Pennacchio & Oroho Tour Lake Hopatcong with Senate President Sweeney
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) and Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) joined Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) for a boat tour of Lake Hopatcong today to gain a first-hand understanding of the blue-green algae blooms that caused the lake and others across New Jersey to be closed for recreation for much of the summer.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Steven Oroho joined Senate President Stephen Sweeney for a boat tour of Lake Hopatcong today. (SenateNJ.com)
After the tour, Pennacchio and Oroho issued the following statement:
“We were glad to have the opportunity to join local officials and the Senate President for today’s tour of Lake Hopatcong. Before his untimely death, our dear colleague Senator Bucco was scheduled to join us. We are sure Tony was there in spirit.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Deliver Petitions Signed by Thousands Who Oppose Common Interest Community Legislation to Trenton
Call for Governor Murphy and Assembly Speaker Coughlin to Let the Bill Die in Committee
In forcefully representing the interests of their senior constituents, Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove have called on Governor Phil Murphy and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin to refrain from supporting or advancing bill S-2425, which concerns common interest communities, including those that are age restricted.
To alert the governor and speaker to the intense level of public opposition, the 9th District Delegation provided petitions with more than 5,000 signatures all vehemently opposed to S-2425. (SenateNJ.com)
To alert the Governor and Speaker to the intense level of public opposition, the 9th District Delegation provided petitions with more than 5,000 signatures, mostly seniors living in age-restricted communities, all vehemently opposed to S-2425 for entry into the official record of public testimony. Connors, Rumpf and Gove stand with their constituents opposed to S-2425 in rejecting any further interference from Trenton in the operation of age-restricted communities.
Kean Mourns Passing of Sen. Tony Bucco
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean mourned the passing this evening of Senate Republican Conference Leader Anthony R. Bucco (R-25):
Sen. Anthony Bucco holding an 8-week-old yellow Labrador retriever named “NJ” after presenting a resolution to The Seeing Eye for helping to pass Dusty’s Law which enacts criminal penalties for harming or interfering with a service animal or guide dog. (The Seeing Eye)
“I am unbelievably saddened by the passing of my good friend Tony Bucco. He was a leading voice in Morris County politics for more than 40 years and in Trenton for more than two decades. He was a gentleman who earned trust on both sides of the aisle by being a man of his word. Most importantly, he was a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather. On behalf of the entire Senate Republican caucus, I extend our condolences to all who knew and loved Tony Bucco. He was a great man and a great friend who will be sorely missed.”
Corrado Seeks Hiring Investigation by Legislative Oversight Committee
The vice-chair of the Legislative Select Oversight Committee to investigate the Murphy Administration’s hiring practices, Senator Kristin Corrado is calling for the panel to reconvene in light of questions surrounding the employment of a now-fired staff member of the governor.
Sen. Kristin Corrado is calling for the Legislative Select Oversight Committee to reconvene in light of questions surrounding the employment of a now-fired staff member. (SenateNJ.com)
“The committee left some glaring unfinished business,” Corrado said. “Summer is over. We need to get back to Trenton, sort out the mess and hold the administration accountable for what has become a long and growing list of hiring scandals.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Keep Pressure on to Stop Murphy from Giving Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Aliens
The 9th District legislative delegation is warning residents that Governor Phil Murphy remains committed to advancing legislation that would permit illegal aliens to receive New Jersey driver’s licenses.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove are warning residents that Gov. Phil Murphy remains committed to advancing legislation that would permit illegal aliens to receive New Jersey driver’s licenses. (Wikimedia Commons)
Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove urged residents opposed to this proposal to sign the online petition they launched to stop this and other efforts by Governor Murphy to establish New Jersey as a sanctuary state.
The petition can be signed online at https://www.senatenj.com/sanctuarystate/.
