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.”
Continue Reading…
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.”
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin Call on NJDOT to Investigate Link Between Recently Completed GSP Exit 91 Interchange and Local Flooding
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Dave Wolfe, and Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (all R-Ocean) called on the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to investigate if massive flooding that occurred in the Greenbriar I senior community in Brick yesterday is related to the recently completed interchange construction at Exit 91 of the Garden State Parkway.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin called on the NJDOT to determine if the reconfigured GSP Exit 91 interchange led to flooding in the Greenbriar senior community in Brick, and to undertake any necessary improvements to prevent it from happening again. (Brick Twp. Police Department)
“The flooding that occurred yesterday along Burrsville Road and in Greenbriar is unlike anything the area has previously experienced, including during Sandy,” said Holzapfel. “We’re concerned that the recent reconfiguration of Exit 91 has impacted the area to make it susceptible to flooding. The NJDOT needs to investigate and undertake improvements if that’s the case.”
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin: Tax Proposals by Bickering Trenton Democrats Growing by the Day
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Dave Wolfe, and Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (all R-Ocean) expressed concern that as Trenton Democrats continue to fight among themselves over the next State budget, more tax increase proposals are entering their discussions by the day.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin expressed concerns that as Trenton Democrats continue to fight over the next State budget, more tax increase proposals are entering their discussions by the day. (©iStock)
“The initial debate among Democrats over Governor Murphy’s proposal to raise sales and income taxes grew to include an effort to raise taxes on our employers to the highest levels in the nation,” said Holzapfel (R-Ocean). “Just yesterday, additional new tax increases on home sales and beach rentals entered the Democrats’ budget negotiations. Taxpayers can only hope that bickering Trenton Democrats reach a budget agreement before they have a chance to add even more tax increases into the mix.”
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin to Introduce Legislation Protecting Sandy-Impacted Towns from State School Funding Cuts
Follows Effort by Trenton Democrats to Cut $41 Million in School Aid from Brick & Toms River
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Dave Wolfe, and Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (all R-Ocean) will introduce legislation to protect Sandy-impacted towns like Brick and Toms River from massive State school aid cuts planned by Trenton Democrats.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin will introduce legislation to stop Trenton Democrats from cutting school aid to districts like Brick and Toms River that are still rebuilding from Superstorm Sandy. (U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
“Brick and Toms River took a big hit from Sandy, with homes destroyed, families displaced, and our tax base severely impacted,” said Holzapfel. “Now, while the rebuilding is still underway, Democrats in Trenton are trying to knock us back down again by slashing our school aid. Their proposed school funding cuts are absolutely despicable and need to be stopped.”
Legislative Democrats advanced a bill in Trenton last week that would redistribute more than $41 million in State school aid from Brick and Toms River to other school districts throughout New Jersey.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin Urge Murphy to Veto $42.5 Million Cut to School Aid for Brick, Toms River, Manchester & Lakehurst
Say Democrats’ Redistribution Scheme Would Hurt Local Schools, Drive Up Property Taxes
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Dave Wolfe, and Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (all R-Ocean) urged Governor Phil Murphy to veto a plan by legislative Democrats to redistribute $42.5 million of State school aid from Brick, Toms River, Manchester, and Lakehurst to the rest of the state.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin urged Gov. Phil Murphy to veto a plan by legislative Democrats that would drive up local propety taxes by cutting $42.5 million of State school aid from Brick, Toms River, Manchester, and Lakehurst. (Pixabay)
“The plan approved by Democrats in the Legislature to cut $42.5 million in State aid from our school districts will decimate the quality of education in our classrooms and result in massive property tax increases,” said Holzapfel. “Governor Murphy should do the right thing and veto this patently unfair legislation.”
Click here to video of Senator Holzapfel discussing the impact of the legislation following the vote.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin Blast Trenton Democrats’ Plan to Cut School Funding to Brick & Toms River
Democrats Suggest Brick Property Taxpayers are Undertaxed by $754 and Homeowners in Toms River Underpay by $918
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Dave Wolfe, and Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (all R-Ocean) blasted a school funding plan proposed by Democrats in Trenton that would cut a combined $42 million in school funding to Brick and Toms River students and drive property tax bills higher by nearly $1,000.
Holzapfel, Wolfe & McGuckin blasted a school funding plan proposed by Trenton Democrats that could drive the average property tax bill in Brick and Toms River to increase by nearly $1,000. (Pixabay)
“Trenton Democrats have proposed cutting State aid to the Brick and Toms Rivers school districts by $22.3 million and $19.8 million, respectively,” said Holzapfel. “The Democrats’ plan would decimate our local schools and cause property tax bills to skyrocket. It’s an absolute disaster for both students and taxpayers.”
