Senate Republicans Propose $8 Billion of New Tax Relief, Bolstering Surplus, Doubling Debt Repayment & Increasing Oversight in Budget Plan
Republicans serving on the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee proposed $8 billion of new tax relief, increasing the state surplus to $5 billion, more than doubling proposed debt repayments, and increasing legislative oversight of Murphy administration spending in a detailed budget plan (click here for PDF) to amend Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 2023 State Budget.

Senate Republicans have proposed a comprehensive budget plan with $8 billion of new tax relief, including ‘Give It Back’ rebates totaling $1,500 for most New Jersey families. (www.GiveItBack.us)
“Senate Republicans have offered a detailed budget plan to make responsible use of an unprecedented $11 billion windfall of state and federal taxpayer funds to support struggling families, solve long-term problems, and ensure that New Jersey is well prepared for the next recession,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We’re leading the way in showing Governor Murphy and the Democrat legislative majorities how to give back billions to taxpayers while building a responsible surplus and paying down substantial additional debt. It’s no surprise that everyone else is suddenly rushing to find ways to ‘Give It Back’ as Senate Republicans have advocated for months.”
Republican Budget Members: Governor’s Warmed Over ANCHOR Proposal is Pathetic Attempt at Tax Relief
Again Call for ‘Give It Back’ Tax Rebates to Provide $4.5 Billion of Direct, Immediate Relief
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Governor Phil Murphy and legislative leaders to commit to expanding tax relief in light of the Administration admitting to a total of more than $9 billion of tax overcollections in the current year and almost $7.8 billion more in revenue available for the upcoming budget year than projected just two months ago.

The Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee called on the Governor and legislative leaders to commit to expanding tax relief in light of the Administration admitting to a total of almost $7.8 billion more in tax revenue available for the upcoming budget year than projected just two months ago. (©iStock)
“The Murphy Administration finally admitted the obvious – that they are collecting $9 billion more out of the pockets of taxpayers than budgeted for the current year,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24). “New Jersey families are struggling with soaring prices and inflation, and Republicans have proposed $1,500 rebates to be returned to more than 4 million families this Spring. The Murphy Administration must commit to giving back at least this $1,500 to 4 million families this Spring.”
Republican Budget Members Call for Murphy to Dedicate Billions for Tax Relief as State Revenues Soar
Senate Republicans Have Already Proposed “Give It Back” Tax Rebates to Provide $4.5 Billion of Direct, Immediate Relief — More Planned
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Governor Phil Murphy to commit to expanding tax relief in the upcoming State Budget in advance of a revenue update from the Treasurer that is expected to show soaring tax collections that are $5 billion higher than the administration projected just two months ago.

The Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee called on Gov. Phil Murphy to expand tax relief in the upcoming State Budget as tax overcollection soar by billions. (©iStock)
“Tax collection reports make it clear that the Murphy administration must acknowledge on Thursday that his tax policies are taking at least $5 billion more out of the pockets of taxpayers than the governor projected in March, and possibly billions more,” said Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho (R-24). “When New Jersey families are struggling with soaring prices and inflation, we believe Governor Murphy must commit to giving back these overcollections immediately to families that are suffering today. We plan on expanding the ‘Give It Back’ rebates that Senate Republicans have already proposed.”
Thompson: Murphy’s School Aid Cuts Will Lead to Rural & Suburban Property Tax Increases
Murphy Cutting $185 Million from Nearly 200 School Districts
Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) said Governor Phil Murphy shouldn’t be cutting money from any school district when the State is flush with funds and teachers are struggling to counter pandemic-related learning loss.

Sen. Sam Thompson said Gov. Phil Murphy shouldn’t be cutting money from any school district when the State is flush with funds and teachers are struggling to counter pandemic-related learning loss. (SenateNJ.com)
“It’s outrageous that Governor Murphy is cutting funding to nearly 200 school districts when he’s sitting on $4.6 billion of unexpected money this year,” said Thompson, a member of both the Budget & Appropriations and Education committees. “There’s no financial reason to cut school aid to districts when we’re flush with cash, especially when teachers are struggling to make up for pandemic-related loss now that students are back in the classroom.”
Thompson Announces Leigh Maris as New Chief of Staff
Senator Sam Thompson has announced that Leigh Maris will join his district office as Chief of Staff. Maris is taking the reins of the 12th Legislative District Office following the recent passing of Sue Tisiker.

