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.
District 10 Legislators to Gov. Murphy: We Can’t Afford New Programs
Governor’s budget includes spending for college aid to illegal immigrants and overfunding Pre-K
On behalf of students and taxpayers in Ocean County, Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-10) issued the following response to Governor Murphy’s budget address. The lawmakers noted that the funding cuts in the Governor’s proposed budget would drastically affect public schools in their district, such as Brick and Toms River Township.
District 10 lawmakers sound off on Gov. Murphy’s budget, noting that his proposed funding cuts would drastically affect public schools in their district, such as Brick and Toms River Township. (SenateNJ.com)
“While our constituents are being told that there is not enough money for school funding, Governor Murphy is handing out money to other programs that would give free college tuition and financial aid to illegal immigrants. State spending is out of control and our taxpayers and students are paying the price.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin Blast Minimum Wage Hike
District 10 Lawmakers Note that State-mandated Minimum Wage Hike Will Hurt Seasonal & Small Businesses the Most
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-10) sounded off on Thursday’s passage of S-15/A-15 which would increase the minimum wage over time to $15 an hour. The Jersey Shore legislators are vehemently opposed to the increase, stating it will hurt seasonal and small businesses the most.
District 10 lawmakers sound off on the proposed minimum wage hike to $15 an hour. The Jersey Shore legislators stated it will hurt seasonal and small businesses the most. (Wikimedia)
“This bill is yet another attempt by Governor Murphy to force residents and business owners out of state,” said Senator Holzapfel. “Small businesses are the backbone of the Jersey Shore and this wage increase will send ripple effects throughout our Shore economy. Everyone, from the business owner on the boardwalk, to the tourist at the beach, will pay for this wage hike. The only option left for our hardworking business owners is either to raise prices, cut workers or close up shop entirely.”
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin: Murphy’s “Jersey Shore Tax” Negatively Impacting Tourism Economy
Extra Tax of Up to 14% Already Hurting Renters
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-10) said Governor Phil Murphy should listen to the concerns of homeowners and small businesses owners along the Jersey Shore who are raising the alarm about the impacts already being felt due to a tax increase the Governor approved last year on short-term beach rentals.
Holzapfel, Wolfe, and McGuckin said Gov. Phil Murphy should listen to Jersey Shore homeowners and small businesses owners impacted by his tax increase on short-term beach rentals. (WikiMedia)
“You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire like Governor Murphy to vacation down the shore,” said Holzapfel. “To charge a family that already stretches to pay thousands for a summer vacation an extra ten to fourteen percent in rental taxes is ridiculous. We’re already hearing that potential customers are responding to the new tax by booking at a much slower pace, which is concerning to the many tourism-driven businesses that make the bulk of their income during the summer months.”
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Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin: Murphy Ignoring Affordability Crisis to Focus on Voting Rights for Felons
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-10) said Governor Phil Murphy is doubling down on his efforts to enact a progressive social wish list, including restoring voting rights for convicted felons, while ignoring the basic affordability crisis that is driving law-abiding families from New Jersey.
Holzapfel, Wolfe, and McGuckin said Gov. Phil Murphy is focused on restoring voting rights for convicted felons while ignoring the basic affordability crisis that’s driving law-abiding families from New Jersey. (Pixabay)
“As a former county prosecutor, I believe that breaking the law should have consequences for criminals, including losing the right to vote, until their debt to society is paid in full,” said Holzapfel. “A felon should prove they are willing to comply with the law like everyone else before they are entrusted with an ability that can undermine our civil society. It’s shocking that Governor Murphy is focused on voting rights for felons when he has no plan to make life easier for the millions of New Jerseyans who play by the rules.”
Wolfe highlighted the continued flight from New Jersey and the Governor’s apparent blindness to the factors that are driving families and businesses to other states.
District 10 Lawmakers Blast AG Grewal for Blocking NJ Police from Cooperating with ICE
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Assemblyman Dave Wolfe (all R-Ocean) issued the following statement in response to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal’s sweeping immigration order to limit the ways in which state and local law enforcement officers are permitted to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
District 10 lawmakers blasted NJ Attorney General Grewal’s sweeping immigration order limiting the ways in which NJ law enforcement officers can cooperate with ICE. (Flickr)
“Attorney General Grewal’s ill-conceived order is a dangerous political statement that jeopardizes the safety of millions of our residents,” Senator Holzapfel (R-10) stated. “New Jersey is a diverse and welcoming state, but without the cooperation of state and local police, individuals who should be taken off our streets will still be able to disregard the law. For the sake of the hardworking residents who live here legally, I am urging Attorney General Grewal to rethink this drastic action immediately.”
Senate Approves Bipartisan School Bus Safety Bill Package
A series of school bus safety bills sponsored Senators James Holzapfel, Kristen Corrado, Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Joseph Lagana, Vin Gopal, and Linda Greenstein has been approved by the New Jersey State Senate.
NJ Senate approves bipartisan school bus safety bill package sponsored by Senators James Holzapfel and Kristen Corrado. (SenateNJ.com)
The package aims to improve bus safety and accident response, make bus drivers and companies more accountable and require every student to carry an identification card at school-sponsored, off-campus activities.
“Parents should not have to worry about the safety of their child when they are on a school bus,” said Senator Holzapfel (R-Ocean). “We are taking action at the state level to require additional education training for school bus drivers and ensure the safety of our children. We want drivers and aides to be educated on how to handle an emergency situation. Any step we can take to prevent an accident involving a school bus will go a long way.”
“After so many tragic accidents, thousands of parents now have to think twice when they watch their child board a school bus,” Senator Corrado (R-Bergen/Essex/Morris/Passaic) said. “There is nothing more precious than our children. If you’re going to drive a school bus, you should have a clean driving record and the qualifications necessary to transport our kids. This bill will ensure those standards are met. It’s the least we can do.”
