Trenton NJ, In response to Trenton Democrats various proposals to increase taxes on New Jersey’s residents and businesses by billions of dollars this year, Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) issued the following statement:
In response to Trenton Democrats various proposals to increase taxes on New Jersey’s residents and businesses by billions of dollars this year, Sen. Joe Pennacchio issued the following statement. (SenateNJ)
“Recently New Jersey offered Amazon 5 billion dollars to locate its headquarters in Newark. It is difficult to believe that as New Jersey offers Amazon a 5 billion dollar incentive with one hand, it is pinching their pockets and all business pockets in New Jersey with the other hand. Perhaps they were hoping Amazon would not notice.
“This type of business incentive/non-incentive insanity simply reinforces New Jersey as the least business-friendly state in the country. The billion dollars in new employer taxes proposed will wipe out any goodwill New Jersey may have earned through corporate giveaways.
“This is not a way to attract and retain businesses in New Jersey. This is not the type of government the citizens of New Jersey deserve.”
Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Labor Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo responded today to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says public sector workers need not pay their “fair share” of dues to the unions that represent public sector employees.
In an opinion issued this morning, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The petitioners in Janus asked the Court to overrule an earlier decision that had determined public unions could require all workers to pay a “fair share” of union dues to defray the cost of collective bargaining. New Jersey, along with a coalition of states and unions, defended that prior decision. But in a 5-4 ruling this morning, the Supreme Court decided to allow workers to refuse to pay their fair share, potentially weakening collective bargaining by labor groups that negotiate employee compensation, pensions, and contracts.
“This disappointing decision does not in any way diminish our administration’s commitment to protecting the right of public sector employees to organize,” responded Governor Phil Murphy. “We stand firm with our labor unions and labor organizations to advocate and protect members’ rights as we did with the Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act I signed in May. Supporting strong unions is a critical part of making New Jersey’s economy work for everyone.”
If you read between the lines New Jersey politicians particular Democrats are upset that state workers will no longer be forced to support them through political donations.
Attorney General Gurbir Grewal agreed , “The very first amicus brief I signed as Attorney General was one in support of workers’ rights in Janus v. AFSCME,” said Attorney General Grewal. “I was proud to stand with labor on this crucial issue and remain so today. In New Jersey, we’re charting a path to protect workers even as the federal government turns away from them.
“At the Attorney General’s Office, we will use our legal authorities to continue vigorous enforcement of state laws that protect workers’ rights to organize and to engage in collective bargaining,” Attorney General Grewal continued. “Nothing about today’s decision changes that.”
The only thing Trenton is interested in protecting is the compact between state workers and Democrats that says you give us campaign contributions and we give you raises and generous contracts .
“This decision is a travesty for working men and women everywhere, particularly here in New Jersey, where workers’ right to organize is protected by our state Constitution,” added Labor Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo. “The decision undermines the ability of working people around the country to receive the respect and appreciation they deserve. Despite this ruling, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is committed to working with our sister government agencies to protect workers’ rights, secure their safety, and ensure the dignity that work provides.”
The only “travesty” has been the lack of tax payer representation in the political process and the control of state government to unions
Trenton NJ,in a last minute deal the state government shut down has been avoided . Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi , “Update for New Jersey residents. It appears a State shutdown will be averted. On the upside you will be able to go to the beach, the racetrack or a casino, and renew your license. On the downside you will be paying even more for gas, internet purchases, hospital visits, plastic and paper bags, Airbnb, Uber and Lyft, health care, and utility bills. I keep hearing a mantra of New Jersey needs sustainable revenue. However New Jersey has significant revenue. New Jersey ranks in the top 5 highest taxed states in the country. New Jersey has among the highest pension debt. Any tax and spending increases without real reforms to our pension system is irresponsible and reckless. Good luck New Jersey residents. You voted for this”
This is a great example of why this state is failing. The Federal government increases the pain we all feel by changing the property tax deduction which lowers our property values and the state increases the taxes on the decreasing value of our property. This in turn makes staying in NJ less viable, which again, lowers our property values. Instead of realizing that we need real structural changes in the state to bring the fiscal house in order, we are led by people that don’t know that eventually you run out of other people’s money.
Trenton NJ , As New Jersey’s state government approaches what seems to be an inevitable shut down, NJGOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt released the following statement:
“As Democrat politicians in Trenton paralyze important government services fighting over what taxes to raise, the people of New Jersey are struggling to understand why their representatives aren’t working out a way to take New Jersey in the other direction and reduce the tax burden. Governor Murphy and the Democrats in Trenton have carried on a completely partisan process that has led us to this point. Governor Murphy calls this a high cost for high return state, but on one of the busiest weekends of the year, New Jerseyans can expect zero return for their highest in the country taxes. The NJGOP will carry this memory, in great detail, into every Election Day until we have reasonable representation minding our tax dollars.”
