The State Legislature is still toiling in Trenton making sure Governor Phil Murphy’s conditional vetoes match what he agreed to with Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin yesterday, but Murphy has left the Capitol and returned home to Monmouth County where is issued the Oath of Office to Long Branch Mayor John Pallone moments ago.
Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick put his caucus in an untenable position.
By Art Gallagher
Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin announced last night that the had a last minute budget deal to avert a state shutdown and that the legislature would pass the necessary bills this morning starting at 8am.
As of 9:45 a.m. the legislator and many staffers have been in Trenton for three hours, but the bills have yet to be drafted and some of the details…where the devil lives…are still being haggled over, according to a sleep deprived source who called this morning.
Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin came to terms on tax increased in the New Jersey FY2019 Budget today, averting a shutdown of state government.
While the Senate and General Assembly will not vote on the budget legislation before the midnight deadline tonight, Murphy said that he will not close the government. Sweeney and Coughlin announced that their Chambers will be in session at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. Read the rest of this entry »
Governor Phil Muphy’s office announced a press conference for 7:30 pm with Lt Governor Sheila Oliver, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. It is expected that the Democrat leaders of New Jersey’s state government will announce they have made an agreement for the 2019 fiscal year budget.
According to published reports the budget will an income tax increase to 10.75% on individuals and families with over $5 million income and a corporate business tax increase of 2.5% for two years, to phase out over the following two years.
The sales tax will not be increased, according to the reports.
Posted: June 30th, 2018 | Author:Art Gallagher | Filed under:New Jersey | Tags:NJ Budget | Comments Off on Murphy to hold press conference with Sweeney and Coughlin and 7:30 pm. Budget announcement expected
Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik today noted that the State of New Jersey historically shirks its obligations to the “chronically underfunded” pension system while local governments have been meeting their obligations. Hornik’s comment came in a press release touting S&P Global Ratings reaffirming his township’s AAA bond rating.
S&P noted that while the Township continues to make its annually required pension contribution to the State of New Jersey, the State pension system is chronically underfunded. “Local government continues to pay its share, and historically the State has shirked its obligation,” stated the Mayor. “In the context of our review, S&P reiterated its concern regarding the long term health of the State system. I am hopeful that with a new Administration in Trenton, the State will take a more responsible approach to its stewardship of the pension system.”
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, the Republican Assembly Budget Officers responded to Democrats’ suggestion the New Jersey’s declining credit rating is solely the fault of the Christie Administration by suggesting Democratic leadership look in the mirror.
O’Scanlon cited downgrade reports from Moody’s and S&P:
TRENTON — A new study cast doubts on whether New Jersey can withstand another economic downturn. It’s the second such study this year to find that the state, which has lagged behind the rest of the nation in recovering from the Great Recession, is particularly vulnerable and unprepared for yet another. New Jersey is among 10… Read the rest of this entry »
“Women’s Healthcare Options Open, Available and Accessible”
Photo Credit: Dave Lewis, LewisArtandPhoto.com
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) called out his colleague, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D- Newark) for continuing to perpetrate the myth that New Jersey short changes funding for women’s healthcare.
“I count at least seven line items where we put money to women’s healthcare, including $135 million for family health services to provide prenatal and perinatal care for expectant mothers and their children,” said O’Scanlon. “The results of the Republican investment in women’s healthcare speak for themselves. New Jersey is in the top five States with the lowest STD rates in the country. Other states look to New Jersey as a model for STD prevention.” O’Scanlon also pointed out that the Democrats have failed to provide any additional funding for Family Planning Services in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget they passed last June.”
