Senate Republican Budget Committee Members on State Treasurer & OLS Testimony
The Republican members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee released the following statement highlighting their concerns after hearing testimony today from OLS and State Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio:
Senate Republican members of the Budget Committee react to testimony delivered on April 2, 2019 by OLS and the State Treasurer. (SenateNJ.com)
“When the Governor delivered his budget address, we had serious concerns that he was relying on savings that have yet to be determined, overly-optimistic revenue projections, and accounting gimmicks to disguise New Jersey’s financial problems,” Senate Republican Budget Officer Steven Oroho (R-24) said. “OLS can’t back up the administration’s revenue projections. Outmigration of income continues to be a major problem, equaling a loss of $3.5 billion, according to the most recent yearly data. A new income tax will only make it worse. This is insanity. There would be no need for any tax increases at all if the governor would come to the table and enact our bipartisan Path to Progress reforms.”
Thompson Says Voters Who Did Not Receive Requested Mail-in Ballots Should Go to Polls and Vote Provisionally
Senator Sam Thompson addressed concerns raised by constituents in recent days that they will be unable to cast a vote in the upcoming general election due to mail-in ballots they requested never arriving.
Sen. Sam Thompson says voters who have not received requested mail-in ballots for the upcoming general election should go to their local polling station on Election Day and vote by provisional ballot. (SenateNJ.com)
“My legislative office has been contacted by a number of constituents from Middlesex County who are concerned that their mail-in ballots have not arrived yet for the general election that’s just days away,” said Thompson (R-12). “The Middlesex County Clerk is advising anyone who does not receive their mail-in ballot to go to their local polling station on Election Day and vote by provisional ballot. That’s the best way to ensure that your vote will be counted.”
As Hoboken Voter Fraud Indictments Pile Up, Thompson Intros Bill to Increase Penalties
New Bill Would Up Penalties for Extreme Voter Fraud to 2nd-Degree Felony, Punishable by Up to 10 Years in Prison
Just two days after Senator Sam Thompson introduced legislation to increase penalties for voter fraud, the U.S. Attorney General has announced that two more Hudson County residents, including a former Hoboken City Council candidate, were charged on Oct. 31, 2018 with conspiracy to promote a voter bribery scheme by mail.
Just 2 days after Sen. Sam Thompson introduced legislation to increase penalties for voter fraud, two more Hudson County residents were charged with conspiracy to promote a voter bribery scheme by mail. (©iStock)
“To all the naysayers who continue to claim that voter fraud isn’t happening in New Jersey, I implore you: open your eyes,” Senator Thompson (R-12) said. “I hate to say I told you so, but clearly, the current penalties are not strong enough to stop slimy political operatives from stealing votes. Just look at what’s happening in Hudson County. This is an affront to our democracy and it must be stopped.”
Senator Thompson’s bill, S-3184, would increase penalties for extreme cases of voter fraud to a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The legislation was formally introduced on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.
Thompson to Intro Anti-Voter Fraud Bill in Wake of Hudson County Mail-In Ballot Scandal
New Bill Would Up Penalties for Extreme Voter Fraud to Second-Degree Felony, Punishable by Up to 10 Years in Prison
Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) today announced plans to introduce legislation to increase penalties for extreme cases of voter fraud, in light of reports that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a Hoboken woman with paying voters to submit vote by mail applications.
Sen. Sam Thompson will introduce legislation to up penalties for extreme voter fraud, in light of reports that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a Hoboken woman with paying voters to submit vote by mail applications. (©iStock)
“Voter fraud is real, it is happening in New Jersey, and we have a duty to do everything in our power to protect the integrity of our electoral process. We will not stand by and allow slick political operatives to disenfranchise voters. Clearly, a stronger deterrent is necessary,” Senator Thompson said. “We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this threat to our democracy. We must ensure people who commit voter fraud receive a punishment that fits the crime.”
Now Law: Thompson Bill to Require Lap & Shoulder Belts on School Buses
Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation long-sponsored by Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) that will require New Jersey school buses to have lap and shoulder seat belts.
