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.
O’Scanlon & Testa Say Trenton Democrats Are Prioritizing Pork Over School Funding in State Budget
Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Senator Michael Testa said Governor Phil Murphy and legislative Democrats have prioritized funding political pork projects at the expense of schools in their FY 2024 state budget proposal.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Sen. Michael Testa said Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative Democrats have prioritized funding political pork projects at the expense of schools in their FY 2024 state budget proposal. (©iStock)
“It says a lot about their priorities when Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats have slashed funding to nearly 200 school districts while building a massive budget surplus and funneling boatloads of pork to their cronies,” said O’Scanlon (R-13), the Senate Republican Budget Officer. “It’s ludicrous to suggest that we can’t afford the extra $50 million it would cost to protect every school district from budget cuts when it took us all of 15 minutes to identify nearly $150 million of political spending that’s being handed out to a favored few in the Democrats’ budget proposal. It’s a safe bet to assume there are hundreds of millions of dollars of pork in the budget, in addition to the $10 billion surplus, that could be better spent protecting our schools from unnecessary funding cuts that will lead to teacher layoffs.”
O’Scanlon Bill to Increase Awareness About Women’s Health Issues Advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that establishes a public awareness campaign to promote women’s reproductive health was advanced by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Sen. O’Scanlon’s bill that establishes a public awareness campaign to promote women’s reproductive health was advanced by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. (©iStock)
“Millions of women face health challenges that can impact fertility and even lead to more serious health complications,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “When more women have access to information about their health and preventative care, they’re more likely to consult with a medical professional. This bill launches a public awareness campaign to help educate millions of women in New Jersey about how they can avoid potentially life-threatening issues.”
O’Scanlon: Murphy Should Explain Cuts in Municipal Aid & Delays in Assistance for Rising Health Care Costs that Will Drive Property Tax Increases
Murphy’s FY 2024 Budget Proposal Eliminates Energy Aid to Towns
Senator Declan O’Scanlon said Governor Phil Murphy should explain the nearly $70 million cut to municipal aid that appears in his budget proposal for next year, which will drive large property tax increases when paired with soaring health benefit costs for local governments.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said Gov. Phil Murphy should explain cuts to municipal aid that appear in his budget proposal for next year, which will drive large property tax increases when paired with soaring health benefit costs for local governments. (Pixabay)
“It’s surprising that Governor Murphy has proposed cutting municipal aid in his new budget proposal when the State is flush with cash and towns are struggling with inflation and soaring health benefits costs imposed by his administration,” said O’Scanlon (R-13), the Senate Republican Budget Officer. “It’s shocking that the governor wants to eliminate the return of $70 million of Energy Tax Receipts to municipalities that he hailed as important property tax relief just last year. Governor Murphy should explain why he thinks it’s a good idea to cut property tax relief to towns and drive tax bills higher for homeowners.”
Senate Republicans Comment on Murphy’s FY 2024 Budget Proposal
Senate Republicans said Governor Phil Murphy’s FY 2024 budget proposal is a massive increase in spending, doesn’t provide inflation relief or transparency, and continues harmful cuts to hundreds of school districts.
Senate Republicans commented on Gov. Phil Murphy’s FY 2024 budget proposal saying it’s a massive increase in spending, doesn’t provide inflation relief or transparency, and continues harmful cuts to hundreds of school districts. (©iStock)
Included below are comments from Senate Republicans:
Senate Republicans Set Priorities for Responsible Budget Proposal Ahead of Governor’s Speech
With Governor Phil Murphy set to deliver the annual budget message next Tuesday to the Legislature, the Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called for a budget proposal that restrains spending and prepares New Jersey for a possible recession, provides tax relief to families and businesses, represents fairness in how appropriations are determined, and protects school districts and property taxpayers from harmful cuts in State aid.
With Gov. Phil Murphy set to deliver the annual budget message next week to the Legislature, Senate Republicans laid out their priorities for a responsible state budget. (Pixabay)
Republicans offered comprehensive, thoughtful, and meaningful changes to the proposed budget last year to accomplish each of these goals that Democrats in the Legislature and Governor Murphy completely ignored. Instead, Democrats passed a budget that hoarded tax over-collections and went on an undisciplined, pork-fueled spending binge.
O’Scanlon Statement on Oroho’s Decision to Not Seek Re-election
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) issued the following statement following Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho’s announcement that he will not seek re-election:
Statement from Sen. Declan O’Scanlon on Sen. Steven Oroho’s decision not to seek re-election. (SenateNJ.com)
“While I am deeply saddened that Steve has decided not to seek re-election, I’m happy the decision is based on good fortune in the rest of his life, a desire to spend more time with family, and on his successful business.
“I’m lucky to have served with one of the smartest, most classy, and dedicated public servants I’ve ever known. New Jersey is a much better place for having had Steve at the policy table.
O’Scanlon Bill to Help Crime Victims Clears Law & Public Safety Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that unifies crime victim services within a new Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA) in the Department of Law and Public Safety was approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Sen. O’Scanlon’s bill that codifies the establishment of the VIVA Division within the Department of Law and Public Safety to unify services for crime victims in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. (Pixabay)
“As crime rates continue to soar, centralizing New Jersey’s efforts to provide violence intervention and prevention, and victim assistance services in one division is critically important to enhance law and order throughout the state,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “Unifying services for crime victims in New Jersey helps communities and individuals recover. This will also strengthen our legal system by building partnerships with law enforcement.”
Testa/O’Scanlon: You Know Murphy’s Mismanagement of SHBP Rate Hikes Is Bad When Dysfunctional Trenton Looks Smart for Jumping Ship
Say Exodus of Local Governments Could Be Disastrous for State Benefits Health Plan
Senator Michael Testa and Senator Declan O’Scanlon said a decision by the City of Trenton to leave the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) for a private insurer to avoid millions in health care premium increases could signal a coming exodus of local governments from the state plan.
Sen. Michael Testa and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said a decision by the City of Trenton to leave the SHBP for a private insurer to avoid a 23% premium increase could signal a coming exodus of local governments from the state plan. (©iStock.com)
The senators said a 22.8% rate hike this year for local governments in the SHBP was driven by the Murphy administration’s failure to achieve promised savings that had been highly trumpeted and its refusal to consider cost-saving proposals offered by public employee unions, towns, and counties.
“You know Governor Murphy’s mismanagement of SHBP rate hikes is really bad when the often dysfunctional city government in Trenton looks smart for jumping ship from the state plan,” said Testa (R-1). “More local governments are likely to realize they can achieve significant savings for both their workers and property taxpayers by shopping for health insurance in the private market. Nobody who can avoid it will pay the 23% premium increase pushed through by the Murphy administration.”
Republican Budget Members Blast Murphy Administration Plans to Tax Cloud Computing & Software Subscription Services
Report from NJ Division of Taxation Comes Just Weeks After Gov. Murphy Pledged “Absolutely No New Taxes”
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee blasted a new report issued by the New Jersey Division of Taxation that calls for the taxation of cloud computing and software subscription services.
“The latest report from Taxation makes it clear that the Murphy administration is looking at new taxes on many Internet-based services,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “So much for Governor Murphy’s recent statements that there would be ‘no new taxes.’ That certainly didn’t last long.”
