Testa Calls For Special Legislative Committee to Investigate Attorney General’s Office
Senate Judiciary Committee member, Michael Testa, called on the Legislature to return to Trenton immediately to authorize subpoena power for the Senate Judiciary Committee and retain special counsel to facilitate a thorough investigation of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office handling of a 2019 prosecution involving a businessman with ties to U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
Sen. Michael Testa called on the Legislature to return to Trenton immediately to authorize subpoena power for the Senate Judiciary Committee and retain special counsel to facilitate a thorough investigation of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office handling of a 2019 prosecution. (Pixabay)
“When you have allegations of elected officials pressuring our State attorney general’s office to influence the outcome of a prosecution, the State must demand answers. We cannot ignore the alleged corruption and influence peddling that occurred within our State offices,” said Testa (R-1). “The Legislature must return to Trenton immediately and give the Senate Judiciary Committee the power and resources to demand answers from the attorney general’s office regarding this serious and egregious matter.”
Bucco: Democrats Extreme, Far-Left Policies Are Steering New Jersey Off Course
Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco said Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats are steering New Jersey off course in response to a new poll that shows New Jerseyans are feeling worse about their quality of life.
Sen. Anthony Bucco said Gov. Murphy and Trenton Democrats are steering New Jersey off course in response to a new poll that shows New Jerseyans are feeling worse about their quality of life. (Flickr)
“The extreme far-left policies of the Murphy administration and Trenton Democrats are clearly having a negative impact on quality-of-life issues for New Jerseyans. Car thefts, smash and grabs, and burglaries are a direct result of this administration’s soft-on-crime approach,” said Bucco (R-25). “From school funding cuts to costly utility rates to radical energy mandates for electric vehicles, the cost of living in New Jersey is being driven higher than ever before. Not to mention this administration’s vehement opposition to parental rights. It is abundantly clear that Democrats are not prioritizing the needs or safety of New Jersey residents with their approach.”
Senate Republicans Thank George Helmy For His Service and Bid Him a Fond Farewell
New Jersey Senate Republicans thanked George Helmy for his service and wished him well after he announced that he would be departing his role as Chief of Staff for Governor Phil Murphy.
New Jersey Senate Republicans issued the following statements thanking George Helmy for his service and wished him well after he announced that he would be departing his role as Chief of Staff for Governor Phil Murphy. (SenateNJ.com)
Statement from Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco:
“George is a well-respected and kind-hearted individual who bridged relationships with many members of the Legislature during his tenure. From a legislative perspective, George had a unique ability to work across the aisle and manage diverse relationships,” said Bucco (R-25). “I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know George during his time as the governor’s chief of staff and I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors. I’m confident that his tenacity and positive work ethic will bring him success wherever he goes.”
Bucco Calls Attorney General’s Action to Seek Attorney’s Fees in Hanover Case “Ridiculous”
Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco issued the following statement saying that it is ridiculous for the Attorney General to seek attorney’s fees in the Hanover School Board lawsuit.
Sen. Anthony Bucco said that it is ridiculous for the Attorney General to seek attorney’s fees in the Hanover School Board lawsuit. (©iStock)
“It is beyond ridiculous that the Attorney General is seeking attorney’s fees in a lawsuit against the Hanover School Board over a policy that wasn’t even mandatory to implement in the first place. The Attorney General should have notified the school boards of the non-mandatory aspect of the policy before even initiating the lawsuits. It’s bad enough that the Murphy administration supported these lawsuits after cutting State aid for more than a hundred school districts throughout the State. Schools have it hard enough and should not be faced with these bullying tactics. These lawsuits are doing more to hurt kids’ education than to protect them.”
Bucco to Attend “Born To Fly” Event at Villa Walsh Academy
Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco announced that he would be attending the Air Force’s “Born To Fly” event at Villa Walsh Academy all-girls school on Friday, September 22.
Sen. Anthony Bucco announced that he would be attending the Air Force’s “Born To Fly” event at Villa Walsh Academy all-girls school next week. (Pixabay)
“I’m very excited to attend this event sponsored by the Sisters 1st, Villa Walsh Academy’s FIRST Robotics Competition Team. This is a fantastic opportunity for seventh and eighth grade students from around the Morristown area to learn about aviation and the United States Air Force,” said Bucco (R-25). “The six virtual reality aviation experiences will give students an opportunity to fly unique aircraft while using certified Air Force equipment. It is truly remarkable how far technology has advanced that opportunities like this can be provided to young students. This is a great way for women who have an interest in aviation to get a hands on experience with real flight simulators.”
