Connors, Rumpf & Gove Oppose Gerrymandering Constitutional Amendment Designed to Rig Redistricting
Calling it one of the most blatant political power grabs on record, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove oppose and will vote against a legislative effort to rig the State’s Legislative redistricting process.
Calling it one of the most blatant political power grabs on record, District 9 lawmakers said they oppose and will vote against a legislative effort to rig the State’s Legislative redistricting process. (©iStock)
As proposed, the companion Resolutions, SCR-152 and ACR-205, would have amended the State Constitution, setting new standards for how legislative districts are redrawn. The calculations that would be used to establish legislative districts would have been based on federal and gubernatorial elections results, as opposed to legislative election results, in order to give the State Democrat party a massive advantage, according to a number of nonpartisan groups and election experts.
“As intended, the proposed state constitutional amendment was a deceptive, overt partisan power grab being pushed by establishment players under the false pretense that this about reform, when in reality – it was anything but.
“Bottom line: the gerrymandering that would be authorized under the proposed amendment would have deprived New Jersey voters of fair representation in government, regardless of their political affiliation, further eroding trust in government.
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Connors, Rumpf & Gove: No Excuse for Delaying Protection of Property Tax Exemptions for Vets Coping with Natural Disasters
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove are calling for action on their bill to protect tax exempt status of property owned by a 100 percent disabled veteran whose home has been destroyed by flood, storm event, natural cause, or other act of God.
9th district lawmakers are calling for action on their bill to protect tax exempt status of property owned by a 100 percent disabled veteran whose home has been destroyed by flood, storm event, natural cause, or other act of God. (©iStock)
The 9th District Delegation’s bipartisan-supported bill, S-900, passed the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee in late March of this year but has yet to be considered by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The Assembly version of the bill, A-714, is still awaiting action by the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“Under current law, 100 percent disabled veterans claim a full local property tax exemption on their primary home. Regretfully, it became apparent after Superstorm Sandy that the law does not protect the veteran’s exemption in the event of a natural disaster if the property is no longer useable as the owner’s residence.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Booker Bill Shows Politics Takes Priority in Trenton
District 9 Lawmakers Urge U.S. Sen. Cory Booker to Pick ONE Office & Stop Wasting Taxpayers’ Time & Money
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove released the following statement in light of today’s signing of A-4674/S-3106, legislation known as the “Cory Booker Bill.”
District 9 lawmakers comment on the Nov. 1, 2018 signing of legislation known as the Booker Bill, stating that US Sen. Cory Booker should pick one office to run for and stop wasting taxpayers’ time and money. (SenateNJ.com)
“Dismissive of more severe issues that taxpayers want addressed, the State Legislature and the Governor saw fit to prioritize a bill that would allow a candidate to run for both Congress and for Vice President or President simultaneously. Obviously, the bill was written for New Jersey’s sitting US Senator, Cory Booker.
“The bill’s introduction and the uncharacteristic-for-Trenton speed with which it was enacted speaks volumes about the Trenton establishment’s priorities these days. Usually, only tax increases move that quickly though the Legislature to be signed into, as evidenced by the recent State Budget process. Now you can add rigging the system of the people, by the people, for the people — for one person, to the type of bills that meet the criteria of being important – at least as far as the Legislative Leadership is concerned.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove to Economic & Fiscal Policy Workgroup: Reform NJ’s Rigged School Funding Formula
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove said they have a simple, obvious and direct response to members of the State Economic & Fiscal Policy Workgroup, which held a roundtable on October 23 in Toms River: reform the state’s rigged school funding formula.
District 9 lawmakers said they have a simple response to members of the Economic & Fiscal Policy Workgroup: reform NJ’s rigged school funding formula. (Wikimedia)
“The state workgroup organized by Senate President Steve Sweeney promoted its roundtable as a discussion on pressing state fiscal issues including ‘county and municipal government reform’ and avoiding ‘crisis conditions.’
“While the agenda items sound good on paper, if the Workgroup is truly interested in providing achievable tax relief to residents in our area, the answer is staring them right in the face: reform New Jersey’s rigged school funding formula.
District 9 Lawmakers: Taxpayers Likely Footing Excessive Legal Bill for Latest Controversial State Hiring
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove (R-9) released the following statement on the Murphy Administration’s controversial hiring of certain officials, and the Legislature’s subsequent plans to hold hearings on the matter, stating that taxpayers will ultimately be forced to foot the bill.
District 9 lawmakers comment on the Murphy Administration’s controversial hiring of certain officials, and the Legislature’s plans to hold hearings on the matter, stating that taxpayers will ultimately be forced to foot the bill. (Pixabay)
“The intensifying controversy into how an individual accused and investigated for sexual assault was hired by the state took on another alarming dimension that taxpayers will, ultimately, foot the legal bill for. Mind you, this is not to be confused with the controversial hiring of a bribery-convicted ex-politician for a $70,000 a-year-position with the New Jersey Department of Education, who has since resigned after a firestorm of criticism.
