Republican Budget Members Blast Murphy Administration Plans to Tax Cloud Computing & Software Subscription Services
Report from NJ Division of Taxation Comes Just Weeks After Gov. Murphy Pledged “Absolutely No New Taxes”
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee blasted a new report issued by the New Jersey Division of Taxation that calls for the taxation of cloud computing and software subscription services.
“The latest report from Taxation makes it clear that the Murphy administration is looking at new taxes on many Internet-based services,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “So much for Governor Murphy’s recent statements that there would be ‘no new taxes.’ That certainly didn’t last long.”
Republican Budget Members Call Out Treasurer for Lack of Transparency on State’s Health Insurance Plans
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee criticized the State Treasurer today for not responding to nine pages of budget questions, and requests for data, about the State’s health insurance plans for public employees submitted seven months ago.
Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called out the State Treasurer for not responding to nine pages of budget questions about the State’s health insurance plans for public employees submitted seven months ago. (©iStock)
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho, Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Sam Thompson, and Senator Michael Testa again requested that Treasurer Muoio finally admit her lack of transparency and failure to ever provide responsive answers to routine budget questions and requests for data that are answered every year (except this one) as part of the budget process.
Republican Budget Members Call for Subpoena Power to Compel Treasury Docs & Testimony on Health Benefit Rate Increases
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee have called for the committee to be given the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the Treasurer to provide documents and testimony under oath related to massive increases in State health benefit premiums.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee have called for the committee to be given the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the Treasurer to provide documents and testimony under oath related to massive increases in State health benefit premiums. (©iStock.com)
The request was made in a letter sent by Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho, Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Sam Thompson, and Senator Michael Testa to Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, and Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo.
The Republican senators said subpoenas were necessary since the Murphy administration has refused to answer important questions or provide documents that could help the Legislature, impacted employees and retirees, and the public to understand the recent 22% rate increase.
Republican Budget Members Call on Treasurer to Reveal Information Critical to Health Care Premium Increases
Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio to come clean with long-overdue responses to the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) requests for data related to the steep increases in the cost of health care benefits.
Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio to come clean with long-overdue responses to OLS requests for data related to the steep increases in the cost of health care benefits. (SenateNJ.com)
The Treasurer has indicated her Department has not withheld information. OLS has no record of receiving a response.
In their letter (click here for PDF), the Republican Senators wrote: “Unless we are mistaken in our understanding that your department failed to answer the attached questions posed by OLS during the budget process, or unless you have simply been unaware of that reality, your position is disingenuous at best. All parties involved deserve the level of transparency that you’ve indicated has already occurred.”
Republican Budget Committee Members Call for Required Oversight of Pandemic Relief & Debt Funds
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Democrats to hold required oversight hearings to review proposed uses of federal pandemic relief funds and a state fund intended to pay down and prevent new debt.
Senate Republicans called on Democrats to hold required oversight hearings to review proposed uses of federal pandemic relief funds and a state fund intended to pay down and prevent new debt. (©iStock)
The request was made in a letter from Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24), Republican Budget Office Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), Senator Sam Thompson (R-12), and Senator Michael Testa (R-1) to Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-22), Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-29), and Budget Chair Paul Sarlo (D-36).
Thompson on the Passing of Assemblyman Ron Dancer
Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) responded to the loss of his LD 12 colleague, Assemblyman Ron Dancer, who passed away today at 73:
Sen. Sam Thompson (R-12) responded to the loss of his LD 12 colleague, Assemblyman Ron Dancer, who passed away today at 73. (SenateNJ.com)
“Assemblyman Dancer served the people of our legislative district with tireless energy and unwavering commitment. He was a true gentleman in the Legislature. It was an honor to having him on our team representing the hard-working residents of the 12th District. He will be missed in the halls of the state house and in the local municipalities he loved.
“My thoughts and prayers go out for his wife, Brenda and their children and grandchildren.”
Thompson: Report Shows Rapidly Rising State Debt, Contradicting Murphy Administration Claims
Senator Sam Thompson said the new state debt report issued today by the Treasury Department directly contradicts claims by Governor Phil Murphy and Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio that they have reduced state debt.
Sen. Sam Thompson said the new state debt report issued today by the Treasury Department directly contradicts claims by Gov. Phil Murphy and Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio that they have reduced state debt. (Pixabay)
“The professionals in Treasury have produced a debt report verifying that New Jersey’s total debt increased by $44 billion last year, including a $4.3 billion increase attributable to Governor Murphy’s wasteful and unnecessary deficit financing,” said Thompson (R-12). “The truth about New Jersey’s debt that’s revealed in the professional report stands in stark contrast to the false claims by Treasurer Muoio and Governor Murphy that the administration has reduced state debt. They haven’t been honest with people at all.”
Thompson Bill Requiring NJ to Pay for Its Mistakes Advances
Legislation Would Reimburse Counties and Municipalities for Special Elections Prompted by the State’s Errors
Senator Sam Thompson sponsors bipartisan legislation, approved today by the Senate state government committee, that would spare county and municipal governments from the costs of special elections prompted by errors by the state.
Senator Sam Thompson sponsors bipartisan legislation, approved by the Senate state government committee, that would spare county and municipal governments from the costs of special elections prompted by errors by the state. (©iStock)
Thompson’s bill, S-2527, would require the state to reimburse local governments for expenses incurred conducting new elections.
Senate Republican Budget Committee Members Say Treasurer Muoio Intentionally Misled Legislature to Hide Explosion of State Debt
Senators Repeat Calls for Treasurer to Appear Before & Be Held Accountable by Budget Committee
Saying it’s clear that New Jersey Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio intentionally misled legislators on behalf of the Murphy administration to hide the state’s rapidly increasing debt, the Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee repeated their calls for the Treasurer to be held accountable by the committee in a letter today (click here for PDF) to Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-36).
Saying it’s clear that New Jersey Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio intentionally misled legislators to hide the state’s rapidly increasing debt, the Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee repeated their calls for the Treasurer to be held accountable by the committee. (Pixabay)
The Republican senators also said the Treasurer should be called to respond to serious allegations raised today by Bloomberg that the Murphy administration deliberately looked the other way as a state vendor took tens of millions of dollars from the state despite failing to meet its contractual obligations to help lower health care costs.
“At the same time that Treasurer Muoio was telling legislators that New Jersey’s debt had decreased to a seven-year low, her department was preparing to release the long-overdue state audit showing that debt actually climbed by $44 billion in a single year,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24), a member of the Budget Committee. “It’s clear the Treasurer knew her prepared testimony to our Budget Committee was grossly inaccurate. She must be called to appear before our committee to be held accountable for misleading the Legislature in what appears to be an intentional way and to address allegations of serious fiscal mismanagement by the Murphy administration.”
Thompson Measure Lifting Anonymity of Residential Landlords Advances
Would Help Municipalities to Enforce Code Violations and Address Problems
Legislation sponsored by Senator Sam Thompson that would make it easier for municipalities to pursue rental property owners for building code violations cleared the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Sam Thompson that would make it easier for municipalities to pursue rental property owners for building code violations cleared the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. (Pixabay)
“So many rental units in our neighborhoods are being purchased by shell corporations that exist only on paper. When there are violations or other problems, municipal officials don’t know where to turn to get the issues resolved,” said Thompson (R-12).
