O’Scanlon: Minimum Wage Increase Has Created Budget Challenge. What to Watch For In Proposed Budget

Direct Support Professionals Asking for $16.5 Million to Cover Minimum Wage Increase

When the Democrats in Trenton passed legislation in 2019 to increase the state minimum wage incrementally until it reaches $15 per hour in 2024, Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Republicans in both houses warned of the consequences for New Jersey taxpayers, those providing essential services and those that depend on those services.

Two months after the implementation of the second annual increase raising the state hourly minimum from $10 to $11, O’Scanlon’s cautions are being proven. Read the rest of this entry »

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Governor Murphy has a tumor on his kidney

Governor Phil Murphy has a tumor on his left kidney and will have a partial nephrectomy in early March.

The governor announced his condition on twitter:

Friends – I’ve got a tumor on my left kidney and will undergo a partial nephrectomy in early March to remove it. The prognosis is very good and I’m profoundly grateful to my doctors for detecting the tumor early.

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) February 23, 2020

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Richter’s savage ad against Gibbs is a potential preview of Kim’s October ads

By Art Gallagher

The pre-primary for the GOP nomination CD-3 has gotten ugly. Rightfully so.

David Richter, the former international construction executive who is vying for the 3rd district GOP nomination to take on Congressman Andy Kim, released an ad on facebook and youtube this afternoon that highlights his opponents’s arrest record and compares her, Kate Gibbs, to Snooki.  The ad is hard hitting.  Just like Andy Kim’s ads will be in October if Gibbs wins the primary on June 2.

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Bloomberg’s betting odds of winning the nomination plunged after the debate.

Former NY Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s odds of winning the Democrat nomination for president took at big hit after his awful performance during the debate this week, according to sportsbetting.ag

Bloomberg’s odd’s of winning the nomination were 2-1 before the debate.  After the widely panned performance the betting line is 4-1. Read the rest of this entry »

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WILL DUPLICITOUS POLITICIANS HELP TURN NEW JERSEY TURN RED?

By Rose Ann Scotti 

The Trump administration is suing the state to block its rules that limit law enforcement cooperation with ICE and allow criminal aliens to escape into our communities. According to Attorney General William Barr, these policies are textbook examples of misguided ideology triumphing over common sense law enforcement and are created by “idealistic”public officials who have offered “misleading rhetoric” to justify them. I believe the attorney general is being kind when he views these actions as those of “idealistic public officials”.  I believe they are more the work of disingenuous politicians that will do everything to fool citizens into thinking they are working in their best interest, when they are really counting a vote here, and a vote there, as they march toward their next election victory. The Murphy administration’s policies put the interests of illegal aliens above all legal residents. Granting illegal aliens taxpayer funded legal aid and granting them college tuition assistance are two of the most egregious, and a slap in the face to beleaguered New Jersey taxpayers.

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Does Bloomberg want to show Booker the door?

Could Mike Bloomberg possibly be supporting Cory Booker’s opponent in the Democrat primary for U.S. Senate?

Larry Hamm, a civil rights activist from Newark, is challenging Booker in the June 2 primary. Hamm is also leading Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign in New Jersey.  He does not have much nice to say about Bloomberg. Read the rest of this entry »

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Schmid losing support after endorsing Bloomberg

Stephanie Schmid’s tenuous status as the front runner for the Democrat nomination to take on Congressman Chris Smith in the 4th Congressional District of New Jersey appears to be in danger due to her endorsement of Mike Bloomberg for President.

Schmid faced an immediate backlash on facebook after announcing her endorsement on Sunday.

Eric Brophy, the Chairman of the Wall Democrats and a Vice Chairman of the Monmouth Democrats, rescinded his endorsement of Schmid in the comments of her announcement. Read the rest of this entry »

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Live Events Coming to Atlantic Highlands Cinema

Atlantic Cinemas will soon be hosting live events–comedy acts, concerts, puppet shows and the like– in one of its five theaters on 1st Ave in Atlantic Highlands.

Owner Fred Rast has installed a stage in his 240 seat playhouse in order to enhance the entertainment offerings provided to northern Monmouth County residents.

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Scharfenberger: New Jersey needs to learn from history — not tear it down

Statue of Gen. Philip Kearny in U.S. Captitol Hall National Statutory Hall. photo via Architect of the Capitol.

Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-13) is not happy that Democrats in the New Jersey Senate passed legislation this week that could lead to replacing the statute of General Philip Kearny in the U.S. Capitol with a marble or bronze likeness of Alice Paul, a 20th century leader of the women’s suffrage movement which led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Kearny’s monument has been in the Capitol since 1888.  Each state has two statues.  The other New Jersey statute is of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the namesake of Stockton University. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon’s Legislation Protecting Seniors Property Tax Break Advances

Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that would allow senior citizens to continue to enjoy their “senior freeze” benefit if they downsize to a smaller home was advanced by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today.

“The Senior Freeze provides needed property tax relief for older homeowners, including many who are struggling to make ends meet on fixed incomes,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “While the majority of senior citizens live in one- or two-person households, only a small percentage of them reap the savings provided by selling their family home and downsizing.

“This measure will ensure if an eligible homeowner does move to a smaller, more affordable home, it will not jeopardize their reimbursement,” O’Scanlon explained. Read the rest of this entry »

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