TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman John DiMaio, the Republican budget officer, spoke about how the Democrats have spent $5 billion more since Murphy took office and yet pensions are still underfunded this year by $1.6 billion, schools are still underfunded by $1 billion, and property taxes are still the biggest...
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TRENTON, N.J. –Assembly Republican BettyLou DeCroce pressured Democrats to increase a proposed income-tax deduction for contributions to NJBEST, the state-sponsored college savings account. Watch: Assemblywoman DeCroce pressures Democrats to increase income-tax deduction for college savings. For two years, Assemblywoman DeCroce and Assemblymen Anthony M. Bucco and Ned Thomson have...
TRENTON, N.J. – The Assembly voted to expand medical marijuana as legitimate medicine for many illnesses today, but Democrats aren’t treating it like a regular prescription. Instead, they are taxing it – even though New Jersey’s medical marijuana is already the most expensive in the nation and isn’t covered by...
TRENTON, N.J. – The state’s pension problem, and that Gov. Phil Murphy is not doing better than the path former Gov. Chris Christie paved, was questioned during an Assembly budget hearing with state Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio Wednesday. Assemblyman Ned Thomson, an actuary who has administered more than 500 pension...
TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz raised the problem of the “builder’s remedy” as a means of forcing municipal compliance with affordable housing obligations at an Assembly Budget Committee hearing Monday. The so-called builder’s remedy allows developers to sue municipalities and force massive residential development with only a small...
TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz enlisted Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson as an ally Monday in her effort to eliminate costly and unnecessary requirements interfering with advanced practice nurses’ ability to treat substance abuse disorder patients. Nurses must have a “joint protocol” agreement with a doctor certified by...
TRENTON, N.J. – Worries about a shortfall in New Jersey’s tax revenue continue after testimony by the state treasurer before an Assembly budget panel Monday. Revenues are $310 million below current spending levels for the fiscal year that began in July, state Treasurer Liz Muoio confirmed to lawmakers. Adjusted...
TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey’s poor revenue projections suggest that Gov. Phil Murphy will have trouble keeping a $1.1 billion surplus next year to hedge against a potential national recession. Frank Haines, the Office of Legislative Services budget and finance officer, told lawmakers on the Assembly Budget Committee Monday...
TRENTON, N.J. – In a letter sent to the Gov. Phil Murphy Wednesday, Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso seek additional protections to legislation recently passed by the Legislature allowing terminally ill patients to seek life-ending medication. They are asking the governor to use his veto to advocate...
TRENTON, N.J. – Before the Assembly voted on permitting assisted suicide, Republicans took a stand against the bill. Several legislators pleaded with their colleagues on the other side of the aisle to maintain life with dignity rather than death. Many agreed with their plea, as Democrats had to whip...