After seeing salt covering New Jersey roads today, despite the fact that temperature is not supposed to drop below 37 degrees Fahrenheit over the next few days, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said that “enough is enough” and demanded that the State put an end to the practice of unnecessary brining.
“It’s time for someone to challenge Governor Murphy’s assertion that this is a pennies per mile cost: it’s not. There was simply no way that a .17 per mile number was an accurate reflection of the cost to brine our roads when you account for labor, gas, and equipment. After speaking with a few of local officials we were able to confirm that the actual cost in totality is in excess of $12 or $13 per mile locally – and that is for areas that are more conservative with their usage of salt and brine,” O’Scanlon said.
Senator Declan O’Scanlon, (R-Monmouth), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, make the following remarks in response to Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed budget:
Watch O’Scanlon deliver his remarks:
“This budget won’t lift up the middle class. It will leave generations of New Jersey residents with no hope for a prosperous future.
“Even if the Governor’s rosy projections – of both revenue and savings – are accurate, we are still only a fraction of the way out of the hole we’re in.
“We can’t tax our way out of this mess. Without major reforms, it is a very real possibility that young public workers won’t even have a pension by the time they retire.
“I urge Governor Murphy to come to the table and hammer out a compromise with us. There is no other option,” Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said.
Senator Declan O’Scanlon today announced his plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit State entities from entering into civil settlements for less than the amount that has been stolen from social safety net programs and offering immunity from criminal prosecution. The legislation comes as a direct result of recent investigations into Medicaid fraud settlements in Lakewood.
“The notion that people who have knowingly received benefits they were not entitled to would only be required to pay back half of that amount of money is completely ludicrous. It’s basically like letting someone get away with stealing from taxpayers. That’s unacceptable.”
Little Silver Mayor Robert C. Neff announced today that he is seeking a third term leading the Borough.
Neff, a 56 year old attorney has been mayor since 2011. He and Council members Donald Galante and Corinne Thygeson are running as a team for the Republican nominations in the primary on June 4 with the “overwhelming endorsement” of the local GOP organization, according to their announcement.
“The committee’s support for Bob was extremely strong, and we look forward to working with Bob and his running mates to continue to serve the people of Little Silver,” said Little Silver Republican Chairman Stuart Van Winkle.
MMM has learned that Monmouth County Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger will seek the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 13th legislative district for the seat currently held by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin. Handlin announced last fall that she will not seek reelection.
Scharfenberger is expected to join Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso on the top the the ballot in LD 13 in the June 4 primary and the November 5 general election. DiMaso filed her petition for the nomination last week.
It is unconscionable that Governor Murphy has not only failed to lift these gag orders, but that he hasn’t publicly encouraged all staffers – men and women – to come forward and tell all they know without fear of reprisal, and with his full support. https://t.co/kGGGzJkEq4
Murphy said at a press conference last week that NJ commuters will likely suffer with substandard service throughout most of 2019, according to northjersey.com.
“Governor Murphy must take expeditious action to address the major issues plaguing NJ Transit,” Senator O’Scanlon said. “I’m calling on the Governor to take whatever action is necessary, whether it’s declaring a State of Emergency, bringing in out-of-state engineers, or any other solution. We must treat this exigent situation with the seriousness that it demands.”
Former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno today said Republicans have asked her to run for State Assembly in the 13th legislative district.
So far, Guadagno has politely turned down the overtures, citing family issues and her commitment to her job as a partner as at the Connell Foley law firm. “Too many non billable hours,” she said in a text when MMM raised the issue with her last month, “Thank you for thinking of me, but the timing is not good for me or my family.” She also said she would run if she won the lottery.
In a rare public disagreement among Monmouth County Republicans, Sheriff Shaun Golden, the Party Chairman, slammed Senator Declan O’Scanlon’s effort to win fiscal and public safety reforms from Governor Phil Murphy and Senate President Steve Sweeney in exchange for three Republican votes in the Senate to legalize recreational marijuana.
Golden took to twitter last night, calling the the proposal “typical Trenton”
Three Republican State Senators, including Monmouth County’s Declan O’Scanlon are willing to vote to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey if Governor Phil Murphy and Senate President Steve Sweeney deliver the return of the Energy Receipts Tax to municipalities, a dedicated 911 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund, funding for addiction recovery services and a guaranteed reimbursement fund for municipalities paying to train police officers as Drug Recognition Experts who can assess if a driver is impaired by cannabis, according to an article on NJ.com