Sen. Sam Thompson has announced that Leigh Maris will join his district office as Chief of Staff. (SenateNJ.com)
“Sue Tisiker was a dear friend and she ran our district office operations well for many years,” said Thompson (R-12). “While I’m deeply saddened by Sue’s passing, I’m extremely thankful that someone as capable and experienced as Leigh will join us to help maintain the superior services that Sue was known for by our constituents.”
Panel Clears Thompson Bill Removing Anonymity of Residential Landlords
Shell Companies Are Often Unreachable When Problems Arise
Senator Sam Thompson’s legislation that would lift the veil of anonymity from limited liability companies that own residential property was approved today by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

Sen. Sam Thompson’s legislation that would lift the veil of anonymity from limited liability companies that own residential property was approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. (©iStock)
Thompson’s measure, S-672, would require LLCs to disclose the names and business addresses of all members, managers and authorized agents of the company when recording deeds for homes with as many as four dwelling units.
Thompson Bill Would Require Inspections of 40-Year-Old Buildings Following South Florida Condo Collapse
Legislation Exempts Single-Family Homes & Federal Government Buildings
Following the devastating collapse of a 40-year-old condominium building in South Florida in June, Senator Sam Thompson has introduced legislation to ensure that similarly aged structures in New Jersey are inspected and structurally safe.

Following the devastating collapse of a 40-year-old condominium building in South Florida, Sen. Sam Thompson has introduced legislation to ensure that similarly aged structures in New Jersey are inspected and structurally safe. (Wikimedia Commons)
“With New Jersey’s aging building stock and the harsh coastal and winter weather conditions we experience, we need to be sure we’re not at risk of a similar catastrophic collapse,” said Thompson (R-12). “We don’t want to wake up one day to our own Surfside.”
Murphy Holds Dog and Pony Show While NJ Employers, Residents Desperately Await Relief
Sen. Thompson Chides Governor for Placing Politics Ahead of People
Six months after the federal government appropriated $6.2 billion to New Jersey to help suffering residents and small employers, and with the bulk of that money sitting idle in State accounts, Governor Phil Murphy last night announced another hastily arranged virtual hearing to discuss plans for the relief money.

Sen. Sam Thompson criticized the Governor for dragging his feet spending billions in federal relief money to help New Jersey residents and small employers struggling with the effects of the pandemic. (Pixabay)
“It’s a charade, a sham, just like the last hearing,” said Senator Sam Thompson (R-12), a member of the Senate Budget Committee. “This is little more than an election year stunt where only favored invited guests will be permitted to comment. How can anybody take it seriously when the Administration only gave a few select few little more than 24-hour notice that a meeting even existed?”
Thompson Calls for Accountability as Governor Continues $60 Million-Per-Week Borrowing Spree to Fund Unemployment Benefits
Says Federal Relief Money Should be Used to Restore UI Fund and Save Jobs
As the Murphy Administration continues to borrow almost $10 million every day from the federal government, Senator Sam Thompson called on the Governor to provide an accurate estimate of how much debt employers in the state will be left to repay through the massive tax increase coming next month.

With the Murphy administration’s unemployment fund debt topping $300 million, Sen. Sam Thompson called for Gov. Phil Murphy to explain in detail how he will pass the cost of repaying that debt to struggling employers starting next month. (Wikimedia Commons)
“New Jersey is racking up debt at an alarming pace, and Murphy’s only plan is to pass the cost on to employers, many who are barely surviving in the COVID economy,” said Thompson, a Republican member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. “This is a dangerous fiscal scheme that could trigger the failure of countless small and mid-sized employers and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. It’s reckless and unjustifiable.”
Singer/Connors/Holzapfel/Thompson/O’Scanlon Call on NJ Homeland Security to Vet Incoming Afghan Refugees
Question Ability of Federal Officials in Kabul to Keep Local Communities Safe
Almost 10,000 Afghan refugees fleeing the turmoil in their homeland will be coming to New Jersey, and Senate Republicans are calling on New Jersey’s Department of Homeland Security and Preparedness to ensure they are thoroughly vetted.

In a letter to the director of New Jersey’s Homeland Security and Preparedness, Sens. Singer, Connors, Holzapfel, Thompson and O’Scanlon emphasized the need to vet and screen refugees coming to the state from Afghanistan. (Wikimedia Commons)
Senators Robert Singer, Chris Connors, Jim Holzapfel, Sam Thompson and Declan O’Scanlon today wrote to NJ Homeland Director Laurie R. Duran emphasizing the need to protect New Jersey residents from possible terrorists who may have circumvented checkpoints and federal screening on the ground in Kabul before boarding flights to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.