O’Scanlon: $54 Million Increase in Subsidies Shows Cost of Murphy’s Minimum Wage Hike to Families & Taxpayers
Calls it a “textbook lesson” of the ripple effects caused by minimum wage hikes on the economy
Senator Declan O’Scanlon said that $54 million of new subsidies announced by Governor Phil Murphy to cover the rising cost of childcare due to an increased minimum wage highlights the pain caused by government mandated wage policies to both families and taxpayers.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said ‘Increasing taxpayer-funded subsidies to cover higher costs associated with Murphy’s minimum wage hike is like putting a Band-Aid on a gushing wound.’ (Pixabay)
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – raising the minimum wage sounds lovely in theory but stings in reality,” O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said. “While this $54 million childcare subsidy may seem great for a few qualifying families that are struggling to afford childcare, there are many other low- and middle-income families that won’t get a penny of help as their cost of living rises as a direct result of Governor Murphy’s minimum wage increases. The simple fact is that most New Jersey families will be stuck shelling out more of their hard-earned money for a variety of services, including childcare, which have become less affordable as costs have been driven higher by expensive government mandates.”
Pennacchio Condemns Selective Outrage by Senate Democrats on Racism & Discrimination
Senator Joe Pennacchio said a resolution (SR-155) adopted by Senate Democrats condemning certain comments by the President as racist is a demonstration of utter hypocrisy.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio said a resolution adopted by Senate Democrats condemning certain comments by the President as racist is a demonstration of utter hypocrisy.(SenateNJ.com)
“We have numerous examples of elected Democrats at all levels of government making comments which are clearly discriminatory, and in some cases blatantly anti-Semitic,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Where’s the official condemnation?”
Thompson Resolution Honoring 30th Anniversary of NJ-Taiwan “Sister State” Relationship Passes Senate
Bill Also Commemorates 40th Anniversary of the Federal “Taiwan Relations Act”
Senator Sam Thompson’s resolution to commemorate the robust and enduring relationship between New Jersey and Taiwan has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Sam Thompson’s resolution to commemorate the robust and enduring relationship between New Jersey and Taiwan has passed the State Senate. Pictured: Sen. Thompson at the Taiwanese Yuan Parliament on December 5, 2018. (SenateNJ.com)
“I am proud that the United States, and especially our great state of New Jersey, have maintained a strong and special relationship with Taiwan for decades,” said Thompson (R-12). “Just in 2017, the Garden State exported hundreds of millions of dollars of products to Taiwan, making the island the sixth largest export market for New Jersey in Asia. We must continue to make every effort to sustain this mutually beneficial friendship.”
Senate Passes Brown Bill to Help College Grads Prepare Students for the Modern Economy
“We are giving our children a chance to succeed,” State Senator Chris Brown said as the Senate passed his bill which would create a loan redemption program for teachers who teach STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in “low performing schools.”
Sen. Chris Brown’s bill to create a loan redemption program for teach who teach STEM in “low performing schools” has been approved by the New Jersey Senate.
“We have a generation of children who need the skills to thrive in our modern economy and we have a generation of college graduates struggling to pay off student loans, so we have an opportunity to help our families by giving our children a chance to succeed while lifting our graduates out of crushing student loan debt,” said Brown, who noted the U.S. Department of Labor projects that STEM-related jobs will grow by nearly ten percent over the next decade with a median salary of $84,880.
10th District Legislators Against Driver’s License for Undocumented Immigrants
Residents Urged to Sign Petition Against Governor Murphy’s Plan
In a recent interview, Governor Phil Murphy proclaimed that making driver’s licenses available for undocumented immigrants in New Jersey is a “no brainer.” Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin of the 10th Legislative District are vehemently opposed to this idea and any legislation aimed at providing driver’s licenses to those who have entered the country illegally.
Holzapfel, Wolfe, and McGuckin are vehemently opposed to any legislation aimed at providing driver’s licenses to those who have entered the country illegally. (SenateNJ.com)
“This is a brainless idea constructed by Governor Murphy and the Democrats who seem to care more about illegals than they do about the naturally born citizens of this state,” stated Senator Holzapfel. “Residents pay every time Democrats implement these types of policies in the form of higher taxes, lost jobs, lower wages and a lower standard of living. This proposal is an outrage and a dangerous political statement that jeopardizes the safety of millions.”