Governor Murphy has signed legislation long-sponsored by Senator Sam Thompson that will require New Jersey school buses to have three-point seat belts. (SenateNJ.com)
“Far too many students’ lives are endangered when a school bus does not have lap and shoulder belts,” Thompson added. “The facts are there: three-point seat belts provide the best protection for students when they are riding the bus to school or a field trip. This law complies with national standards and most importantly, provides our schoolchildren with the equipment to keep them safe.”
Senate Approves Thompson’s Plan to Improve School Bus Safety
Measure Requires 3-Point Seat Belts in New School Buses
Legislation sponsored by Senator Sam Thompson requiring three-point seat belts in new school buses has received final legislative approval from the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Sam Thompson’s legislation requiring three-point seat belts in new school buses has received final legislative approval from the New Jersey Senate. (SenateNJ.com)
“I’ve worked for the past five years to address a glaring safety deficit in the school buses that our children ride every day,” said Thompson (R-12). “When this measure is signed into law, students riding a bus will finally have access to the same lap and shoulder seat belts that we trust to protect them in their family cars.”
Thompson first introduced the legislation, S-233, in 2013 following a pair of school bus accidents in Old Bridge.
Thompson Says Multi-Day NJMVC Computer Failure Raises Concerns
If Agency Can’t Handle Core Mission of Issuing Driver’s Licenses, How Can it Be Trusted to Register Voters?
Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) issued the following statement in response to a multi-day computer system outage that has prevented the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) from processing transactions, including driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals:
Sen. Sam Thompson issued the following statement in response to a multi-day computer system outage that has prevented the New Jersey MVC from processing transactions, including driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. (Wikimedia Commons)
“Last month, Governor Murphy opened the floodgates for voter fraud when he allowed illegal immigrants access to driver’s licenses while simultaneously mandating automatic voter registration at state agencies. That makes today’s news of a multi-day computer failure at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission especially disheartening.
Thompson Says Murphy’s STEM Loan Forgiveness Program Unlikely to Help NJ Economy Despite Cost to Taxpayers
New Proposal Comes as Governor Fails to Implement Already Funded Law Creating STEM Fellowship Program
Senator Sam Thompson said a student loan forgiveness program recently announced by Governor Phil Murphy is unlikely to boost New Jersey’s innovation economy despite the cost to taxpayers.
Sen. Sam Thompson said a student loan forgiveness program recently announced by Gov. Phil Murphy is unlikely to boost New Jersey’s innovation economy despite the cost to taxpayers. (Pixabay)
“There are major problems with Governor Murphy’s loan forgiveness plan that ensure it will fail to meet expectations despite significant cost,” said Thompson (R-12). “It’s structured in a way that provides little incentive for recent STEM field graduates who are in high demand nationwide to stay in New Jersey.”
Thompson Says Action Likely on School Bus Seat Belt Legislation
New NTSB Report Recommends New Jersey to Require Lap & Shoulder Belts on School Buses
Senator Sam Thompson said action may finally be taken on legislation he sponsors to require all new school buses to be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder seat belts.
Sen. Sam Thompson said action may finally be taken on his legislation requiring all new school buses to be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder seat belts. (SenateNJ.com)
“I’ve been trying for four years to pass common-sense legislation to protect students on school buses with three-point seat belts,” said Thompson (R-12). “It appears likely that upcoming legislative hearings on school bus safety will consider my proposal to give kids the same protections on a school bus that they have in their parent’s car. That’s the indication I’ve received from Senate leadership. It’s a welcome development.”
Thompson Says Democrats’ Plan to Give Driver’s Licenses to Illegals Puts Elections at Risk
Sen. Sam Thompson (R-12) criticized a plan by Governor Phil Murphy and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, as this legislation coupled with the recently enacted “motor voter” law would put elections at risk. Thompson said this new plan when combined with a mandate for all state agencies to automatically register to vote anyone who makes contact with their offices is a recipe for disaster.
Sen. Sam Thompson criticized Gov. Murphy’s plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, saying it would put elections at risk. (©iStock.com)
“How can we ensure that illegal immigrants will not be automatically registered to vote when they go to the MVC to get the new driver’s licenses?” Thompson asked. “What legitimate safeguards are in place to prevent this from happening? This legislation may make it easier for non-citizens to illegally participate in local, state, and national elections, jeopardizing our free and fair voting process.”
