The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Trenton NJ, When married couples approach tax season, the best option is usually to file a joint tax return. But that’s not always the case.
New Jersey is one of 24 states with a marriage penalty built into its income tax brackets. It taxes married couples 140 percent more on their income between $20,000 and $70,000.
Continue reading Do you file jointly in NJ? This GOP lawmaker wants to remove your tax penalty.
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Peaslee Wildlife Management Area , according to NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife back In October, Fish and Wildlife’s Bureau of Law Enforcement Lt. Craig James, Detective Todd Vazquez, and Conservation Officer Keith Fox began an investigation on a large solid waste dump site in the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Cumberland County.
The pile was over 50 cu. yards and was mostly construction debris. It was suspected that the person responsible might return, so a surveillance camera was placed in the area.
Continue reading NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife Fines Illegal Dumper
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NEWARK NJ, A Mexican national who was previously deported, with convictions for indecent assault of a minor and DUI, is among 123 foreign nationals taken into custody during a month-long operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Jersey. The operation, which was spearheaded by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and other immigration violators who had prior arrests or convictions for DUI.
Of those arrested during the operation, 90 percent had prior criminal convictions and/or pending criminal charges.“The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, Field Office Director of ERO Newark. “This operation focuses on the arrest of individuals convicted of serious crimes and are a threat to public safety. Because of the targeted efforts of these professional and dedicated officers, there are 123 fewer criminals in our communities.”
Continue reading ICE arrests 123 in the”Sanctuary state” of New Jersey during nationwide operation
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NEWARK NJ, An Indian national removed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for immigration violations and turned over to Indian authorities is wanted in his home country on attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, extortion, forgery, cheating, theft, abetment use and possession of illegal firearms, and transmission of information by using the internet to form an organized crime syndicate.
Ubaidullah Abdulrashid Radiowala, also known as Obed Radiowala, entered the U.S. illegally. ERO Newark arrested Radiowala on Sept. 20, 2017 in Iselin, New Jersey, and he was later ordered removed to India by an immigration judge. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) dismissed his appeal. He was held in detention by ERO Newark until his removal on April 1, 2019.“This individual’s long list of criminal charges in his home country, including attempted murder, show that he was a danger to the community here in the U.S.,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director, ERO Newark. “The courageous and targeted efforts of our officers show our ongoing commitment to public safety.”
Continue reading Indian National Wanted for Attempted Murder and Extortion Removed From New Jersey by ICE
Trenton NJ, Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) issued the following statement after votes were cancelled in the Senate and General Assembly on legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in New Jersey:
“The decision by legislative leaders to cancel today’s planned votes on marijuana legalization is reflective of the significant concerns that exist among both Republicans and Democrats with current proposals.
Continue reading NJ Senator Kip Bateman, “As a parent, I’m concerned about the impact that increased access to marijuana would have on our youth”
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Trenton NJ, Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) released the following statement on Governor Murphy’s “shocking failure” to live up to his own minimum wage promise, noting that the proposed budget fails to provide the essential funding called for by the Governor:
“Just a month ago the Governor patted himself on the back as he signed the minimum wage increase bill. During today’s Senate Budget hearing, we learned that incredibly, while he was preparing this budget, the Governor failed to provide the very funding necessary to meet the increased spending obligations triggered by his new minimum wage policy,” O’Scanlon said.
Continue reading Murphy Budget fails to provide funding to meet the increased spending obligations triggered by new minimum wage policy
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Newark NJ, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka says the city is going to study a pilot program to provide a universal basic income, or basically guaranteeing income for all residents whether they have a job.The Newark mayor made his comments during his annual State of the City address Tuesday night at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.Newark has launched a taskforce to see if the program is feasible with help from the Economic SecurityProject and the Jain Institute.
In an effort to appeal to millennial voters Baraka said , “We believe in Universal Basic Income, especially in a time where studies have shown that families that have a crisis of just $400 in a month may experience a setback that may be difficult even impossible to recover from,”
While He noted that a third of the city still lives in poverty no details on the plan, like how it would be funded or when a final decision would be made.
Continue reading Newark to Study Universal Basic Income
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TRENTON NJ, A measure working its way through the Legislature would re-invigorate recycling efforts by state government. While New Jersey’s recycling rate is well above the national average, it is still below the state’s goal set by the Legislature in 1992 to reduce waste by 50 percent. The Assembly Environment Committee advanced the bill (A3770) Monday setting it up for a vote in the full Assembly. Sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney, it requires all state offices to recycle and provide bins for cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard and glass. “Recycling is second nature for the majority of families, schools and businesses,” said Rooney (R-Bergen).