Following reports regarding a letter from New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal that a state government shutdown would force horse tracks to shut their doors, U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin issued the following statement:
“Governor Murphy and his Attorney General should stop playing politics and using New Jersey’s businesses, employees, and the thousands of people planning to celebrate their holiday weekend as pawns in his misguided effort to hike taxes,” said Hugin. “Instead of doubling down on failed policies that have made New Jersey unaffordable for residents, families, and businesses, Governor Murphy should work with the legislature to provide tax relief and create an environment that allows our businesses to thrive and prosper.”
“Governor Murphy should stop playing politics by threatening New Jersey’s businesses with a government shutdown over his misguided plan to hike taxes on our residents,” said DiMaso. “What he should be doing is working to provide tax relief for hard-working New Jerseyans and focusing on policies that allow our businesses to thrive.”
Washington DC, Yesterday was a major victory for free speech, according to AFP ,”Today is a game-changer for New Jersey and the trajectory of the country,” Americans for Prosperity [Foundation]’s Garden State director, Erica Jedynak said yesterday in a statement. “A victory for worker freedom, public employees will no longer be forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment or fund political speech against their will.”
Jim Arakelian , “So the Supreme Court ruled today that labor unions can no longer “require” members to pay dues. I wonder how far this will go. Will other professional associations also have to follow suit? Stand by on this. One thing is for sure. The State’s PBA and NJEA will lose a significant amount of political clout with this as PAC’s will now be completely voluntary and teachers, cops, and fireman, will be free to truly exercise their right to support the candidates of their choice as opposed to their unions favorite “prom date”.
Public employees can learn about their newfound rights by visiting: or calling (833) 33-MYPAY, which is a LIVE Call Center.
Who does Mena know in RW? Why is this even being posted here? Just to get sympathy? Money? What?
Reader responds , “Ummm, probably because the RW Blog covers local, STATE, and national news? Up there at the top in the header right under the giant title “The Ridgewood Blog”. Also, because it’s a human-interest story, one in line with the laissez-fairs perspective, which is also in big letters up top? Maybe TRWB is just damn good at finding and sharing interesting current events. Also, why does someone have to have an ulterior motive for wanting to conduct themselves peacefully on their own property? If you’re cool with the government coming down on you and your family and your neighbors arbitrarily, then move along. What’s your ulterior motive for presupposing an ulterior motive?
Trenton NJ, taxes are getting so outrageous in New Jersey even some Democrats are getting nervous . State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1) said he opposes a seasonal rental tax.
“This is something that I thought a lot of us had made clear, that there is an out-migration of people from New Jersey and we have to be really careful on what we do, and we really have to be careful about adding on more and more taxes and fees. New Jerseyans have been taxed, tolled and charged to death.”
The fact is there are plenty of Beaches in Driving distance that are not in New Jersey
Trenton NJ, This morning Governor Phil Murphy proclaimed that he can solve the budget stalemate in 30 minutes, and stated that “if folks have a reasonable, credible response,” he would be willing to “entertain” a different approach. NJGOP Chairman Steinhardt accepted the Governor’s challenge and offered a Republican alternative to raising taxes and fees.
“The GOP can offer Phil Murphy a credible solution in a lot less than 30 minutes. It starts with living within our means,” said Chairman Steinhardt. “Put taxpayers’ interests ahead of political patrons’ and special interests. Cap state spending at 2%, like the state does at the local level. Agree not to insert a new spending provision without eliminating an existing one in order to tow the budget line, and freeze new tax increases. Finally, we can save $2 billion off the bat by addressing the state’s pension crisis. We can even take these reforms right from Governor Murphy’s own, 2005 report! There are reasonable alternatives to the Governor’s tax and spend mentality, all he has to do is have the courage to reach across the aisle to find them.”
Trenton NJ, Assembly sponsors of Right to Work legislation praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today that government workers cannot be required to pay union fees as a condition of working in public service.
“This decision restores free speech and freedom of association to every public school teacher and government worker across New Jersey,” said Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth). “For far too long, unions have propped themselves up with money skimmed out of paychecks despite the workers’ objections.”
Handlin’s legislation (A183) would make New Jersey the twenty-ninth Right to Work state by allowing workers to decide whether to join a union. Assemblyman Robert Auth also sponsors the legislation.
After the top court’s decision, New Jersey’s 475,000 state and local public workers could opt out of their unions – taking money and political clout with them.
“This is a victory for rank-and-file teachers,” said Auth (R-Bergen). “Big unions have concentrated on procuring power and excessively paying its leadership while neglecting teachers in the classrooms. The NJEA’s executive director was paid $1.2 million thanks to dues as high as eleven-hundred dollars imposed on full-time teachers.”
Auth pointed to a Star-Ledger investigation that found the NJEA gave its top leadership a 42 percent pay raise in 2016. On average, the fourteen officers identified as NJEA leaders earned more than $530,000 — up from $379,000 the year before.
New Jersey is one of just 22 states where public employees can be forced to join and pay dues to a public union.
MOUNTAINSIDE NJ The Hugin for Senate campaign continued a statewide tour of roundtable events to discuss the affordability crisis gripping New Jersey and the impact of the proposed state budgets in Red Bank this morning.
