designated National Historic Landmark, was used by scientists to confirm the Big Bang theory in 1965.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon expressed his support of local efforts to preserve the historic Horn Antenna in Holmdel, which was used by scientists to confirm the Big Bang theory in 1965. (Wikimedia Commons)
“The Holmdel Horn Antenna was invaluable in helping us to understand how the universe began,” said O’Scanlon. “We cannot allow this important historic landmark to be destroyed by development. It is critical that we pursue every avenue to preserve this piece of our history for posterity. I support the efforts of local government officials to investigate options to save the Horn Antenna, and I am proud to see so many of our residents stand up and make their voices known in this fight.”
O’Scanlon and Durr Repeat Call for Moratorium on Offshore Wind Farm Surveys
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Senator Ed Durr renewed their call for Governor Murphy to pause offshore wind farm surveys to investigate if the work is responsible for dozens of whale and dolphin deaths. They also questioned why several recently announced projects to study marine life in the area are being conducted without a pause in the survey work.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Sen. Ed Durr renewed their call for Governor Murphy to pause offshore wind farm surveys to investigate if the work is responsible for dozens of whale and dolphin deaths. (NJ.com)
“While I am happy to see that the Board of Public Utilities will start studying the diversity of marine life around the proposed wind farms, we continue to believe Governor Murphy should pause the survey work related to wind farm development,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “It’s likely they won’t get an accurate picture of the marine life in the area while wind developers are disturbing our coastal waters with sonar blasts, drilling, and other activities. They should have started the marine life surveys before the wind farm work began to get an accurate baseline. A pause of offshore wind preparations would provide ample time for researchers to do their job and deliver accurate results from their studies.”
Oroho & O’Scanlon Respond to State Auditor Report Showing Murphy Administration’s Failure to Use Billions in Federal Pandemic Relief Funds
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho and Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon responded to a new report from the State Auditor that shows that more than $5 billion in pandemic relief funds remains unspent by the Murphy administration nearly two years after it was received:
Sen. Steven Oroho and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon responded to a State Auditor report that shows that more than $5 billion in pandemic relief funds remains unspent by the Murphy administration nearly two years after it was received. (©iStock)
“Senate Republicans have questioned for three years why the Murphy administration has shown absolutely no urgency in using billions of federal pandemic relief funds to help New Jersey families and businesses in a timely manner,” said Oroho (R-24). “The State Auditor’s latest report showing that more than $5 billion of American Rescue Plan funds remains unspent after two years confirms everything we’ve been saying.”
O’Scanlon & Durr Introduce Resolution Urging Moratorium on Offshore Wind Projects
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Senator Ed Durr have introduced a resolution urging the state and federal governments to place an immediate moratorium on all sonar testing and wind turbine mapping in response to the surge of unexplained marine wildlife deaths along the coast of New Jersey.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Sen. Ed Durr introduced a resolution that urges the state and federal governments to place an immediate moratorium on all sonar testing and wind turbine mapping in response to the surge of unexplained marine wildlife deaths along the coast of New Jersey. (Pixabay)
“After months of whales and dolphins washing up on our beaches, enough is enough. We cannot ignore the surge in marine life deaths that has occurred while offshore wind project preparation activities have been conducted along the coast,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “While the Governor has stated that ‘there’s no evidence these activities are causing these whale and dolphin deaths’, he omits that he, and we, simply have no idea what’s causing these tragic deaths. We very well might find evidence that offshore wind activities are contributing to this tragedy. Until we know, we should err on the side of caution. Our resolution calls on Governor Murphy and the federal government to place a moratorium on these projects until scientific studies can be conducted to determine the impact offshore wind activities are having on marine wildlife. These mammals are federally protected and as legislators it is our duty to step up and protect our waters.”
VIDEO: Gov. Murphy Is Slashing School Funding While Spending Millions on Pork
Governor Phil Murphy wants to slash $150 million of aid to nearly 200 school districts.
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That’s despite having a $10 billion surplus and spending hundreds of millions on political pork.
