District 10 Lawmakers Slam Murphy Administration Amid Scathing DOJ Report
District 10 lawmakers—Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman John Catalano—are calling for an emergency session and independent committee hearings after a damning report was released by the U.S. Department of Justice detailing the tragic consequences of the Murphy Administration’s COVID-19 policies for veterans homes.
Sen. Jim Holzapfel, Asm. Greg McGuckin, and Asm. John Catalano are calling for an emergency session and independent committee hearings after a damning report was released by the DOJ detailing the tragic consequences of the Murphy Administration’s COVID-19 policies for veterans homes. (©iStock)
“Since the early days of the pandemic, we—along with every other rational person—warned that forcing COVID positive patients back into nursing homes would be an absolute catastrophe,” said Senator Holzapfel. “Unfortunately, the Murphy Administration didn’t listen to us, or any Republicans for that matter, and instead followed the terrible advice of democrat officials in New York. The report by the Department of Justice is devastating and the Murphy Administration must be held accountable for the appalling treatment of our nation’s heroes.”
LD10 Lawmakers Blast Biden Administration for Atlantic City Migrant Proposal
The 10th Legislative District lawmakers—Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman John Catalano—released a statement today blasting the Biden Administration for offering Atlantic City Airport as a possible place to house migrants:
Sen. Jim Holzapfel, Asm. Greg McGuckin, and Asm. John Catalano blasted the Biden Administration for offering Atlantic City Airport as a possible place to house migrants. (SenateNJ.com)
“The Biden Administration’s disastrous immigration policies have led to an influx of illegal immigrants that have overrun New York and many other sanctuary cities. And now, the Biden Administration and NYC Mayor Eric Adams are attempting to force New Jersey to clean up their humanitarian crisis. As far as we are concerned, this is not New Jersey’s problem. These are the consequences of failed border policies enacted by the Biden Administration and the people of New Jersey should not have to clean up their mess.
10th District Legislators: DEP and BASF Settlement of Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site Falls Short
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman John Catalano continue to pledge their support of Save Barnegat Bay and Toms River Township by opposing the Department of Environmental Protection’s settlement with the current owners of the Ciba-Geigy superfund site, BASF.
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin, and John Catalano continue to pledge their support of Save Barnegat Bay and Toms River Township by opposing the DEP’s settlement with the current owners of the Ciba-Geigy superfund site, BASF. (©iStock)
The settlement which was announced this week by the state Department of Environmental Protection with the BASF chemical company has been a primary source of stress, concern, and health problems for residents. Toxic waste from the site contaminated groundwater resulting in a cancer cluster among children.
District 10 Lawmakers Intend to Introduce Parental Rights Bill
Lawmakers Call For a Special Voting Session to Protect Parental Rights
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano announced that they intend to introduce legislation that will defend parental rights in response to the Murphy administration’s recent lawsuit targeting school districts to stop parental notification on matters involving their children.
District 10 lawmakers announced that they intend to introduce legislation that will defend parental rights. (Pixabay)
“It is abundantly clear that Governor Murphy and our activist attorney general are going after schools who do not support their radical identity politics. Not only is this misguided, but it is also utterly absurd that they are actively trying to take away parental rights,” said Sen. Holzapfel. “The Murphy administration needs to step aside and stop trying to keep parents in the dark about their own children. Legislators should return to Trenton to vote on our proposed legislation to restore parental rights and prevent the government from getting in between parents and their right to know about their children.”
District 10 Lawmakers: Governor Murphy’s Extreme Energy Priorities Will Cost Taxpayers Dearly
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano warned that Governor Murphy’s extreme energy policies that would ban affordable natural gas will drive up energy costs for utility payers and make the state more unaffordable for low- and middle-income families.
District 10 lawmakers warned that Gov. Murphy’s extreme energy policies will drive up energy costs for utility payers and make the state more unaffordable for low- and middle-income families. (SenateNJ.com)
“Governor Murphy’s extreme energy plan is a complete upheaval of our energy portfolio in favor of expensive offshore wind that will raise costs for utility payers in the Garden State. Sadly, Governor Murphy has shown no interest in working across the aisle to diversify our energy portfolio in a way that benefits not only the environment, but taxpayers too,” said Sen. Holzapfel. “In fact, Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats wasted $1 billion to bail out Orsted for the sake of keeping their misplaced energy priorities alive instead of giving that money back to utility customers. The Garden State needs safe, reliable, and affordable energy options that reduce costs rather than raise them.”