Speaking to local business owners, Hugin discussed taxes, burdensome regulations, and healthcare with the group. John Dwyer, who represents the Hazlet Business Owners Association that includes more than 150 local businesses, kicked off the discussion on the impact of tax hikes on employees and employers.
“More taxes aren’t the solution, they’re only going to make things worse,” said Dwyer. “My employees are hard working folks that know how to hustle, but elected officials needs to wake up and realize they are hurting employees and employers with their pie in the sky efforts.”
“What government doesn’t understand is that we have to look at everything. Healthcare, for example, for employers is out of sight. If we can figure out that issue, it would probably solve most of the problems we as business owners have,” said Rena Levine Levy, co-owner of WindMill Restaurants, a chain that started in 1963 in Long Branch.
“Making New Jersey more affordable means seeking ways to support small businesses and encourage job creation. The fight in Trenton—over which taxes to increase—isn’t addressing the problem: the state is becoming an increasingly unaffordable place to live and operate a business,” said U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin.
Hugin’s affordability tour will continue tomorrow in Toms River where he will be meeting with young professionals and later in the day in Bayville where he will be meeting with seniors.
Bob Hugin, a Marine Corps Veteran and business leader who has created thousands of New Jersey jobs, is running for U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. For more information visit bobhugin.com.
Paterson NJ, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald announce that Jose Muniz, 21, of Paterson, Jose Taverez, 21, of Bronx, New York, Manuel Rivera, 18, of Bronx, New York, Danel Fernandez, 21, of Bronx, New York, Joniki Martinez, 24, of Freeport, New York, and Santiago Rodriguez, 24, of Bronx, New York were arrested June 24th in Paterson, for the homicide of a Bronx teen.
According to authorities, Muniz, Taverez, Rivera, Fernandez, Martinez, and Rodriguez are scheduled for an extradition hearing before the Honorable Ernest M. Caposela, A.J.S.C. on June 26th at 1:30, p.m.
Officials say Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, 15, was dragged out of the Cruz and Chiky Grocery store – located on E. 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx – at about 11:40 p.m. on Wednesday and was brutally killed.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or [email protected]
Let me try to put this year’s state budget insanity into perspective. Last year the Democrat Legislature shutdown the government because they were fighting over a $34.7 billion dollar spending plan, and this year they are fighting with Democrat Governor Phil Murphy over two spending plans: their plan to spend $36.5 billion and Murphy’s plan of $37.4 billion. Except this time it is over which taxes to hike to fund their irresponsible spending increase.
New Jersey’s Democrats can’t even agree on how much to increase spending and how much to raise taxes; meanwhile the state careens ever faster toward financial disaster. New Jersey has had more people move-out the past six years than any other state in the nation because housing costs and taxes are sky-high, which makes me ponder when New Jersey Democrats will stop the insanity.
“I live in Andover township and I’m trying to keep my emotional support chickens. The town ordinance says that in order to have poultry you need 6 acres. We are not raising our chickens for a food source we are raising them for support animals. I have a doctor’s note saying that I need them for my PTSD they help to calm me and give me purpose but the town is telling me that there is nothing they can do to help me. The town is aware that other towns people have chickens but will not be violating any of them. My question is how is that fair especially when I need them for mental health reasons??
Rivervale NJ, Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi had this report on the states budget negotiations, ” Fascinating conference call. I joined in the Democratic State Committee conference call with Governor Murphy 1-609-246-3298 to talk about the budget. There is a proposed spending increase of several billion dollars, tax increases on everything from Uber rides, Air BnB, gas tax increases, corporate business taxes, hospital taxes, sales tax, vape tax, internet sales tax, sports betting taxes, firearm taxes, among others but that isn’t enough. The Governor’s spending proposal is so high that even with all these tax increases there is a potential $1 BILLION deficit, with only partial school funding, partial pension payments and no reforms whatsoever. Instead there is the push to further increase the sales tax, the small business tax, the corporate business tax and a millionaire’s tax.
During this call Governor Murphy’s talking points are as follows:
1. Fiscal year ends Saturday and the Democrats are meeting but NJ needs sustainable long term revenues in place — aka permanent additional tax increases beyond those mentioned above.
2. NJ needs to stop kicking the can down the road — NJ must must move beyond that. We need to break the back of that culture.
We need to ensure “hand outs” are available. They deserve it.
I agree with the Governor that NJ needs to stop kicking the can down the road. We must make cuts. We need to reform our pension system. We must change our school funding formula. We must change our healthcare system.
3. Property Taxes – the Governor said property taxes are so high because of our public educational system and that additional taxes would help with this burden.
Unfortunately this statement is just not true. Even if our current funding formula was fully funded the average suburban community still receives virtually no funding. By way of example, River Vale currently receives $455 per student per year in school funding. In the event the school funding formula was fully funded River Vale would receive a maximum of less than $1,000 per student per year in school funding. All 70 of the Bergen County school districts combined would still receive less than Jersey City. Bergen County currently contributes more than 30 percent of the total taxes paid and receives less than 3 percent of those monies back. Under the new tax proposals we may send down more than 35-40 percent and receive back even less.
Don’t believe the hype. We need to stop being a piggy bank.
