Thursday, May 26, 2022
North-JerseyNews.com
  • Home
  • Washington
  • Trenton
  • County
  • Court
  • Roundup
  • Opinion
  • Search
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Washington
  • Trenton
  • County
  • Court
  • Roundup
  • Opinion
  • Search
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
North-JerseyNews.com
No Result
View All Result
Home Trenton

NJ GOP Launches Campaign Telling Murphy to ‘Give It Back’

Republicans want Governor to roll back pandemic restrictions

Sabrina Walsh by Sabrina Walsh
February 7, 2022
in Trenton
0 0
8
North-JerseyNews.com

Governor Murphy, New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullican, Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, Board of Public Utilities President Joe Fiordaliso, and Department of Environmental Protection Director of Dam Safety and Flood Engineering John Moyle tour flood-damaged area in Millburn and provide an update on Tropical Storm Ida recovery efforts on Friday, September 3, 2021(Edwin J. Torres/ NJ Governor’s Office).

0
SHARES
237
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

New Jersey state Senate Republicans have launched “Give It Back,” a new campaign calling on Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy to put an end to pandemic-related measures he has put into effect over the past two years.

In addition to walking back COVID-19 vaccine and school mask mandates, the initiative demands Murphy restore the balance of power between the governor’s office and state Legislature and return a $3 billion budget surplus to taxpayers.

As part of the push, the GOP is encouraging New Jersey residents and business owners to take to social media and newspaper opinion pages to “tell Gov. Murphy, in a unified voice, to give back everything he has taken from them over the past two years,” State Senate Minority Leader Steven Oroho (R-24) said.

‘It’s Time To Give It Back’

Three days after the launch of “Give It Back,” an online petition in support of the movement has already garnered 3,660  signatures.

North-JerseyNews.com

Since the onset of the coronavirus crisis in March 2020, Republicans have complained that Murphy has seized too much control, sidelining state lawmakers.

“Governor Murphy has taken so much from New Jerseyans since the start of the pandemic,” Oroho, a fierce critic of the governor, said in a statement. “He’s taken money, he’s taken power, and he’s taken rights, choices, and freedoms from every single New Jerseyan. We’re going to help New Jerseyans send him the message that it’s time to give it back.”

State Of Emergency Renewal

The campaign follows Murphy’s Jan. 11 extension of the public health emergency to fight a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the omicron variant.

The latest order allows the state to continue COVID-19 vaccine distribution, testing or vaccination requirements in certain settings and collection of virus-related data. It also left mandates in place for masks in schools and daycare facilities.

Republicans opposed the latest renewal, pointing to the continued downward trend in COVID-19 cases. They noted Murphy’s recent orders were made without input from the state Legislature or public. A deal reached with legislative leaders last Summer was to have the powers sunset on the Jan. 11 date.

“Instead, he unilaterally started to rule by executive decree once again,” Oroho said.

Status Set To Expire

Murphy has until Feb. 10 to extend that declaration, which grants him broad authority to act during a public health crisis without needing approval from the state Legislature.

Currently, a state of emergency lasts until the governor lifts it. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act of 2005, New Jersey’s governor can keep issuing renewals of the status every 30 days.

The current state of emergency declaration has been extended monthly since it was initially established on March 9, 2020.

 ‘An Obscene Amount Of Money’

While the upcoming deadline to renew the public health emergency played a role in the launch of the campaign, Republicans said it wasn’t the only factor.

State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) said, “Yes, it has to do with next week, but it also has to do with really, truly an obscene amount of money that the state is holding, or will hold shortly, that’s not in people’s wallets, it’s not in business people’s budgets. We need to give that back.”

After lagging during broad shutdowns during the early part of the pandemic, tax collections later rebounded in New Jersey. As of December, halfway through the state budget year, revenues were up $3.4 billion — about 23.5% — from the same six-month period a year earlier.

Bipartisan Support

The Give it Back campaign comes on the heels of a GOP-sponsored measures to curb the health emergency powers that have previous failed in the Democratic-controlled state Legislature in the last two years.

However, the tide may be changing.

The latest bill, introduced Jan. 31 by O’Scanlon, has the support of at least one Democrat.

Gopal On Board

Last week, the GOP announced that state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11) signed on as co-sponsor of the measure, which seeks to limit public health emergencies to 60 days — unless the state legislature explicitly approves an extension.

Gopal said he was backing the bill to make sure the state Legislature is a co-equal branch of the government and maintain “a check and balance of power,” regardless of whether the governor is a Republican or Democrat.

Meanwhile, State Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-22) told the newspaper he’s had conversations with Murphy about “revisiting” the Emergency Health Powers Act “in the future.”

O’Scanlon: No One Should Oppose This Bill

O’Scanlon said he is “proud” of the fact that his bill has bipartisan sponsorship.

“It’s unfathomable to many people that our laws would allow a single person to wield such an astonishing amount of authority with virtually no oversight. Our new legislation is based on our experience over the last two years and addresses the serious concerns expressed by both legislators and the constituents we represent,” said O’Scanlon.

