(Click here for a high-resolution photo) TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis’ bill that will create the New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force was signed into law May 17. Its purpose will be to study and suggest changes to the current public educator evaluation system established under the TEACHNJ Act of 2012. “Educators should spend their time planning and teaching, not filling out endless piles of tedious paperwork,” Matsikoudis (R-Union) said. Under the bill (S2082/A3413), the 13-member task force must deliver its recommendations to the governor and legislature by Se ..read more

Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips TRENTON, N.J. – Assembly Republican Conference Leader Christopher DePhillips is calling on legislative leaders to take tax increases off the table as Democrats discuss hiking the sales tax to fund NJ Transit during the final weeks of state budget negotiations. Instead, DePhillips wants to do a top-to-bottom review of NJ Transit to identify waste and cost-saving measures. “The Democrats have quite literally gone off the rails,” DePhillips (R-Bergen) said. “My message to Democrats working the budget behind the scenes is simple: Leave state taxpayers alone, leav ..read more

Assemblyman Greg McGuckin TRENTON, N.J. – Following recommendations by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin introduced a bill seeking to undo several provisions in a controversial law that many argued weakened the independent elections watchdog and permitted political corruption. The Elections Transparency Act, overhauling New Jersey’s campaign finance rules, was passed last year along party lines. The law gutted protections that combated corruption, exposed loopholes in pay-to-play regulations, constrained ELEC’s ability to investigate violations, and ..read more

(Click here for a high-resolution photo) TRENTON, N.J. – The appointment of appellate court judges should remain with the Judiciary, Assemblyman Christopher P. DePhillips says. He opposes a proposal floated by Sens. Nick Scutari and Raj Mukherji to transfer that power to the governor and senate. “Senators Scutari and Mukherji are creating a solution in search of a problem,” DePhillips (R-Bergen) said. “What is the public policy concern that is justifying this proposal?” The proposal would eliminate the existing appellate division and instead create a separate Court of Appeals. The governor wou ..read more

TRENTON, N.J. –  Assemblyman Paul Kanitra’s bombshell report on the cost of illegal immigrants to New Jersey residents caught the attention of at least one presidential candidate. At his campaign rally in Wildwood on Saturday, which packed a crowd of 100,000 people, former President Donald Trump shared some troubling statistics Kanitra uncovered on his recent trip to the Texas-Mexico border.     “They’re coming in illegally because the benefits in addition to other reasons. According to a new study, illegal immigration is already causing New Jersey residents $7.3 billion every s ..read more

Sen. Parker Space TRENTON, N.J. – Sen. Parker Space, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, of the 24th Legislative District, said Rutgers University must put the interests of state taxpayers ahead of radical protestors. However, as long as university administrators are negotiating with outsiders, the lawmakers say they have a list of their own demands. “By caving to protesters demands, Rutgers only gave the anti-Israel demonstrations more credibility and their failure to control the situation is very concerning. From postponing finals and making students feel unsafe t ..read more

Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz stands with government transparency advocates in opposing the majority party’s latest power grab, the dismantling of New Jersey’s open public records act. The fast-tracked legislation (S2930/A4045), introduced in March by Democrats but pulled from consideration for retooling after near-unanimous public outcry, was amended and released from its respective legislative Appropriations committees this week. The bill is up for a vote Monday. “We are a government of the people, by the people, for the people. This legislation upends t ..read more

Assemblywoman Aura Dunn TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Aura Dunn secured confirmation from Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway that he would be willing to participate in legislative hearings on the campus protests and student safety during the Assembly budget hearing on Thursday. “Many of my constituents are not only students, but also faculty and many have expressed their concerns about safety on campus,” Dunn (R-Morris) said at the hearing. “Would you be open to coming again before the legislature to really discuss the occurrences in a more focused and fuller discussion?” Holloway ..read more

Assemblywoman Aura Dunn TRENTON, N.J. – Following reports Rutgers University administrators acquiesced to pro-Palestine protestors’ demands, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn joined the call for legislative hearings on the negotiations and noted the opportunity to address the Rutgers president on Thursday. “When public funds are used to negotiate with protestors disrupting operations at our state university, the taxpayer-salaried administrators who facilitated these discussions must be held accountable,” Dunn (R-Morris) said. “Conceding to the demands of the pro-Palestine groups without input is deeply ..read more

TRENTON, N.J. –  Following his research trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, Assemblyman Paul Kanitra released a new video and report today detailing the size, scope and cost of New Jersey’s illegal immigration crisis. “During my border trip, judges, border patrol agents and Texas state troopers unequivocally stated that our actions here in New Jersey are incentivizing and encouraging people worldwide to break our laws and access the taxpayer-funded benefits we’re providing,” Kanitra (R-Ocean) said. The comprehensive report reveals a staggering number of illegal immigrants reside in New Jersey ..read more