Doherty: Murphy’s Mask Mandate for 2-Year-Olds Is Child Abuse
Senator Michael Doherty said Governor Phil Murphy’s new executive order forcing two-year-olds to wear masks at day care is nothing less than child abuse.
Sen. Michael Doherty said Gov. Phil Murphy’s new executive order forcing two-year-olds to wear masks at day care is nothing less than child abuse. (©iStock)
“We held a hearing this summer where medical researchers and health care professionals told us of the emotional and physical harm that comes from masking school-age children,” said Doherty (R-23). “That level of harm that we heard in graphic detail would only be multiplied for toddlers that have even less ability to understand why they’re being forced to wear masks they won’t want to wear.”
Testa: Murphy’s Ridiculous Mask Mandate for Toddlers Is Likely Unenforceable
Senator Michael Testa (R-1) blasted Governor Phil Murphy’s newly issued executive order requiring two-year-old children to wear masks at day care:
Sen. Michael Testa blasted Gov. Phil Murphy’s newly issued executive order requiring two-year-old children to wear masks at day care, calling it ridiculous and likely unenforceable. (©iStock)
“Governor Murphy’s mask mandate for two-year-olds is absolutely ridiculous and likely unenforceable.
“Is Murphy going to close day care centers that parents are depending on to get back to work if they can’t get children barely older than infants to keep their masks on? Are toddlers going to be carted off to jail for ripping their masks off, which they inevitably will do?
O’Scanlon: Implement “Test and Stay” Protocols to Avoid Excessive Quarantines in Schools
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) called for Governor Murphy to join numerous states in utilizing new COVID-19 modified quarantine procedures which would allow exposed asymptomatic students to remain in the classroom and receive daily rapid tests in lieu of the at-home 14-day quarantine.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon called for Gov. Murphy to join other states and implement COVID-19 “Test and Stay” protocols which would allow exposed asymptomatic students to remain in the classroom and receive daily rapid tests instead of the at-home 14-day quarantine. (Pixabay)
“This is absolutely the direction that we need to be going in. We must balance the negative impact of massive quarantines on our children’s education, family disruption, and keeping people out of work,” said O’Scanlon. “It’s time for all of us to rally and time for the administration to be more dynamic. They must be ahead of the curve, not behind it, for a policy that has been shown to be demonstrably effective and safe.”
Pennacchio Blasts Murphy’s Mask Mandate for 2-Year-Olds
Governor Phil Murphy’s latest COVID directive requiring children 2 years and older to wear masks in childcare centers drew the ire of Senator Joe Pennacchio, who called the order “useless and unworkable.”
Sen. Pennacchio denounced Murphy’s latest COVID edict requiring children as young as 2 years old to wear masks at day care centers. (Pixabay)
“Every parent who has ever tried to get a photo of their 2-year-old in a Halloween mask knows this rule is futile,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “When you put any covering on a 2-year-olds’ face, they instinctively grab it and pull it off.
Thompson Calls for Accountability as Governor Continues $60 Million-Per-Week Borrowing Spree to Fund Unemployment Benefits
Says Federal Relief Money Should be Used to Restore UI Fund and Save Jobs
As the Murphy Administration continues to borrow almost $10 million every day from the federal government, Senator Sam Thompson called on the Governor to provide an accurate estimate of how much debt employers in the state will be left to repay through the massive tax increase coming next month.
With the Murphy administration’s unemployment fund debt topping $300 million, Sen. Sam Thompson called for Gov. Phil Murphy to explain in detail how he will pass the cost of repaying that debt to struggling employers starting next month. (Wikimedia Commons)
“New Jersey is racking up debt at an alarming pace, and Murphy’s only plan is to pass the cost on to employers, many who are barely surviving in the COVID economy,” said Thompson, a Republican member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. “This is a dangerous fiscal scheme that could trigger the failure of countless small and mid-sized employers and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. It’s reckless and unjustifiable.”
