Tag: State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force

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NJ Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean “Rather than work for headlines, Senate Democrats should start working for New Jersey.”

Sweeney & Prieto

Kean Urges NJ Senate Democrats to Spend Less Time Criticizing Washington & More Time Working to Fix New Jersey

February 19,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean called on New Jersey Senate Democrats to spend less time criticizing Washington and more time working to fix problems here in New Jersey:

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean called on Senate Democrats to stop working for headlines and start working for New Jersey. (SenateNJ.com)

“With Senate Democrats so focused on federal affairs in Washington, they’ve ignored work on reforms they have the power to advance in Trenton that could have a real impact on the lives of every New Jerseyan.

“They’ve planned votes to express opposition, but they haven’t planned any votes on cutting property taxes, nor have they planned votes on creating opportunities for students and job seekers, or on ethics reforms that would help to rebuild trust in our government institutions.

“Rather than work for headlines, Senate Democrats should start working for New Jersey.”

Senate Democrats blocked efforts by Senate Republicans to bring the following three bills up for a vote that would address New Jersey’s crisis of affordability and help to rebuild residents’ trust in government.

S-1557 (Beck) – Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office.
S-1888 (Doherty) – Establishes State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force.
S-2554 (Kyrillos) – Sets level for health care benefits; requires employee contributions; prohibits reimbursement of Medicare Part B; adds member to SHBP/SEHBP plan design committees; requires retirees to purchase health care through exchanges.

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Doherty Votes ‘NO’ on Gas Tax

Senator Mike Doherty

Calls for Passage of His Legislation to Study & Control Excessive Road Costs
October 8,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) voted ‘NO’ on increasing the state gas tax by 23 cents per gallon, saying the state hasn’t done enough to control excessive costs related to road construction:

Sen. Mike Doherty at a roadside rally in Bridgewater on June 22, 2016 opposing a gas tax increase with Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Erik Peterson, Americans for Prosperity-New Jersey, and concerned residents. (SenateNJ.com)

“My office has fielded thousands of calls from constituents who oppose this gas tax increase, and my vote ‘NO’ today was for them.

“Many callers have said that the state doesn’t use the gas taxes it already collects wisely, and it doesn’t deserve a penny more, let alone 23 cents per gallon more. I agree completely.

“If they’re going to force this tax increase upon unwilling drivers, the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker should agree to advance and enact my legislation to get excessive transportation costs under control. That this cost-control bill continues to be blocked is unconscionable.”

Doherty is the sponsor of S-1888, which would create the “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force,” to examine state transportation spending and offer recommendations for reducing New Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation road construction costs.

More than 25,000 people signed an online petition run by Doherty and Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) in opposition to the gas tax increase.