O’Scanlon: Reforms Needed to Address Wasteful Paterson School Spending
Senator Declan O’Scanlon issued the following statement slamming the Paterson School Board’s waste of State aid after the board voted to approve excessive travel expenses for a trip to New Orleans. The senator called for the Department of Education (DOE) to use its authority to deduct waste from any future grants and reiterated the need for committee hearings to reform the broken school aid funding formula.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon slammed the Paterson School Board’s waste of State aid after the board voted to approve excessive travel expenses for a trip to New Orleans. (©iStock)
“Paterson schools’ misuse of taxpayer money follows a pattern of self-indulgent travel by school board members to extravagant places like Las Vegas, Honolulu, and now New Orleans. This is one more reminder that excessive State aid increases for selected districts doesn’t necessarily reach children while aid cuts for other districts are devastating everywhere else. It is way past time for the Legislature to reform the broken school aid formula and disincentivize this sort of garbage.
Senators Pennacchio and Corrado Call For Special Legislative Investigative Committee in Letter to Democrat Leadership
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) and Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40) sent a letter to Senate President Nicholas Scutari calling for a special legislative committee to be formed to investigate the findings of a recent report that claims New Jersey violated the constitutional rights of veterans at two State-run memorial homes.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Kristin M. Corrado sent a letter to the Senate President to call for a special legislative committee to be formed to investigate claims New Jersey violated the constitutional rights of veterans at two State-run memorial homes. (©iStock)
The United States Department of Justice concluded that veterans’ constitutional rights were violated at the Menlo Park and Paramus long-term care facilities. The report indicated that inadequate infection control practices, inadequate medical care, and a lack of management and oversight subjected veteran residents to horrific conditions during the pandemic.
District 10 Lawmakers Slam Murphy Administration Amid Scathing DOJ Report
District 10 lawmakers—Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman John Catalano—are calling for an emergency session and independent committee hearings after a damning report was released by the U.S. Department of Justice detailing the tragic consequences of the Murphy Administration’s COVID-19 policies for veterans homes.
Sen. Jim Holzapfel, Asm. Greg McGuckin, and Asm. John Catalano are calling for an emergency session and independent committee hearings after a damning report was released by the DOJ detailing the tragic consequences of the Murphy Administration’s COVID-19 policies for veterans homes. (©iStock)
“Since the early days of the pandemic, we—along with every other rational person—warned that forcing COVID positive patients back into nursing homes would be an absolute catastrophe,” said Senator Holzapfel. “Unfortunately, the Murphy Administration didn’t listen to us, or any Republicans for that matter, and instead followed the terrible advice of democrat officials in New York. The report by the Department of Justice is devastating and the Murphy Administration must be held accountable for the appalling treatment of our nation’s heroes.”
Republican Leaders: The State Legislature is Ignoring Public Safety Issues
Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco and Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio say the state Legislature is dragging its feet on reforms while crime continues to rise and be a major concern for residents.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco and Asm. John DiMaio say the state Legislature is dragging its feet on reforms while crime continues to rise and be a major concern for residents.
“We’ve had years now to examine the pre-trial release policy to see what’s working and what’s not,” said Bucco (R-Morris). “Whether it’s repeat offenders like car thieves or child predators walking the street, it’s obvious that we have loopholes in the system that must be closed. This is just another example of the numerous issues that need to be addressed.”
Oroho Legislation Increasing Government Efficiency Signed into Law
Two bills sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that will increase government transparency and efficiency were signed into law today by Acting Governor Way.
Two bills sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that will increase government transparency and efficiency were signed into law today by Acting Governor Way. (Pixabay)
The first bill, S-1884, requires the Office of the State Auditor to annually publish a user-friendly, plain language report that summarizes the contents of the New Jersey Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
“I’m pleased that both of these important bills were signed into law today,” said Oroho (R-24). “For far too long, New Jersey’s annual financial reports have been written in obscure, financial language that is often only digestible by technocrats. This legislation will build public trust by allowing New Jerseyans to read, in layman’s terms, the financial status of the state, and to see exactly where their hard earned tax dollars are going.”
