Doherty Named Top Conservative Lawmaker by the American Conservative Union
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) was honored as the top conservative lawmaker in the New Jersey Senate by the American Conservative Union. He received the “Award for Conservative Excellence” in recognition of his voting record in the 2021 legislative session.
Sen. Michael Doherty was honored as the top conservative lawmaker in the NJ Senate by the American Conservative Union and received the “Award for Conservative Excellence.” (ACU)
Senator Doherty received a 94% ranking from the American Conservative Union (ACU), the nation’s oldest conservative grassroots organization. According to the ACU scorecard, Doherty is the highest rated conservative state senator in New Jersey.
Pennacchio/O’Scanlon Call on Legislature to Immediately Enact Sales Tax Moratorium on Natural Gas, Electricity for Homes
Say State Unfairly Profits from High Cost of Home Heating
With the cost of heating homes with natural gas up by as much as 25 percent, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Declan O’Scanlon have introduced legislation to prevent state revenue from benefiting at the expense of struggling families.
With the cost of heating homes with natural gas up by as much as 25 percent, Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon have introduced legislation to prevent state revenue from benefiting at the expense of struggling families. (©iStock)
The Senators introduced legislation (S-3354) this week that would create a winter moratorium on sales tax on natural gas and electricity for residential customers.
Singer Introduces Bill Protecting Vulnerable Seniors from Predatory Practices
Seniors could be afforded stronger legal protections to shield their estates from scammers and unworthy beneficiaries thanks to legislation recently introduced by Senator Robert Singer.
Seniors could be afforded stronger legal protections to shield their estates from scammers thanks to legislation introduced by Sen. Robert Singer. (Pixabay)
“Seniors have always been prime targets for scammers who prey on their trusting nature and easy demeanor,” said Singer (R-30). “We’ve all heard the stories—an elderly person passes away and their entire estate is left to a seemingly random caregiver. In many of these instances, the so-called caregiver took advantage of a person who was clearly in a vulnerable state. My legislation will curb this despicable behavior so that our seniors can feel confident that their estate will go to the proper beneficiaries.”
Senate Republicans Urge Democratic Majority to Stop Stonewalling Legislative Investigation of Veterans Home Failures
The sixteen members of the Senate Republican caucus sent a letter today to Senate President Nicholas Scutari urging the Democratic Majority to stop stonewalling a legislative investigation of continuing failures at State-run veterans homes that have resulted in hundreds of unnecessary deaths since the start of the pandemic.
New Jersey Senate Republicans urged the Democratic Majority to stop stonewalling a legislative investigation of continuing failures at State-run veterans homes that have resulted in hundreds of unnecessary deaths since the start of the pandemic. (©iStock)
The letter follows reports of new outbreaks in the homes, additional deaths, and warnings from the federal government that Medicare and Medicaid funding could be withheld due to mismanagement that continues to leave residents at risk.
Senate Approves Bucco Bill Keeping Federal Aid in School Districts that Educate Military Students
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco that would help school districts better utilize state military impact aid for the benefit of students was approved today by the Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Anthony M. Bucco that would help school districts better utilize state military impact aid for the benefit of students was approved today by the Senate. (Pixabay)
The bipartisan bill, S-3089, would allow a board of education of a school district that received unanticipated State military impact aid in the 2021-2022 school year to establish a military impact aid reserve account in its annual budget.
Senate Clears Stanfield Resolution that Would Update Funding for Environmental Infrastructure Projects
The New Jersey Senate advanced bipartisan legislation today sponsored by Senator Jean Stanfield that would approve the updated Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB).
The New Jersey Senate advanced legislation sponsored by Sen. Jean Stanfield that would approve the updated FY2023 Financial Plan of the NJIB. (Pixabay)
“Without the modified financing provided by this bill, these expensive, but necessary environmental infrastructure projects could be postponed for years,” said Stanfield (R-8). “This funding will make sure everything is completed in a timely manner and will protect the flow of clean drinking water to communities throughout the state.”
Endorsed by Senate, Oroho Bill Would Hold Reckless Absentee Landlords Responsible
Absentee landlords of trouble-plagued rooming and board houses would be held accountable under legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho and advanced today by the Senate.
Absentee landlords of trouble-plagued rooming and board houses would be held accountable under legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho and advanced today by the Senate. (©iStock)
The bipartisan measure, S-648, would revise the definition of “landlord” to include rooming and boarding house owners and operators with regard to ordinances holding landlords to certain standards of responsibility.
Bucco Dismayed Morris Co. Won’t Benefit from New Funding for Substance Use Disorder Treatment
$2M Program to Help Increase Services in 10 Counties
Outpatient treatment services for substance use disorder will be expanded across much of New Jersey under a new $2 million program announced by the State, but Senator Anthony M. Bucco worries that some critical areas, including Morris County, have been forgotten.
Outpatient treatment services for substance use disorder will be expanded across much of NJ under a new $2 million program announced by the State, but Sen. Anthony M. Bucco worries that some critical areas, including Morris County, have been forgotten. (Wikimedia Commons)
“Addiction is a crucial problem across the state, and residents struggling to break free from the clutches of drugs will benefit from better, more accessible services in 10 counties,” said Bucco (R-25). “I am disappointed and frustrated that Morris County is absent from the list. The scourge of narcotics is no less entrenched, no less threatening, and no less lethal in this part of the state.”
MEDIA ADVISORY: Bramnick Bill that Requires High School Students to Learn How to Deal with Grief and Loss to Be Discussed
Senator Jon Bramnick and co-prime sponsor Senator Joe Cryan will discuss legislation requiring school districts to provide instruction on grief for grades 8 to 12 at a virtual conference from the facilities of Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss in Mountainside.
WHO: Senator Jon Bramnick (R-21); Senator Joe Cryan (D-20).
WHAT: Virtual press conference via Zoom to discuss new legislation (S-3330) requiring grief instruction in schools.
WHEN: FRIDAY, Nov. 18, at 11:45 a.m.
WHERE: Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss, 244 Sheffield St., Mountainside.
Zoom Link: Click here to join us on Zoom. Passcode: 225178
Pennacchio Responds to Potential Loss of Federal Funding to State-run Veterans Homes
Senator Joe Pennacchio responded to published reports that the New Jersey’s Veteran’s Memorial Home at Menlo Park may soon be blocked from Medicare and Medicaid programs for mismanagement and non-compliance with safety standards.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio voted remotely from outside the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home during a Senate session on December 9, 2021 to highlight inaction on a proposed investigation into Murphy administration pandemic failures that resulted in thousands of unnecessary deaths in veterans homes and nursing homes. (SenateNJ.com)
“It’s clear that the Murphy administration is unwilling or unable to investigate itself or resolve the mismanagement at our State-run veterans homes that may soon result in the loss of federal funding in at least one facility,” said Pennacchio. “After hundreds of unnecessary deaths and tens of millions of dollars paid out in legal settlements, it’s shocking they don’t appear to have made any real progress in improving protections for veterans home residents.”
