Christie on the defense as his gas and sales tax plan faces failure

TRENTON — Facing the possibility that a proposed gas-tax-increase-for-sales-tax-decrease proposal he brokered with the Assembly could go up in flames, Gov. Chris Christie made his case for the deal Wednesday. The governor called a surprise Statehouse news conference hours after Senate Democrats said they opposed the plan, which would raise gas tax by 23 cents to… Read the rest of this entry »

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In early morning vote, N.J. lawmakers OK sales tax cut, gas tax hike to fix roads

TRENTON — The state Assembly hastily approved a plan after midnight Tuesday to cut the sales tax by a penny in exchange for raising the gas tax by 23 cents a gallon to rescue the near-broke… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie’s off to Wall with education fairness plan

photo via Governor’s office

By Art Gallagher

Governor Chris Christie is back on the Town Hall circuit…now he is calling them forums…as he meets New Jersey voters on Tuesday in Wall Township to promote the school funding formula that he announced last week.

The “Fairness Formula Forum” will take place in the Wall branch of the Monmouth County Library, 2700 Allaire Rd., Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.  The doors open at 2:15 p.m and seating his first come first served.  RSVPs are encouraged for planning purposes to  FairnessForum.Wall@NJ.Gov.

Christie is saying that he wants a referendum in 2017 to amend the State Constitution so that State education funding is distributed equally to all school age children throughout the New Jersey.  He says that the State would contribute $6,500 per student.  Currently roughly 75% of State funding goes to 31 school districts, formerly referred to Abbott districts for the landmark Abbott vs Burke NJ Supreme Court decision that mandated that the State subsidize poor and urban districts.

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N.J. to businesses: You’ll have to wait longer for your reward for creating jobs

TRENTON — The state Senate will vote Monday to put off paying overdue awards to businesses that created jobs in New Jersey as part of the governor’s plan to balance the budget for the coming year. Tax collections missed their mark this spring, and Gov. Chris Christie’s administration announced it would delay the bulk of the… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. lawmakers move forward on $38.4B state budget

TRENTON — Senate and Assembly budget committees approved a $34.8 billion Democratic state budget plan for the coming fiscal year that tacks on about $275 million in spending to governor’s plan. With focus on a tax plan to rescue the Transportation Trust Fund, budget talks have been more bridled than in years past. Senate Budget and… Read the rest of this entry »

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5 tips to protect you from Orlando charity scammers

TRENTON — With sympathy running high for victims of the Orlando night club massacre and their families, acting Attorney General Robert Lougy warned the public to investigate before making charitable donations. Tragedies often bring out scam artists who may use high-pressure tactics or mislead by claiming to create a fund with a similar-sounding name of reputable… Read the rest of this entry »

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No Proof $1+ Billion Gas Tax Increase Is Necessary

By Senator Mike Doherty (R-23)

With a $1.3 billion gas tax increase proposed by some in the Legislature, it’s more important than ever to understand New Jersey’s transportation spending.

More than a year ago, I called for the state to create a “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force” to conduct a methodical analysis of the factors that contribute to New Jersey’s road costs, compare our costs to those of other states, and provide recommendations to complete projects more cost-effectively.

While many would consider this legislation to be a matter of common sense, it has failed to advance in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

I initially introduced S-1888 in response to a study by the Reason Foundation that found Garden State roads to be the nation’s most expensive to build, operate and maintain.

According to that report, New Jersey’s state-administered highways cost taxpayers $2 million per mile, which the Reason Foundation claims to be 12 times the national average, three times the cost in the next highest state and four times the cost in New York.

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O’Scanlon’s Pension Fix Has A Safety Valve

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) outlines his plan to shore up New Jersey’s grossly underfunded public-employee pension system during a news conference held in the State House yesterday. Democratic leaders want the voters to decide this fall whether the state should make a series of hefty contributions to the underfunded public-employee pension system. But Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon… Read the rest of this entry »

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Rabid raccoon in Old Bridge is 5th infected with virus in Middlesex this year

OLD BRIDGE — A raccoon found in a township resident’s yard May 28 has tested positive for the rabies virus, according to the Middlesex County Office of Health Services. It is the second rabid raccoon in Old Bridge in 2016 and the fifth in Middlesex County, Lester Jones, the county health officer, said. The raccoon was… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. Democrats begin final push on controversial pension maneuver

TRENTON — State lawmakers are initiating a final push Monday to get a constitutional amendment mandating contributions to New Jersey’s public pension system on the ballot in November. The state Legislature approved the ballot question last year and must pass it again this year with a simple majority in order to qualify for the fall election.… Read the rest of this entry »

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