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, Senator Declan O’Scanlon said Governor Phil Murphy has wielded immense powers through emergency declarations during the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated why the Legislature must limit executive authority and establish effective oversight.
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Trenton NJ, on the three-month anniversary of the State receiving $6.2 billion in COVID relief funding from the federal government, the four Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee today called on the Murphy Administration to stop the foot-dragging and put the money to work helping residents, as it was intended.
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Trenton NJ, as early as April of this year, Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee proposed using federal American Rescue Plan Act money to stabilize the Unemployment Insurance Fund and avoid massive tax increases on employers in the state.
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Trenton NJ, Chairman Hugin Blasts Twitter Over Suspension of Senator O’Scanlon’s Account , “Today, New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Bob Hugin released the following statement on the heels of Twitter’s decision to suspend Senator Declan O’Scanlon’s Twitter account, after he posted a tweet speaking out against mandatory vaccine passports.”
Continue reading NJ GOP Finally Speaking Out Over Big Tech Censorship
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Trenton NJ, For the second time in less than two weeks, Senator Declan O’Scanlon’s laser-targeted questioning during Senate budget hearings revealed damning insight into the Murphy Administration.
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Trenton NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon called on Governor Murphy to immediately do what he has consistently promised to do: follow CDC guidelines and science and end mask requirements, social distancing and other outdated mandates and restrictions.
photo by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon today called on the Murphy administration to end the confusion and fear that is preventing homeowner associations and residential communities from opening public pools.
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Trenton NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon pointed to the Murphy Administration’s dismal COVID case and hospitalization prediction record and called on the Governor to cease making predictions that prove to be consistently, wildly pessimistic.
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Trenton NJ, Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that would lift obstacles interfering with consolidation plans for school districts was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Continue reading New Bill Would Lift Barriers for School Districts Consolidation
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Ridgewood NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 219, which increases indoor capacity limits from 25 percent to 35 percent for several businesses, including food and beverage establishments and entertainment and recreational businesses, effective Friday, February 5 at 8:00 a.m. The Executive Order also lifts the 10:00 p.m. curfew for in-person indoor restaurant service, however local officials may continue to regulate the hours of operation of indoor restaurant service and indoor operations of other non-essential businesses after 8:00 p.m., as they have been able to since November 12. The prohibition on seating at indoor bar areas remains in effect.
Continue reading Governor Lifts 10:00 p.m. Curfew In Time for Super Bowl
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Ridgewood NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Senator Anthony M. Bucco launched an online petition urging Governor Phil Murphy to lift his 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants for the Super Bowl.
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Trenton NJ, Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (both R-Monmouth) which makes certain information related to public health emergencies accessible under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) was approved by the Assembly Health Committee.
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Trenton NJ, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority acknowledged last week it has removed flags from highway overpasses,The move has upset veterans groups and at least one police union in the days before the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (both R-Monmouth) today condemned the misguided removal of American flags by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) from highway overpasses and moved forward with legislation to unequivocally allow them to be flown.
We have heard that the Governor has intervened and reversed the decision but we can not confirm.
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Trenton NJ, The four Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee offered a path to a balanced State Budget for 2021 that does not rely on the billions of dollars of borrowing and tax increases proposed by Governor Phil Murphy.
The Republican plan was proposed in a letter (click here for PDF) to the majority Senate Democrats from Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho (R-24), Senator Sam Thompson (R-12), Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), and Senator Michael Testa (R-1).
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Trenton NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) today criticized the Murphy administration’s continued blockade of New Jersey’s reopening and cited numerous metrics from surrounding states’ successful reopening.
“That the Governor, with a straight face, can cite a debunked study of an incident that happened over 8,000 miles away involving a restaurant in China with a wheezy, inadequate ventilation system that doesn’t conform to standards used in this country…to justify continuing to kill businesses here in New Jersey is outrageous and demoralizing for anyone trying to hold out hope that there’s any real, scientific focus on our safety and the health of our economy,” said O’Scanlon. “That the Governor, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, continues to suggest that we have to continue to destroy thousands of businesses and jobs and livelihoods is simply unconscionable. What we can see across the board – with the undeniable metrics and results from surrounding states in the Northeast – is that our draconian, timid, most-stringent economy, business-and-job killing restrictions in the region – if not the country – is providing tremendous, needless economic & mental health pain, with zero health benefit.” said O’Scanlon. “New Jersey is months behind other states in reopening indoor dining and gyms–even at a limited capacity–and yet our rate of transmission, deaths & cases is no better than our surrounding states. On virtually every metric we see no benefit to these polices. But the damage is evident. On virtually every economic metric we are underperforming our Northeast neighbors, dramatically on many fronts. If you don’t think these numbers are a big deal, think again. Our taxes and budget decisions will be tortured. Unemployment, mortgage defaults and bankruptcies will impact us all. Our children and grandchildren will be stuck with the bills and consequences. The very survival of New Jersey as we know and love it hangs in the balance.”
Continue reading NJ’s Draconian Restrictions Are Proven Unnecessary, Economically Devastating
