10th District Legislators Against Driver’s License for Undocumented Immigrants
Residents Urged to Sign Petition Against Governor Murphy’s Plan
In a recent interview, Governor Phil Murphy proclaimed that making driver’s licenses available for undocumented immigrants in New Jersey is a “no brainer.” Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin of the 10th Legislative District are vehemently opposed to this idea and any legislation aimed at providing driver’s licenses to those who have entered the country illegally.
Holzapfel, Wolfe, and McGuckin are vehemently opposed to any legislation aimed at providing driver’s licenses to those who have entered the country illegally. (SenateNJ.com)
“This is a brainless idea constructed by Governor Murphy and the Democrats who seem to care more about illegals than they do about the naturally born citizens of this state,” stated Senator Holzapfel. “Residents pay every time Democrats implement these types of policies in the form of higher taxes, lost jobs, lower wages and a lower standard of living. This proposal is an outrage and a dangerous political statement that jeopardizes the safety of millions.”
10th District Legislators Renew Call for Governor’s Action on Shore Rental Tax Relief
Legislation that would relieve the costly consequences of a tax on short-term rentals that was imposed by Governor Phil Murphy last year continues to sit on the governor’s desk while evidence of the tax’s damage to the Jersey Shore economy mounts.
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe (all R-Ocean) say they are frustrated by the delay and are calling on the Murphy administration to enact the bill before it’s too late for the summer season.
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe call for Gov. Murphy to sign legislation that would relieve the costly consequences of a tax on short-term rentals that he imposed last year. (Bing Maps)
“The legislature has done our job to rework portions of the tax that are unfair to Shore homeowners,” said Holzapfel. “The governor’s inaction is troubling and irresponsible. While he vacations at his villa in Italy, rentals are going unoccupied and business is feeling the impact. We need this bill signed now.”
10th District Legislators Urge Governor to Sign Bill to Provide Tax Relief on Jersey Shore Rentals
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe are calling on Governor Phil Murphy to sign legislation to fix a 2018 law that taxes homeowners and summer rentals. The bill (S-3158/A-4814) has been on the governor’s desk since June 27, but rather than signing it, he is vacationing in Italy with his family.
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe are calling on Gov. Murphy to sign legislation to fix a 2018 law that taxes homeowners and summer rentals. While the governor vacations in Italy, the bill still sits on his desk. (Wikimedia Commons)
“Governor Murphy should listen to the concerns of homeowners and small business owners along the Shore who are raising the alarm about the impacts of this tax increase on short-term beach rentals,” stated Holzapfel. “This bill must be signed immediately to eliminate this detrimental tax which impacts all aspects of the Jersey Shore economy.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin, and Wolfe Applaud Ocean County Freeholders for Taking Legal Action to Combat Sanctuary State Directive
Freeholders Will Sue State of New Jersey in Federal Court
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe of the 10th Legislative District applauded the Ocean County Freeholders for taking legal action to combat Governor Murphy’s directive that forces jails in the state to decrease their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
District 10 lawmakers applauded the Ocean County Freeholders for taking legal action to combat Governor Murphy’s sanctuary state directive. (SenateNJ.com)
“Governor Murphy’s preoccupation with protecting illegal aliens over lawful citizens is baffling and flat out wrong,” Holzapfel said. “Those who are in our country illegally are cheating our already generous immigration system by bypassing the rules legal immigrants are required to follow. As a former Ocean County prosecutor, I commend the Ocean County Freeholders for standing up and taking legal action to ensure our local law enforcement can work with ICE to deport known criminals who are already in custody.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe Blast Impact of Governor’s Immigration Directive on Ocean County Jails
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe of the 10th Legislative District are speaking out against Governor Murphy’s directive forcing jails in the state to reduce their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The legislators blasted it as yet another step in the Governor’s quest to turn New Jersey into a sanctuary state.
District 10 lawmakers speak out against Gov. Murphy’s directive forcing jails in the state to reduce their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. (Flickr)
“Governor Murphy’s directive will prevent our jails from working with ICE to deport known criminals who are already in custody,” said Senator Holzapfel. “It’s an outrageous and dangerous political statement that jeopardizes the safety of millions of New Jersey residents. We shouldn’t allow the Governor to create a sanctuary for criminals in our state.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe Opposed Democrats’ Pork-Filled Budget
Trenton Democrats Priorities: Cut Millions in Brick & Toms River School Aid, Spend Millions More on Wasteful Programs
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe opposed a State Budget put forward by Democrats in the Legislature that cuts millions in aid to schools in Brick and Toms River while funding tens of millions of unnecessary pork projects.
