O’Scanlon and DiMaso: Murphy’s repeal of Shore Rental Tax is “Too little, too late”

Aseemblywoman Serena DiMaso and Senator Declan O’Scanlon

With three weeks left in the summer tourist season Governor Phil Murphy finally signed legislation repealing the tax and surcharge of Jersey Shore short term summer rentals.

Monmouth County legislators Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso say Murphy’s action today is “too little, too late.”

“The Governor made the right call in repealing this short-term rental tax–and we acknowledge that–however it comes way too late,” said O’Scanlon. “We are in August at this point, summer is nearly over and most of the damage of this ill-conceived aspect of this tax has been done. The Governor and his policy folks need to recognize when something is emergent and do their homework up front, so they’re ready to take action the minute such bills land on his desk. This was a total failure of administrative planning and it likely, needlessly, cost the New Jersey economy millions of dollars.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Senator O’Scanlon discusses the storm and JCP&L’s response

By Senator Declan O’Scanlon

Senator Declan O’Scanlon

For those who didn’t lose power, or see the fury of Monday night’s storm, be thankful. Your lives went on like a normal summer day with a thunderstorm in the background.  For those who were in the micro-bursts…it was the scariest thing many have seen since Sandy..and more than many of us have ever seen. It lasted 20 minutes through the area…but left more immediate wind devastation than Sandy. Sandy spent hours piling water into our Bayshore and bays and oceanfront. This unnamed…moment…tore down trees and utility poles and the wires near, or attached to, them. And it was block-by-block, neighborhood by neighborhood.  Which made it even harder on those without power. Many neighbors had no inconvenience at all.  I can say now, it was a miracle no one was seriously injured or killed.  For those that didn’t see it, trust me, this isn’t hyperbole.

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O’Scanlon Calls For Judge Troiano’s Resignation

Senator Declan O’Scanlon

Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) is calling for the resignation of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James Troiano, who recently ruled that a 16-year-old rape survivor was not truly raped since she was not held at gunpoint. Judge Troiano also reportedly urged the survivor to consider that her attacker came from a “good family” before “ruining his life” with assault charges.

“Judge Troiano’s comments are truly abhorrent and clearly highlight the fact that he needs to be removed immediately by the Supreme Court,” O’Scanlon said. “We simply cannot stand by and allow a sitting judge to tell a 16-year-old sexual assault survivor that she doesn’t deserve justice because her attacker might get into a ‘good college.’” Read the rest of this entry »

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Senate Expected To Pass Bill Protecting Sandy Victims From Foreclosure Today

The New Jersey Senate is expected to pass a bill to extend mortgage forbearance for victims of Superstorm Sandy today, Senator Declan O’Scanlon told MMM this morning.   The current law that protects homeowners who continue to deal the the effects of the devastating October 2012 storm expires on July 1, as reported by the Asbury Park Press.

APP reports that hundreds of homeowners have been contacted by their banks seeking payments starting in July.

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Brandt looking to enter Dem 2020 POTUS race

With word leaking out that Rick Brandt has been banned from Markham Place School, even though he wasn’t when MMM screwed up and inferred that he was earlier this week, the 30 year old printing and packaging salesmen is coming to grips with the fact that he is not going to win the Republican nomination for Little Silver Mayor.  MMM has learned that Brandt is now considering becoming the 24th person to enter the race for 2020 Democrat nomination for President of the United States.

When informed that the U.S. Constitution requires that Presidents be 35 years of age, Brandt smiled, put two thumbs up and filed his paperwork anyway.

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O’Scanlon Clarifies His Position On Legalized Marijuana

By Senator Declan O’Scanlon

In the ill-fated recent rush to pass legislation that would legalize, tax, and regulate recreational adult use of marijuana, my position on the legislation, and the issue, has been misunderstood and mischaracterized by some New Jersey media outlets.

With regard to the bill package that Senate President Sweeney removed from the Senate calendar on March 25, I was a hard ‘NO’ vote. It has been reported that I was willing to trade my vote for funding for projects or causes specific to my Monmouth County district. It has also been reported that I was a “soft ‘yes’” vote.  Those reports are fake news that were published by outlets that either did not speak with me or misunderstood/mischaracterized what I told them.

I want to firmly destroy and denounce these false, offensive assertions. Those that know me know I’m not for sale – not for personal gain and not for political-favor-purchasing bacon brought back to my district. Not once have I, and never will I, make such trade-offs. The only way to earn my vote is to give me good policy. Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon blasts Murphy for not budgeting for minimum wage increase

Senator Declan O’Scanlon

Governor Phil Murphy and his team apparently failed to account for the impact on the minimum wage increase he signed into law earlier this year will have on his own State Budget.   Senator Declan O’Scanlon called this omission a “shocking failure.”

“Just a month ago the Governor patted himself on the back as he signed the minimum wage increase bill. During today’s Senate Budget hearing, we learned that incredibly, while he was preparing this budget, the Governor failed to provide the very funding necessary to meet the increased spending obligations triggered by his new minimum wage policy,” O’Scanlon said.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Pot Legalizaton Passes in Senate and Assembly Committees

After hours of delays for last minute amendments which caused the suspension of testimony and debate  a legislation that legalizes and establishes a regulatory structure of recreation marijuana passed the Assembly Appropriates Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday night, according to reports on Politico, InsiderNJ and NJGlobe.

Legislation to expunge marijuana convictions, including felony convictions for selling over 5 lbs of pot, passed the committees.  The felony expungement provisions prompted a strong reaction from Republican Senators Kip Bateman (Somerset), Michael Doherty (Warren) and Gerald Cardinale (Bergen).  Bateman said the bill contained “evil.”  Doherty said that the bill is a “deal with the devil.”  Cardinale suggested calling the bill, “the Drug Pusher’s Friend Act.” 

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Middletown Mayor: If Pot Is Legalized, It Should Be Regulated Like Alcohol

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry says that if recreational marijuana is to become legal in New Jersey, that its retail sale of should be regulated like alcohol is regulated…with municipalities selling licenses and conducting background checks on the sellers.

The legislation currently under consideration in Trenton, and reportedly agreed upon by Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin amounts to an unfunded burden upon local governments, Perry said in a letter to Buena Vista Mayor Chuck Chiarello, President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, with copies sent to the 13th District legislators; Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywomen Amy Handlin and Serena DiMaso, as well as Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Freeholder Director Tom Arnone.

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DiMaso’s bill would crackdown on illegal massage parlors, thwart human trafficking

New Look Spa in Hazlet was busted in March of 2018

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Serena DiMaso (R-Monmouth) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) strengthens the regulation of massage and bodywork establishment in order to combat prostitution and human trafficking was approved by the Assembly Homeland Security Committee today.

“The massage industry is a hotbed of human trafficking,” said DiMaso. “This bill reins in an out-of-control industry. Changing the rules will protect trafficking victims. We will shut down facilities profiting from illegal activities.”

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