Pennacchio: ‘Doesn’t Anybody Care About the Deaths of 6,700 Seniors?’
Reiterates Call for Creation of Senate Select Committee to Investigate
Senator Joe Pennacchio again implored the legislature to act on behalf of more than 6,700 elderly nursing home residents who lost their lives to COVID-19 and vote to create a Senate Select Committee to review the State’s response to the pandemic.
Senator Pennacchio urged the legislature to act on behalf of more than 6,700 elderly nursing home residents who lost their lives to COVID-19 and create a Senate Select Committee to review the State’s response to the pandemic. (CC0 Public Domain)
“The deplorable treatment of vulnerable seniors who were isolated, abandoned and exposed to this deadly virus was a pandemic genocide that stripped the lives of almost 7,000 fragile souls trapped in long term care facilities,” Pennacchio said. “Now, this shocking nightmare is being compounded by apathy. These innocent victims have been be deserted by the legislature and forgotten by the press. Doesn’t anybody care what happened to these victims?”
Testa: In-Person Voting Must Be Allowed this Fall After Vote-By-Mail Problems in Primary
In response to various vote-by-mail issues during this year’s primary election, Senator Michael Testa emphasized the need to ensure New Jerseyans are allowed to vote in-person at their local polling places in November’s general election.
Sen. Michael Testa emphasized the need to ensure New Jerseyans are allowed to vote in-person at their local polling places in November’s general election. (©iStock)
“The many failures of New Jersey’s vote-by-mail scheme, including voter fraud and errors in counting ballots, are on full display and must not be repeated,” said Testa. “Our upcoming general election is too important to entrust to a broken vote-by-mail system. Ensuring that future elections are held in-person will restore New Jersey’s election integrity and voter confidence in our democracy.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin and Catalano Agree with Outdoor Alliance to Keep WMA Open
In response to recent news that Governor Murphy has decided to close many Wildlife Management Areas due to budgetary constraints, the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) and the 10th District Legislators agree that this plan doesn’t make sense. Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano are calling on the Governor to reconsider these closures and reopen the areas that are funded through profits made from the users of the parks and license fees.
Senator Holzapfel and Assemblymen McGuckin and Catalono joined the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance calling on the Governor to reconsider his decision to close wildlife management areas across the state due to budget considerations. (The Nature Conservancy)
The legislators have released this statement regarding the Governor’s decision and support the NJOA and the immediate reopening of these wildlife management areas.
“We agree with the NJOA; these furloughs and closures make no sense from a budgetary standpoint,” said the 10th District Legislators. “Wildlife Management Areas are publicly funded through fishing and hunting licenses. It has only been a matter of weeks that these areas have been reopened, and now the Governor believes he can save a few dollars by furloughing their staff and slashing their funding. It’s not fair to the park employees and our residents who help fund and preserve these open spaces.
Bateman: Hypocritical Democrats Have Enough Time to Rush Redistricting Amendment onto Ballot, But Won’t Give Voters Choice on $10 Billion Borrowing Plan
Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) said New Jersey Democrats are being utterly hypocritical by rushing a constitutional amendment onto this November’s ballot that would disenfranchise minority voters in next year’s legislative elections, while simultaneously seeking to avoid the voter approval that is required for a record-setting $10 billion borrowing plan they announced today:
Sen. Kip Bateman said Democrats are being utterly hypocritical by rushing a constitutional amendment onto this November’s ballot, while simultaneously seeking to avoid the required voter approval for their new $10 billion borrowing plan. (SenateNJ.com)
“Democrats say they still have enough time to rush a constitutional amendment onto this November’s ballot that good-government advocates say would disenfranchise minorities, but they somehow can’t manage to give voters a say on $10 billion of debt they plan to issue as our constitution requires.
Statements from Senate Republican Budget Members on Democrats’ $10 Billion Borrowing Scheme
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee issued the following statements in response to a private, partisan agreement between Governor Phil Murphy and Democrat legislative leaders to borrow $10 billion to fund State spending next year.
Statements from Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee in response to a private, partisan agreement between Gov. Phil Murphy and Democrat legislative leaders to borrow $10 billion to fund State spending next year. (Pixabay)
Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho (R-24): “My predecessor, Senator Bob Littell, called a debt issuance one-quarter this size in 1997 ‘wacko.’ Today, taxpayers are still paying off that debt. This debt issuance is ‘wacko’ on steroids. It’s billions of debt for operating expenses with tens of billions of interest more, and won’t be paid off for decades. It’s unbelievably irresponsible. I appreciate the magnitude of the fiscal crisis we are in, but we haven’t even exhausted other fiscal management practices. This borrowing scheme is reckless behavior that will only exacerbate our problems long term.”