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe opposed a State Budget that cuts millions in aid to schools in Brick and Toms River while funding tens of millions of unnecessary pork projects. (SenateNJ.com)
The legislators highlighted the misplaced priorities of the Democrats’ budget plan that will force local Ocean County schools to lay-off teachers and eliminate after school programs.
“Democrats in the Legislature took a bad budget proposal put forward by Governor Murphy and made it worse by adding at least $60 million of unjustifiable spending,” said Senator Holzapfel. “Instead of funding our schools fairly, they’ve decided to cut aid from our classrooms and redirect it into pork projects in their districts. It says a lot about the priorities of Trenton Democrats that they’re choosing to fund wasteful programs over our children.”
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe Call on Murphy to Use Extra Funds to Stop Cuts to Brick & Toms River School Districts
Governor Says State Tax Collections Coming in $250 Million Over Projections
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman Dave Wolfe (all R-Ocean) said any unexpected State tax revenues should be dedicated to fully funding school districts like Brick and Toms River that have been hit with massive cuts in aid under Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed FY 2020 State Budget.
Holzapfel, McGuckin & Wolfe said Gov. Phil Murphy should use $250 million in unanticipated State tax revenue collections to reverse millions in local school funding cuts proposed in his FY 2020 State Budget plan. (Chart Source: NJ Department of Education)
The Governor recently said that State tax collections for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30th, are running approximately $250 million ahead of projections.
“Governor Murphy has proposed cutting $5.5 million from the Brick and Toms River school district budgets next year, which has resulted in a massive number of teacher layoffs that will impact our classrooms,” said Holzapfel. “If the Governor is now sitting on hundreds of millions in extra tax revenues that he wasn’t expecting to collect, he must make fully funding our schools, protecting our teachers, and educating our children his top priority.”
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin Blast Sanctuary Cities in Response to Murder in Jersey City
The rape and murder of a woman in Jersey City by an illegal immigrant who was deported twice, highlights the dangers of sanctuary cities within our state, Senator Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe (all R-10) today said.
The lawmakers, outraged by this preventable tragedy, released the following statement sounding off on the threat to public safety caused by sanctuary cities:
District 10 lawmakers: the rape and murder of a woman in Jersey City by an illegal immigrant who was deported twice, highlights the dangers of sanctuary cities within our state. (Flickr)
“Sanctuary cities jeopardize the safety of millions of our residents, and the life of a young woman has been taken away because our state chooses to arrogantly disregard federal law,” said Senator Holzapfel. “We must not allow criminals, such as Rios to slip through the cracks in our immigration system.”
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin: We Support Superintendent Healy’s School Funding Testimony
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-10) today said that they stand by Toms River Regional School District Superintendent David Healy’s testimony, as delivered during a public budget hearing, stating that they will continue to fight for fair funding for students in Ocean County and throughout New Jersey.
District 10 Legislators stand by Toms River Regional School District Superintendent David Healy’s testimony, as delivered a March 21, 2019 public budget hearing, stating that they will continue to fight for fair funding for students in Ocean County and throughout New Jersey. (Wikimedia Commons)
Superintendent Healy testified at a March 21, 2019 public budget hearing in Newark, urging officials to stop all further cuts until the flaws in the state’s funding formula are fixed. The severe funding cuts to schools within Legislative District 10 have been vehemently opposed by legislators, school officials, and students.
“Superintendent Healy’s testimony shines a light on the glaring holes in our state’s school funding formula,” Senator Holzapfel said. “As a result of Governor Murphy’s funding cuts, District 10 is set to lose over $5.5 million in State aid for the 2019-2020 school year. On behalf of students and taxpayers in our district, we will continue to speak out against the deeper cuts that will be imposed in the years to come if the Governor’s budget proposal becomes law.”
Editorial: NJ Marijuana Legalization Comes with Serious Downsides
Senator Jim Holzapfel’s editorial on concerns regarding the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey was published by the Asbury Park Press on March 19, 2019:
Sen. Jim Holzapfel’s Asbury Park Press editorial on concerns regarding the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey. (Pixabay)
As a state senator and former county prosecutor, I oppose efforts by Gov. Phil Murphy and Democrats in the state Legislature to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the Garden State.
The claims made by supporters of legalization don’t tell the full story, including the negative impacts on our neighborhoods and our children that can be expected should this proposal become law.
Proponents of legalization often cite a variety of anticipated benefits, ranging from large streams of new tax revenues for governments to anticipated “social justice” gains that they say would level the playing field for minorities.
The reality, however, is far less rosy. That’s clear from the example set by Colorado, where legalization occurred in 2014.