Corrado: Murphy’s Mask Mandate for 2-Year-Olds Is Big Government at Its Worst
Says Murphy Out of Touch With Needs of Children, Parents & Child Care Providers
Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40) issued the following statement in response to a new executive order from Governor Phil Murphy requiring all children over 2 years of age to wear masks in child care settings:
Sen. Kristin Corrado said Gov. Phil Murphy’s new executive order requiring 2-year-olds to wear masks at day care is ‘big government at its worst,’ adding it shows how the governor is ‘completely out of touch with the needs of children, parents, and child care providers.’ (Pixabay)
“Forcing a two-year-old to wear a mask all day is big government at its worst. Will working parents be forced to pick up their child from day care if they refuse to wear a mask or wear it properly? Will day care employees be reprimanded if a toddler refuses to comply?
“I’ve spoken to concerned day care operators who struggle to get two-year-olds to keep their shoes on, never mind a mask. This overbearing executive order is yet another sign that Governor Murphy is completely out of touch with the needs of children, parents, and child care providers.”
Bucco Lauds Grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to Help Preserve Lake Hopatcong and Local Waterways
Ongoing efforts to conserve and restore Lake Hopatcong received a boost today from a grant of almost $500,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco noted a significant grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for important projects to protect the Upper Musconetcong River Watershed is a testimony to local efforts to restore waterways and Lake Hopatcong. (Pixabay)
The grant, announced this morning, was provided through the NFWF’s Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to the Lake Hopatcong Commission in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation for crucial projects in the Upper Musconetcong River Watershed.
Doherty, DiMaio & Peterson Call for Independent Review of Bound Brook Flooding Incident
NJ Transit Train Blocked Floodgates from Closing During Hurricane Ida
Senator Michael Doherty, Assemblyman John DiMaio, and Assemblyman Erik Peterson (all R-23) will introduce legislation requiring an independent investigation of the flooding of Bound Brook that occurred after a disabled New Jersey Transit train blocked the town’s protective floodgates from closing during Hurricane Ida.
This photo from NJ.com shows NJ Transit Train #5450 blocking one of Bound Brook’s floodgates from closing completely leading to flooding within the town from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. (Photo Credit: Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
“It’s extremely concerning that the $300 million floodgate system that was put in place to protect Bound Brook from flooding was defeated by a disabled NJ Transit train that shouldn’t have been running,” said Doherty. “We need a transparent, independent review of this incident to understand what processes failed during Ida to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Drafting Bill to Preserve COVID Legal Immunity for Senior Communities
Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove are drafting legislation to prevent the expiration of legal immunity for senior communities from COVID-related lawsuits. Under current law enacted on June 30 of this year, senior communities and other planned real estate developments would lose their legal immunity from COVID-related lawsuits on January 1, 2022.
Sen. Christopher Connors, Asm. Brian Rumpf, and Asw. DiAnne Gove are drafting legislation to prevent the expiration of legal immunity for senior communities from COVID-related lawsuits. (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District Legislative Delegation issued the following statement:
“A large segment of our constituency is comprised of seniors living in senior communities. For that reason, our Delegation strongly supported the law to protect senior community homeowner associations from COVID-related lawsuits. While the legislation was being debated, our Delegation provided legislative updates to thousands of constituents who had taken an active interest in the issue. We did so with the understanding that many seniors wanted to return to a sense of normalcy, which meant having the ability to use community facilities, such as clubhouses and pools.
Bucco/Pennacchio/Schepisi Legislation Supporting Pediatric Cancer Research Signed into Law
Legislation sponsored by Senators Anthony Bucco, Joseph Pennacchio, and Holly Schepisi that would support funding for pediatric cancer research has been signed into law by Governor Murphy.
Legislation sponsored by Sens. Tony Bucco, Joe Pennacchio, and Holly Schepisi that would support funding for pediatric cancer research has been signed into law. (©iStock)
“I am pleased that the Governor signed both of these bills into law today. As a survivor of pediatric cancer, I know there are few things that can make a child feel so scared or parents so helpless,” said Bucco (R-25). “I am thankful every day that I was one of the lucky ones who survived. With better-funded research, we can improve treatments and survival rates to ensure that luck is no longer a factor in deciding which children with cancer will have an opportunity to grow up and live full lives.”