Senator Michael Testa (R-1): “The Governor and Democrats agreeing to issue $10 billion of debt for operating expenses isn’t just unconstitutional, it’s insane. Taxpayers will be paying for this madness for the next 35 years.”
Singer: No Rain Check for Restaurants in Inclement Weather
Calls on Governor to Safely Reopen Indoor Restaurants at 25% Capacity
In light of inclement weather expected this weekend due to Tropical Storm Fay, Senator Robert Singer today called for the opening of indoor restaurants at 25% capacity with social distancing and CDC compliant sanitization measures in place.
In light of inclement weather expected this weekend, Sen. Robert Singer called for the opening of indoor restaurants at 25% capacity with social distancing and CDC compliant sanitization measures in place. (Pixabay)
“Sunshine and clear skies currently determine the fate of restaurant owners and employees across New Jersey,” said Singer. “A downpour should not put a damper on a restaurant’s ability to open and stay in business. Today and tomorrow’s rain and thunder are the perfect examples of why restaurants should be able to safely open and operate at a limited capacity indoors.”
O’Scanlon: Democrats’ Partisan Agreement to Borrow Nearly $10 Billion Still Unconstitutional
Debt & Interest Payments Could Cost NJ Taxpayers More than $40 Billion Over Next 35 Years
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement following the announcement of an agreement today by Governor Murphy and Democrat legislative leaders to borrow nearly $10 billion without voter approval:
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said a record-setting, unconstitutional $10 billion borrowing scheme announced by Gov. Murphy and Democrat legislative leaders could cost NJ taxpayers $40 billion in debt and interest payments over the next 35 years. (©iStock)
“We learned by press release that Democrat leaders have come to a private agreement to fast-track the largest borrowing scheme in New Jersey history and likely the largest that any state has ever issued. Within the next week, they plan to give Governor Murphy the ability to borrow nearly $10 billion to cover State spending, without demanding any real attempts to achieve savings.
“This plan represents fiscal irresponsibility on a scale that is unprecedented even by Trenton standards.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Oppose Legislative Redistricting Scheme
Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove will be voting NO on a legislative redistricting proposal that is being fast-tracked to avoid public scrutiny and deliberation. The legislation (ACR-188) proposes to amend the State Constitution to allow for the legislative redistricting process to be delayed.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove announced they will be voting against a legislative proposal to delay the redistricting process that is being fast-tracked to avoid public scrutiny and deliberation. (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District Delegation offered the following remarks:
“This is a Trenton-power play meant to keep control in the hands of the few and protect the status quo. They are going all-in to ensure that the majority of the Legislature remains composed of tax increasers and big-government advocates who want and willingly allow the bureaucracy to micro-manage too many aspects of our lives.
Bucco & Bramnick Offer Solutions to Long MVC Lines that Murphy Can Implement Immediately
Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick offered a series of concrete solutions that Governor Phil Murphy could implement immediately to help remedy the chaos that has followed the Motor Vehicle Commission’s disastrous reopening.
Long lines at the Randolph MVC following it’s reopening after months of being closed due to COVID-19. Similar scenes are occurring at MVC agencies across New Jersey. (SenateNJ.com)
“More than two months ago, I asked for the MVC’s plan to reopen smoothly and they never responded,” said Bucco (R-25). “It’s clear they never developed an effective reopening plan, which has forced New Jersey drivers to wait in extremely long lines all day, overnight, and in sweltering heat in the hopes of getting the service they deserve. Despite what the governor has suggested, this isn’t the fault of New Jerseyans who have waited patiently for four months to obtain services that the MVC does not offer online. It’s clear more needs to be done, which is why Leader Bramnick and I are proposing concrete solutions that would offer immediate relief for drivers and reduce the urgent need to visit MVC agencies that have been overwhelmed.”
“Making people stand outside in the heat for seven hours or more in the middle of a pandemic is absolutely a disgrace,” said Bramnick (R-Union). “People are rightly outraged at the MVC reopening and Governor Murphy should take immediate action with the solutions we have proposed.”
Bucco: With Overdoses Up 20%, It’s the Right Time to Establish Overdose Awareness Day
Cites Spike in Fatal Overdoses During Shutdown
Senator Anthony M. Bucco reiterated his call to create Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey in response to the significant spike in opioid-related overdoses during the COVID-19 crisis.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco reiterated his call to create Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey in response to the significant spike in opioid-related overdoses during the COVID-19 crisis. (overdoseday.com)
“The COVID-19 outbreak is far from the only health crisis plaguing our state and our country,” said Bucco. “Too many lives have been lost in communities across New Jersey due to addiction and drug overdoses. In order to shine a light on this pressing issue, I am advocating to designate August 31st as Overdose Awareness Day on a local, county, and state level.”