Committee Advances Connors-Rumpf-Gove Veterans’ Surviving Spouse Benefit Bill
The Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted to approve legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove which would require the $750 annual compensation to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans to be payable from the date of the veteran’s death. Members of the 9th District delegation serve on the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committees of both houses.
A Senate committee approved a bill sponsored by Connors, Rumpf, and Gove requiring the $750 annual compensation to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans to be payable from the date of the veteran’s death. (©iStock)
Under the 9th District delegation’s legislation (S-898), payments to a surviving spouse would be due from April 9, 1985, in the event the veteran’s death occurred prior to that date, or the date of the veteran’s death if the death occurred after April 9, 1985, regardless of the date of the surviving spouse’s application.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove issued the following statement on the Committee’s release of their veterans’ initiative:
“Veterans’ services remain among the most important issues to our constituency, a large segment of which are veterans themselves or have a veteran family member. This legislative proposal is the result of hardship cases we were informed of in which spouses didn’t become aware of the benefit until long after they became eligible. Given the extenuating circumstances, which includes their spouses’ service to our nation, these individuals should be entitled to the monetary compensation dating back to their eligibility date.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Hiring of Convicted Public Official Typifies NJ’s Extremist Policies
Calling it a clear betrayal of the public trust, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove questioned how the Murphy Administration could rationalize, legally and morally, hiring a corruption-convicted ex-public official for a $70,000-a-year job with the New Jersey Department of Education.
Calling it a clear betrayal of the public trust, 9th District legislators question how the Murphy Administration could rationalize hiring a corruption-convicted ex-public official for a $70,000-a-year job with the NJ DOE. (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District delegation’s comments were in response to the controversy surrounding the state’s hiring of former Passaic councilman Marcellus Jackson who pled guilty to bribery charges in 2007. Amid a recent firestorm of criticism, the individual has since resigned from his state position.
‘It Never Ends’ – Connors, Rumpf & Gove Oppose Bill to Send More State Aid to Paterson & Trenton
9th District legislators Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove stand unconditionally opposed to and voted against legislation that would send yet more taxpayer dollars to Paterson and Trenton. The bill, A-4350, was approved by the Assembly on Sept. 27, 2018. Senator Christopher J. Connors stated he stands with his 9th District Assembly colleagues and, accordingly, will vote against the measure if it is considered in the Senate.
9th District legislators stand unconditionally opposed to legislation that would send yet more taxpayer dollars to Paterson and Trenton. (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District delegation made the following remarks on the bill:
“It never ends. Suburban and rural taxpayers continue to subsidize big-spending in the urban areas of the state that are unwilling to get their own fiscal house in order.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: As If We Needed Further Proof that the Gas Tax Increase Law Was a Scam
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove, who vehemently opposed and voted against the 23-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax passed in 2016, released the following statement on the Murphy Administration’s recent announcement that gas tax will increase another 4.3 cents per gallon beginning October 1.
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove, who vehemently opposed and voted against the 23-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax passed in 2016, said they also stand united with constituents in opposition to the Murphy Administration’s plans to raise the gas tax another 4.3 cents per gallon beginning October 1. (SenateNJ.com)
“Despite the financial hardships this regressive gas tax increase will impose, particularly on middle class families and seniors, no one should be surprised the revenue-starved state is reaching further into taxpayers’ pockets. Without hesitation, our Delegation broke with former Governor Christie by opposing the original 23-cent per gallon tax increase, because we knew that our constituency would be disproportionately impacted.
“Our Delegation remains consistent in our opposition, regardless of the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s decision to support a tax increase based on a review of fuel consumption levels. This is due to the fact that we proudly represent a commuting constituency with a large senior population. With little to no access to mass transit, our constituents primarily rely on the Garden State Parkway as a means of commuting on which, adding insult to injury, drivers are still paying the Corzine toll hikes that were deliberately targeted at our area of the state.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: Proposed Plastic Bag Fee About Revenue, Not the Environment
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove are calling Governor Murphy’s vetoing of legislation that would have imposed a $.05 cent fee on single-use carryout bags a welcome departure from the extensive roll call of tax increases imposed during State Budget deliberations.
9th District Legislators respond to Governor Murphy’s vetoing of legislation which would have imposed a fee on the use of single-use carryout bags (SenateNJ.com)
The 9th District Legislators responded to Governor Murphy’s vetoing of legislation (A-3267/S-2600) which would have imposed a fee on the use of single-use carryout bags provided by certain types of stores to customers. Revenue generated by the fee was to be dedicated to the newly established “Health Schools and Community Lead Abatement Fund.”
