Christie says Sweeney and Prieto have not shared their gas tax plan with him

MMM file photo

Brian T. Murray, Governor Chris Christie’s spokesman, told MMM in an email that Christie has not seen the Transportation Trust Fund legislation that Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced today.

New Jersey’s infrastructure construction projects have been shut down since July 8 when the TFF was down to a $10 million balance which being held for emergency projects.

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Beck Opposes Sweeney/Prieto Gas Tax Plan

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), the leading opponent of a gas tax increase in the legislature, announced her opposition to the compromise legislation out forth by Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.  Beck says the Sweeney/Prieto plan is just as bad for taxpayers as the Senate plan that failed last month.

“The tax plan announced by Democrats today would still raise the gas tax by 23 cents per gallon, just as the last failed plan would have,” said Beck. “The cosmetic changes that the Senate President and Assembly Speaker have agreed to are just window dressing on the core $1.2 billion tax increase on drivers that remains largely unchanged from the previous version of the legislation.”

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Kyrillos, Beck On Opposite Side Of Gas Tax Debate

Senator Joe Kyrillos yesterday endorsed a $.23 per gallon increase in the New Jersey’s tax on gasoline in order to fund the Transportation Trust Fund for the next 10 years.  Proponents of the tax increase say the fund will only have money for debt service starting at the end of this month, if the state tax on gasoline remains at its current level of $.14 per gallon.

“In total, it is a productivity, prosperity and quality of life package for New Jersey, and very, very significant,” Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) said at a Statehouse news conference, according to NJ.com.

The gas tax increase legislation also reduces the estate tax and taxes on retirement income.

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Sen. Beck Backs New Plan to Triple Estate-Tax Threshold to $2.5 Million

A key Republican lawmaker has broken ranks with Gov. Chris Christie on repealing New Jersey’s estate tax, offering a compromise proposal that would keep the tax in place but significantly reduce how many people are hit by it. The new idea being floated by Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) comes… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie Says He Will Finish His Term And Enter The Private Sector

Senator Jennifer Beck says she’s pleased with the Governor’s Committment

file photo. Governor Chris Christie and Sen Jennifer Beck , along with Congressman Chris Smith and former Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande at the Ocean Grove boardwalk ribbon cutting in July, 2014

During a lengthy press conference wherein he answered all of the questions of reporters present, Governor Chris Christie said that he will serve the remainder of his term as governor and enter the private sector.  “There is nothing that can change that,” Christie said, ruling out a position in the next presidential administration.

“In between now and then, I will be working as hard as I can doing things right for the people of the State, the same way I have for the last six years,” said the governor.

Christie said that he is not a full time participant in the Trump for President campaign and that his travel out of state for Trump will be occasional.

The Governor’s statements satisfied Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) who yesterday called for Christie to recommit to his job or to resign.

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Sen Jen Beck: Christie should lead or quit

photo via facebook

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Red Bank) told the Asbury Park Press Editorial Board today that Governor Chris Christie needs to choose between campaigning actively for Donald Trump or leading the State of New Jersey.

“If he is going to go on the campaign trail with Donald Trump, he cannot continue to serve as our governor,” she said in an editorial board meeting Wednesday with the Asbury Park Press. “The governorship of the state of New Jersey is more than a full-time job.”

Beck noted the success Christie had during his first term while he was engaged and leading the the way in Trenton. “I think he can lead if he is here,” she said.

Assemblywomen Amy Handlin echoed Beck’s sentitment, according to APP.

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Sen Jennifer Beck calls for Tax Administrator’s Suspension

Senator Jennifer Beck

Senator Jennifer Beck today called for Monmouth County Tax Board Administrator Matthew Clark to step down or being suspended, pending the outcome of a reported Monmouth County Prosecutor’s investigation to his relationships with vendors of the the controversial Assessment Demonstration Program that creates new assessments of Monmouth County properties for property tax purposes annually.

“In light of the fact the Prosecutor has an active and ongoing investigation into the Tax Administrator, steps must be taken to suspend him from his day-to-day duties until the Prosecutor’s investigation is complete,” Beck said in a statement issued to the media.  “At present, our taxpayers have lost confidence in the Administrator and until he is either vindicated or indicted, Matthew Clark should step aside.”

The Asbury Park Press reported last week that grand jury subpoenas were served on at least three county towns as well as the Monmouth County government in connection with a criminal investigation to the program.

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Gopal vs Beck in 2017?

From PolitickerNJ:

Vin Gopal

Long hailed as one of the most talented up and comers in New Jersey politics, the Monmouth County Democratic Chairman from Long Branch appears poised to run against state Senator Jen Beck (D-11) in 2017. Beck will be a very tough out, but Gopal is a unique politician now emboldened by the loses last night of Beck’s running mates Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande.

That would be a fun race to cover!

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Casa Freehold Director: There is no influx of Central American Youth in Freehold

Rita Dentino, Executive Director of Casa Freehold

Rita Dentino, Executive Director of Casa Freehold said her comments reported in the Sentinel and other Greater Media newspapers regarding a steady stream of unaccompanied Central American Youth arriving in Freehold Borough were not reported accurately.  MMM relied on those reports earlier this week when reporting on the situation and  State Senator Jennifer Beck’s response.

During an interview in her Freehold office, Dentino said that to her knowledge there has been only one refugee child, a 16 year old boy, that has arrived in Freehold from Central America since the first of the year and that there is no parade of children arriving at a rate of one per day.  The Sentinel reported that Dentino said there were 5-10 young refugees in the Borough and that more were arriving daily.  Denton told MMM that the 5-10 figure represents all young Central American youth that have come to Freehold over the last 11 years that she has worked at Casa Freehold, not a recent influx due to the situation on the United States’ southern border.

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Unaccompanied Central American Children Showing Up In Freehold

Read this update: CASA FREEHOLD DIRECTOR: There is no influx on Central American Youth in Freehold

Senator Jennifer Beck working with federal officials and Governor to handle the crisis

Between 5 and 10 Central American children, ages 11-16, who have crossed our borders without adults have found their way to Freehold Borough, according to a statement by Rita Dentino, Director of Casa Freehold, an immigrants rights organization that helps newly arrived immigrants integrate into the community.

Dentino said that more children are arriving everyday, according to a report in the Sentinal.

State Senator Jennifer Beck issued a statement today saying she is working with federal and state officials to secure funding to deal with the situation and to evaluate New Jersey’s legal options and obligations.

“This is an issue with far ranging implications that is being experienced all across the country. I am working closely with federal representatives and the Governor’s Office to fully understand our legal options and obligations. I am hopeful that money will come from the federal government as part of an overall response to this issue. There are real humanitarian, fiscal and capacity concerns so all decisions must be fully vetted. I will continue to communicate openly with local officials to keep all appraised of our progress.”

Published reports indicate that over 1,500 Central American children have arrived in New Jersey.  The federal government operates only one 10 bed facility in the State, and none of the children are housed there.

Dentino told the Sentinal that she would be contacting DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) to begin the process of finding the children guardians.

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