The senator went on to say, “Every single member of the New Jersey Legislature should want to sponsor and support this legislation, which would improve their ability to represent their constituents.”

“The Governor too should support this reasonable policy if he has been honest recently when he publicly said he desires to work in conjunction with the legislature going forward. His support of this bill would simply be keeping that promise,” O’Scanlon said.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Tags: COVID-19 PandemicGov. Phil MurphyNorth JerseySen. Steve OrohoState of EmergencyState Sen. Declan O'ScanlonState Sen. Vin Gopal
Previous Post

OPINION: Confronting Hate

Next Post

North-JerseyNews.com Roundup for Feb. 7, 2022

Next Post
North-JerseyNews.com

North-JerseyNews.com Roundup for Feb. 7, 2022

Comments 8

  1. Neveratrumper says:
    4 months ago

    Shove it, Republicans. This is a gimmick and nothing more from a party that claims fiscal conservatism but never is.

    Loading...
    Reply
  2. Neveratrumper says:
    4 months ago

    Wait a minute! Republicans always whine about deficits and now they are whining about a surplus? Clearly they are just a bunch of whiners!

    Loading...
    Reply
  3. Pingback: North-JerseyNews.com Roundup for Feb. 7, 2022 | North-JerseyNews.com
  4. Karldergrosser says:
    4 months ago

    Just what agents of chaos would say. Thanks, Putin/Trump collaborators.

    Loading...
    Reply
  5. Pingback: State Senate Budget Panel Clears Bill to Link Tax Brackets to Inflation | North-JerseyNews.com
  6. Pingback: Pennacchio Bill Would Ban CRT Teachings in Schools | North-JerseyNews.com
  7. Pingback: OPINION: Understanding the Politics of Sex Education in New Jersey | North-JerseyNews.com
  8. Pingback: NJ GOP Pushes ‘Repeal, Replace, and Restore’ Message for Sex Ed, Diversity | North-JerseyNews.com

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
North-JerseyNews.com

OPINION: Time to Impose Penalties on Anti-Vaxxers

December 26, 2021
North-JerseyNews.com

UPDATE 12 pm: Jack Takes Noon Lead but Governor’s Race Still Too Close to Call

November 3, 2021
North-JerseyNews.com

Recreational Weed Sales Go Live in New Jersey Today

April 21, 2022
North-JerseyNews.com

Second Governor’s Debate Ends With Fireworks

October 12, 2021
North-JerseyNews.com

OPINION: Time to Impose Penalties on Anti-Vaxxers

116
North-JerseyNews.com

OPINION: We Are Wearing Masks Again Because of the Unvaccinated

44
North-JerseyNews.com

OPINION: The Return of the Joe Biden America Elected

41
North-JerseyNews.com

OPINION: North-JerseyNews.com Endorses Phil Murphy for Governor

33
North-JerseyNews.com

Shore Towns Look to Shut Down Pop-up Parties As Summer Starts

May 26, 2022
North-JerseyNews.com

Latest COVID-19 Update for North Jersey

May 26, 2022
North-JerseyNews.com

North Jersey House Members Seek to Help Vets Find Jobs, Education Opportunities

May 26, 2022
North-JerseyNews.com

North-JerseyNews.com Roundup for May 26, 2022

May 26, 2022

Join 10,000+ other subscribers

Select list(s) to subscribe to

support-Local

Recent Post

North-JerseyNews.com

Shore Towns Look to Shut Down Pop-up Parties As Summer Starts

by James Hickey
May 26, 2022
0

North-JerseyNews.com

Latest COVID-19 Update for North Jersey

by North-JerseyNews.com
May 26, 2022
0

North-JerseyNews.com

North Jersey House Members Seek to Help Vets Find Jobs, Education Opportunities

by James Hickey
May 26, 2022
0

Popular

North-JerseyNews.com

Shore Towns Look to Shut Down Pop-up Parties As Summer Starts

by James Hickey
2022/05/26
0

North-JerseyNews.com

Latest COVID-19 Update for North Jersey

by North-JerseyNews.com
2022/05/26
0

North-JerseyNews.com

North Jersey House Members Seek to Help Vets Find Jobs, Education Opportunities

by James Hickey
2022/05/26
0

Subscribe now

Join 100,000+ other subscribers

Select list(s) to subscribe to

ss-tp

North-JerseyNews.com

When it comes to breaking news North Jersey, North Jersey local news or live news North Jersey, We all look for a reliable source that can give us authentic North Jersey news or local Jersey news.

© Copyright 2021 North-JerseyNews.com

Design and Developed By MOZWEBMEDIA

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Washington
  • Trenton
  • County
  • Court
  • Roundup
  • Opinion
  • Search
  • Donation

© Copyright 2021 North-JerseyNews.com
Design and Developed By MOZWEBMEDIA

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Finance-Currency-Financial-World-Dollar-Funds-634901

Add Your Heading Text Here

Pop-up Design 1 (1)

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: