LD 13 Senate Race Has Gone to the Dogs

The race between Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Democrat Sean Byrnes, a former one term Middletown Township Committeeman, to succeed Senator Joe Kyillos, has gone to the dogs. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon releases detailed plan to cap property tax hikes and save cops and firefighters jobs

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

TRENTON, N.J. – A month after releasing his report of the Arbitration Award Task Force that recommends permanently extending the cap, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) proposed a comprehensive plan to ensure the policies continue to keep property taxes from rapidly increasing.  He released the following statement:

“If we’re going to be honest, as effective policy makers it’s incumbent upon us to do the hard work, master the facts and policy nuances before us, and present cogent proposals to the public and the legislature. This list of policy proposals is me doing my job.

 “The inescapable logic of permanently tying the arbitration award cap to the property tax cap isn’t hard to grasp.  It is fourth-grade math.  Any candidate or legislator who claims he needs ‘more information’ or that ‘all the facts aren’t in’ is feigning, in most cases, stupidity to avoid responsibility. Parents try to teach their children to reject such self-demoralizing choices. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon releases Arbitration Task Force report recommending permanent award cap

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon released today the report of the Arbitration Award Task Force as recommended by four of the eight members. The report outlines the success of the arbitration award cap in enabling municipal officials to maintain budgets within the 2 percent property-tax cap and curb property-tax increases to historically low levels, and recommends making the cap on arbitration awards permanent before the policy is scheduled to sunset on Dec. 31.

“The data contained in this report is beyond clear and convincing; it is overwhelming,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “It would be irresponsible for the Legislature not to take action. In fact, any legislator that fails to advocate for continuation of the arbitration award cap will be, by extension, advocating for the obliteration of the property tax cap and higher property taxes. There is no middle ground here. Mark my words; if the cap isn’t permanently extended taxpayers will unquestionably face much more dramatic property tax increases and cuts to municipal services.”

During a vote Monday to release the report, the task force was deadlocked 4-4. Union representatives blocked the report’s endorsement. O’Scanlon, who voted to release the report, is the only legislator appointed by the governor to sit on the task force. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon calls for arbitration cap’s extension to control property taxes

TRENTON, N.J. – Calling the arbitration award cap one of the most important reforms implemented to control property taxes, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon said today that if the cap isn’t permanently extended taxpayers will face tax increases, draconian cuts to municipal services or both. O’Scanlon was a prime sponsor of the original cap law and vocal advocate of the extension. He was the only legislator appointed by the governor to sit on the Interest Arbitration Task Force.

“There’s no question that the cap has been successful and is an essential tool for municipalities to keep expenses and property taxes contained,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “Every report we’ve done to date has been absolutely consistent and shows the arbitration and tax cap are working together as intended. You can’t keep the tax cap in place without the arbitration cap. You would create a mathematically untenable situation. And it isn’t just police and fire salary costs that are affected, there is a ripple effect throughout all salary expenses.” Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon: Gopal lacks credibility on property taxes

By Declan O’Scanlon

Vin Gopal and the Easter Bunny photo via @gopalforsenate

Democratic state Senate candidate Vin Gopal, in his Aug. 20 oped “Consolidate small towns,” extolled the virtues of municipal consolidation as if he were presenting a new, fresh approach to the concept. An honest reading of his own words destroys both his credibility on the property tax issue, and his paralyzing duplicity as a candidate.

Let’s concede up front that in order to solve our high property tax problem we will need consolidation and sharing of services. But that’s a very small piece of the essential reform pie.

Gopal, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican state Sen. Jennifer Beck in the 11th District, tries to suggest that because those of us — like Beck and me — fighting the fight to reduce property taxes haven’t yet declared victory, he might be able to do a better job. But in his own words he actually says he would make things worse — actually make it harder to consolidate or enact reforms that will reduce property taxes. Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth Dem Candidates Speak At Anti-Cop, Anti-Christian Hate Group Meeting

Photo of police officers altered to depict them as nazis. click for clearer view

The Democrat candidate for Senate in LD 13, one of his Assembly running mates, the Monmouth Dem Freeholders candidates, and a Democrat candidate for Middletown Township Committee were the honored guests of a group that depicts police officers as nazis and Mother Theresa as a sadistic religious fanatic.   The group, District 4 Coalition for Change, has also posted a nude photo of First Lady Melania Trump on its facebook page.

Sean Byrnes, the former Middletown Township Committeeman running for Senate in LD 13, Mariel DiDato, the 25 year old Hazlet resident running for Assembly in LD 13, Lake Como Mayor Brian Wilton and his freeholder running mate Dr. Margie Donlon, and Tricia Maguire, a candidate for Middletown Township Committee were all invited to speak at the event which was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Lincroft.   The 80 people attending were asked to donate to the candidates’ campaigns.

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O’Scanlon’s Bill Modernizing Emergency Medical Services Becomes Law

Governor Chris Christie on Friday signed a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon that brings New Jersey’s Emergency Medical Services into the 21st century by requiring the use of technology for data collection by first responders to deliver the best emergency medical care possible.

“For too long, the emergency medical services system in New Jersey has existed without an overarching mandate to collect the kind of information that is needed in today’s rapidly evolving health care and emergency environments. When calls come into 911 and lives are on the line, we now have the opportunity to collect and assess valuable information that will continually improve the quality of EMS,” said O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “This bill puts the patient first, ensuring the best possible care leads to better post-emergency outcomes.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Ever wear a badge in Jersey? You may now be allowed to carry a gun here.

O’Scanlon slams Codey’s “ignorant” opposition to retired LEOs carrying guns

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has signed into law a bill that will allow virtually anyone who ever wore a badge in New Jersey to carry a firearm after they retire. The new bill, signed Thursday, substantially adds to the list of those who can carry firearms in New Jersey to virtually all former uniformed law… Read the rest of this entry »

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Guadagno offers shutdown compromise

Lt Governor Kim Guadagno. Photo credit: Tim Larsen/Governor’s office

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno today called on Governor Chris Christie, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney to set aside the Horizon bill that is causing the deadlock in Trenton and instead take up a bill sponsored by Assembly Members Declan O’Scanlon and Nancy Muñoz that freezes existing government employee unused sick time payouts at the amounts already accumulated while eliminatinating the practice of lump sum payouts for unused sick time for new employees.

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Hazlet Boy Scout’s Eagle Project Saves RAINE Foundation $4K Per Year

Kyle Mulvey

A Hazlet teenager’s leadership and commitment to his community will have a lasting impact on the RAINE Foundation, the all volunteer local charity that delivers thousands of toys to hundreds of Bayshore families at Christmas and supports families in crisis everyday.

Kyle Mulvey, a Raritan High School junior and a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 66 of the Twin Lights District of the Monmouth County Council, Boy Scouts of America led 80 volunteers….fellow scouts and members of the Raritan wrestling and football teams..in building a new operations center for RAINE. The project, which is part of Mulvey becoming an Eagle Scout, consisted of acquiring a storage trailer, securing a location and rigging it with shelving and solar powered lighting.  RAINE will use the facility to store the supplies it uses to help families in need.

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