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.”
O’Scanlon: Democrat Bill Tells Kids “Don’t Drink, Smoke Pot Instead”
Senator Declan O’Scanlon said legislation being advanced by Trenton Democrats to address concerns about teen rowdiness caused by juvenile justice reforms and cannabis legalization will send kids the wrong message about drug use.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said legislation being advanced by Trenton Democrats to address concerns about teen rowdiness caused by juvenile justice reforms and cannabis legalization will send kids the wrong message about drug use. (©iStock)
“Instead of fixing our mistakes and letting cops do their jobs again, the bill proposed by Democrats will only address underage alcohol use and not marijuana,” said O’Scanlon. “We’re basically telling kids, ‘don’t drink, smoke pot instead.’ It’s absolutely ridiculous legislation.”
O’Scanlon Bill Prioritizing School Funding Advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that exempts certain school districts from state aid cuts was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon’s bill that exempts certain school districts from state aid cuts was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. (©iStock)
“Republicans have argued for years that the state’s school funding formula needs to be rolled back and reformed to avoid unfair aid cuts and to protect taxpayers in New Jersey. In response to the proposed school funding cuts, a school in my district eliminated necessary student services to make ends meet, which is a direct reflection on the flawed nature of the S2 school funding formula,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “We need to do a better job because many schools throughout the state are suffering from the S2 formula and the supplementary funding that was recently approved is not a long-term solution. This legislation is a small, but much-needed step towards larger reforms that would provide assistance to the Freehold Regional School District to ensure that their students do not lose courtesy busing in the coming school year.”
Senate Clears O’Scanlon Bill to Help Crime Victims
The New Jersey Senate voted to approve legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that would unify services for crime victims within the newly created Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA).
The New Jersey Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Declan O’Scanlon that would unify services for crime victims within the newly created Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA). (Pixabay)
“The Senate’s bipartisan approval of this legislation supports law and order by giving crime victims more access to necessary resources in one location. As crime rates soar, centralizing New Jersey’s efforts to provide violence intervention and prevention, and victim assistance services within one division is critically important to achieve this goal,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “Unifying services for crime victims make critical resources more accessible to communities and individuals that are seeking justice and on the path to recovery. This legislation codifies the VIVA division to bolster our legal system, improve public safety, and build stronger partnerships with law enforcement.”
O’Scanlon Introduces Legislation to Crackdown on Underage Alcohol and Cannabis Use
Senator Declan O’Scanlon introduced legislation that would reinstate penalties for underage possession and consumption of alcohol and cannabis.
Sen. O’Scanlon introduced a bill that would reinstate penalties for underage possession and consumption of alcohol and cannabis. (Flickr)
“When the people of New Jersey voted to legalize cannabis in 2020, it was with the condition that it would remain illegal for anyone under 21 years of age. Despite this clear directive from voters, when legislation was later enacted to formally legalize cannabis, which I opposed due to the bill’s rampant flaws, it basically eliminated any penalties for underage use or possession of not only cannabis, but alcohol as well. Since then, there has been a predictable rise in the illegal use of alcohol and cannabis by young people and a new fad of rowdy pop-up beach parties that is quickly getting out of control,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “We must send a clear message that alcohol and cannabis are still illegal for underage consumption and those who violate the law will be held accountable. This bill would reinstate the penalties for underage drinking and cannabis use that, for many years, were effective in containing the problems we are seeing today.”
Ruiz, O’Scanlon Bill to Prohibit Sale of Delta-8 THC Products
In an effort to protect communities around the state against widely sold delta-8 products, the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Declan O’Scanlon to prohibit the production and sale of products containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The Senate Law & Public Safety Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon to prohibit the production and sale of products containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). (SenateNJ.com)
“Delta-8 THC is an unregulated, psychoactive hemp-derived product that is being sold at gas stations, pharmacies, and bodegas across New Jersey,” said Senator O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “It’s the bathtub gin of the cannabis space and it’s being sold to kids without any of the restrictions or product safety regulations required under New Jersey’s recreational adult-use cannabis law. Our bill addresses these concerns by subjecting Delta-8 THC to the same regulatory framework as other cannabis products in New Jersey.”
O’Scanlon Bill to Help Crime Victims Clears Budget & Appropriations Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that unifies services for crime victims within the newly created Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA) in the Department of Law and Public Safety was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon’s bill that unifies services for crime victims within the newly created Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA) in the Department of Law and Public Safety was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. (Pixabay)
“As crime rates continue to soar, centralizing New Jersey’s efforts to provide violence intervention and prevention, and victim assistance services within one division is critically important to enhance law and order throughout the state,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “Unifying services for crime victims make critical resources more accessible to communities and individuals that are seeking justice and on the path to recovery. This legislation codifies the VIVA division to bolster our legal system, improve public safety, and build stronger partnerships with law enforcement.”
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.”
Bucco & O’Scanlon: Let’s Help New Jersey to Stay Safe this Summer
Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Senator Declan O’Scanlon said it’s time to undo some mistakes that were made with juvenile criminal justice reforms to help New Jersey stay safe this summer.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said it’s time to undo some mistakes that were made with juvenile criminal justice reforms to help New Jersey stay safe this summer. (Flickr)
“We warned two years ago that stripping police of their ability to hold law-breaking teens accountable would lead to chaos in our communities, especially those with beaches and boardwalks during the summer season,” said Bucco (R-25). “That proved to be the case in several of our shore towns over the Memorial Day weekend. The problem of drunk, rampaging teens is so bad that many towns are now imposing curfews on their beaches and boardwalks that will impact families and businesses as well. It’s also proving to be a problem in other towns across New Jersey that have parks and other recreational facilities where teens congregate. The Legislature has an obligation to fix its mistake and allow law enforcement officers to actually enforce the law.”
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.”