Continue reading Lawmakers Advance Legislation Aimed at Making It Easier for State Government to Recycle
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Trenton NJ, GOP Chairman Steinhardt’s Statement on the Murphy Budget Address : Winston Churchill said it best. “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” When politicians say they will raise taxes on the wealthy, they always end up raising taxes on the middle and working classes, too.
Just last year, Phil Murphy and the Democrats set the bar for their Success Tax at $5M in income. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? But, one year later, these same Democrats redefine success as any family making more than $1M a year. Still sounds like a lot, I know. But, that’s an 80% drop from last year, and if the Democrats keep feeding and growing State government, you’re next.
Continue reading GOP Chairman Steinhardt, ” When politicians say they will raise taxes on the wealthy, they always end up raising taxes on the middle and working classes “
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Ridgewood NJ, Americans for Prosperity’s vision for our great state is one where opportunity abounds, our economy is flourishing and all of our residents have the ability to prosper and make a better life for themselves and their families. Americans for Prosperity is as committed as ever to turning our state around and making this vision a reality. That’s why for the second time in the last five years, AFP is proud to release a model budget — our FY 2017 Taxpayers’ Budget — providing a blueprint for getting our state back on track.
Continue reading Americans for Prosperity FY 2017 Taxpayers’ Budget!
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River Vale NJ, according to Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi , “This year I worked with Senator Ron Rice and the students at Ramsey High school to understand the pros and cons of the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey. One thing that the students’ research pointed to is how uneducated most people are on the issues related to legalization and how different demographics are being lobbied in different ways. In Urban communities it has been marketed as “social justice” and in suburban communities it has been marketed as reducing your property taxes. Neither argument is accurate.
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TRENTON NJ, With revenues falling below expectations and spending holding steady, the state is in catch-up mode once again. Governor Murphy is scheduled to give his budget message on Tuesday, and his administration has been sanguine about New Jersey’s revenue shortfall. Assemblyman John DiMaio, the Republican budget officer, is not in denial – saying the prognosis is not good.
Continue reading NJ Budget Prognosis is Not Good
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Trenton NJ, Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) warned that Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Democrats haven’t learned from their mistakes and are doubling-down on failed fiscal policies that are driving residents and jobs from the Garden State.
“Governor Cuomo recently admitted that high taxes are driving residents from New York, leading to budget deficits and the flight of residents from the Empire State,” said Pennacchio. “Unfortunately, Governor Murphy and New Jersey Democrats still haven’t learned from their mistakes. They’re doubling down on tax-hiking policies that have never worked, and New Jersey is doing worse than our neighbors and most of the nation as a result.”
The budget that was approved last year by the Democratic Legislature and signed into law by Governor Murphy raised taxes by $1.5 billion. It is dependent on revenues growing by 7.5 percent over the course of the fiscal year to stay in the black.
Continue reading Murphy & NJ Democrats Perpetuate a Fiscal Mess
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Trenton NJ, Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40) and Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) said the New Jersey Legislative Select Oversight Committee (LSOC) should fulfill its mission of investigating the numerous questionable hires that have been publicized across the administration of Governor Phil Murphy.
“When I first called for hearings into the hiring practices of the Murphy Administration, the article revealing the allegations made against Al Alvarez had not been published yet,” said Corrado, a vice-chair of the LSOC. “Within a short period of time, however, we had several examples of people who were hired by the Governor that raised serious concerns. While our committee was formed to investigate these hirings in total, we have focused to date almost exclusively on Alvarez’s employment. It’s imperative that we not overlook our larger mission and what we seek to accomplish to protect both our valued public employees and New Jersey taxpayers.”
Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso criticized the Schools Development Authority’s firing of 26 veteran employees and hiring of 38 new people, many of whom have personal relationships with Gov. Phil Murphy’s top staff.
Continue reading Murphy Administration Hiring Practices Come Under Fire Again !
Trenton NJ, According to an Associated Press report, a plan by anti-hunting extremist groups to sue to stop the implementation of 2015 rules that added a second annual hunt, increased the number of hunting permits and allowed bow hunting in the state’s controversial annual Black Bear hunt has been rejected by state appeals court.
The ruling rejected claims by the groups that the state inflated the number of complaints about bears and didn’t give enough consideration to non-lethal means of controlling the population such as fertility control and relocation.
Continue reading NJ Outdoor Alliance: Science Prevails In Court Decision Against Anti-Hunting Extremists