10th District Legislators: Democrats’ Soft-on-Crime Legislation Will Put New Jersey at Risk
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano issued a stern warning about public safety after Democrats passed legislation that will help violent criminals evade prison time.
District 10 lawmakers issued a stern warning about public safety after Democrats passed legislation that will help violent criminals evade prison time. (Flickr)
“Trenton Democrats just passed soft-on-crime legislation that violent offenders and sexual predators will be able to exploit to evade prosecution and jail time,” said Sen. Holzapfel. “Individual prosecutors will have the authority to divert almost any offender into a Mental Health Diversion Program prior to prosecution without the input of a judge. There would be no jail time, even for violent crimes, and the offender’s record would automatically be eligible for expungement. This legislation will put public safety at risk and significantly weaken the justice system for victims of crimes.”
District 10 Lawmakers Slam Democrats For Budget Chaos
Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano criticized Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats for their lack of transparency and accountability during the final days of their fiscal year 2024 budget negotiations.
District 10 lawmakers criticized Gov. Murphy and Trenton Democrats for their lack of transparency and accountability during the final days of their fiscal year 2024 budget negotiations. (©iStock)
“Looking back at last week, the $54.3 billion budget that was rammed down our throats lacked both transparency and accountability to the taxpayers of this state. Democrats provided no explanation for the more than one billion dollars of pork that was added to the budget at the last minute,” said Sen. Holzapfel. “It is unconscionable that Democrats inappropriately rushed the process, shut down public testimony, and forced our Republican colleagues on the budget committee to vote using inaccurate scoresheets for a bill that didn’t exist at the time when votes were cast. Democrats in Trenton may not value accuracy, but the taxpayers of New Jersey deserve transparency, honesty, and the ability to speak on how their tax dollars are being spent.”
Bill to Ban Speculative Ticketing Introduced by 10th District Legislators
In an effort to address the concerns with the reselling of tickets by prohibiting tentative ticket sales also known as “speculative ticketing,” Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano have introduced a bill aimed at stopping this deceptive trade practice. The bill, S4031/A5639, amends the current law that allows for the sale of tickets not in the reseller’s possession.
In an effort to address the concerns with the reselling of tickets by prohibiting tentative ticket sales also known as “speculative ticketing,” District 10 Lawmakers have introduced a bill aimed at stopping this deceptive trade practice. (Pixabay)
“Speculative ticketing has duped consumers for years and puts a strain on both verified ticket sellers and the venue,” said Senator Holzapfel. “Before a seller like Ticketmaster has even put tickets on sale for a concert or sporting event, websites claiming to have seats available allow consumers to purchase tickets that may not even exist.”
Committee Advances Holzapfel Bill Cracking Down on Noisy, Illegal Mufflers and Exhaust Systems
The Senate Transportation Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Jim Holzapfel that would increase penalties for modifying car mufflers or exhaust systems to make them excessively noisy.
The Senate Transportation Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Sen. Jim Holzapfel that would increase penalties for modifying car exhaust systems to make them excessively noisy. (Pixabay)
“Across New Jersey, many communities and neighborhoods are being disturbed by cars that have excessively loud and illegal exhaust systems,” said Holzapfel (R-10). “The noise generated by these cars is incredibly disruptive, especially at night. This legislation will hold people accountable for installing these systems, which do nothing but increase noise pollution, and help bring some peace and quiet back to our streets.”
District 10 Lawmakers to Introduce Bill Prohibiting State Agencies from Fining One Another
In response to the Department of Environmental Protection issuing a fine against the Division of Fish & Wildlife, Sen. Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano will introduce legislation that will prohibit state agencies from imposing civil penalties on other state agencies or bureaus.
In response to the DEP issuing a fine against the Division of Fish & Wildlife, District 10 lawmakers will introduce legislation that will prohibit state agencies from imposing civil penalties on other state agencies or bureaus. (©iStock)
“In light of the conflict that has unfolded between the DEP and one of its own divisions, we must take the extraordinary step of introducing legislation to restore some common sense to New Jersey’s regulatory policies,” Senator Holzapfel said. “No state agency should be able to fine another state agency much less a division of one. New Jersey taxpayers have had enough of these legal loopholes that only serve to expand an already bloated government bureaucracy.”
