Bucco: Murphy’s Indoor Dining Ban Leading to Restaurant Apocalypse
Says Restaurant Owners Getting Desperate, It’s Time for Governor to Offer Clear Plan for Safe Indoor Dining
Senator Anthony M. Bucco said restaurant owners who are facing financial ruin are growing increasingly desperate for Governor Phil Murphy to lift a prohibition on indoor dining that he issued by executive order in March.
Sen. Tony Bucco said restaurant owners facing financial ruin are growing increasingly desperate for Gov. Phil Murphy to lift a prohibition on indoor dining that he issued by executive order in March. (Pixabay)
“Governor Murphy’s five-month ban on indoor dining is leading to a restaurant apocalypse in New Jersey,” said Bucco (R-25). “Tens of thousands of restaurant workers remain unemployed, and more and more of the establishments where they worked are closing their doors forever. You can understand the desperation of restaurant owners who have invested their lives and savings into their businesses only to have it all taken away with the signing of an executive order by the governor.”
Bucco: Bipartisan Effort to Secure Coronavirus Relief Funding for Morris County Successful
Morris County to Receive More than $7 Million in Aid
Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) issued the following statement in response to the tens of millions of dollars of coronavirus relief funds that have been made available to the twelve New Jersey counties with populations of less than 500,000 residents that did not qualify for direct financial assistance under the provisions of the federal CARES Act:
Sen. Tony Bucco said Morris County will receive more than $7 million in coronavirus relief funding following a successful bipartisan effort to secure aid for the 12 New Jersey counties that did not qualify for direct financial assistance under the federal CARES Act. (Pixabay)
“I worked for months on a bipartisan effort with our congressional delegation to secure coronavirus relief funding for Morris County and the eleven other New Jersey counties that didn’t get aid directly from the federal government under the CARES Act.
“Today, our hard work paid off, with the governor announcing that $37 million of aid will be dedicated to support the coronavirus response efforts of these counties.
Bucco Urges In-Person Machine Voting with Vote-by-Mail Option to Reduce Confusion, Protect Public Health, Safeguard Trust in the Election Process
Says Applying to Vote by Mail, Rather than Automatic Mail Ballot, is Best Way to Protect Ballot Integrity
Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) released the following statement about the Governor’s Executive Order requiring an automatic vote-by-mail election:
Sen. Tony Bucco urged in-person machine voting with a vote-by-mail option to reduce confusion, protect public health, and safeguard trust in the election process. (SenateNJ.com)
“There’s no reason why voters can shop in a supermarket or wait hours on a line at a Murphy-led Motor Vehicle agency, and not be able to also spend a few minutes to cast their vote safely and securely on a machine, in-person, on Election Day.
“This is not a debate about whether someone can vote by mail – they can and they should if that is their preference – the true debate is about the integrity of the system when polling locations are changed, live ballots are automatically sent to tens of thousands of voters who are deceased or no longer living at a given address, and the coming confusion on election night when County Boards of Elections are overwhelmed with counting ballots and winners could remain unknown for weeks. Now is not the time to be changing the rules, creating voter confusion, and disenfranchising voters.
Bucco to Murphy: Long Lines Persist, MVC Is Still Broken
Calls for Plan from Governor to Enact Real Solutions Like Scheduled Appointments, Expanded Online Services
Senator Anthony M. Bucco said the continued long lines at MVC facilities in Randolph and across New Jersey make it clear that the Murphy administration needs to implement real solutions to better serve drivers.
Signs outside the Bakers Basin MVC advising drivers that the agency had reached its service limit on the morning of August 7, 2020. (SenateNJ.com)
“Despite Governor Murphy’s insistence that everything’s under control again at the MVC, nothing could be further from the truth,” said Bucco (R-25). “Six weeks after agencies reopened for business, people are still lining up in the middle of the night for a chance to get through the door. Drivers shouldn’t have to arrive at the MVC before dawn to guarantee they’ll be successful in obtaining their license, registration, or title.”
Bucco: NJ’s Fiscal Crisis Must be Managed Responsibly
The Best Solution is not the Easy One
The fiscal impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the state appears to be more manageable than the Administration feared, and Governor Murphy must consider the latest numbers before committing to a path that will unleash economic chaos on taxpayers, said Senator Anthony M. Bucco today.
Senator Bucco today called on Governor Murphy to work for a responsible and affordable solution to New Jersey’s fiscal crisis. (Pixabay)
As a decision by the New Jersey State Supreme Court on the constitutionality of a massive borrowing scheme championed by Murphy is expected as early as this morning, the latest data continues to indicate the state’s revenue losses may not be as bad as expected.
Bucco: Restaurant Closings Rest at Governor’s Feet
The popular Market Taverne restaurant in Morristown is the latest causality due to New Jersey’s prohibition on indoor dining.
Financial pressures from the pandemic are forcing many restaurants to go out of business and Senator Bucco is calling on the Governor to help. (Pixabay)
The decision to shut this restaurant down forever leaves 30 employees without jobs, and became public only days after another popular restaurant in the town, La Campagna announced they were going out of business.
“This is real life, and the Governor is letting it happen,” said Senator Anthony M. Bucco, a tireless advocate for a more business-supportive approach from the Administration. “I’ve heard of seven restaurants that can’t hold on, and it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Businesses are dying, dreams are fading, jobs are being lost and the Governor has done little to help.”
Bucco Bill Package Addresses Long Lines and Delays at Motor Vehicle Commission Locations
As frustrations continue to mount with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s inability to deal with the volume of motorists seeking services at agencies around the state, Senator Anthony M. Bucco has introduced a legislative package to provide a solution to the problems at the long-beleaguered agency.
Senator Bucco sponsors a package of legislation addressing inefficiencies and poor service at New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. (SenateNJ.com)
“MVC’s performance during the pandemic has been abysmal, from top to bottom,” said Bucco. “The coronavirus simply exposed systemic shortcomings and inefficiencies that have plagued operations at the commission for far too long. Steps that should have been taken to improve services and productivity were ignored, and the added pressure of the state shutdown resulted in the mess we see there today.”
Bucco, Corrado & Pennacchio: Murphy’s Nursing Home, Unemployment & MVC Failures Must Be Probed by Senate
Call for Democrats to Stop Delaying Formation of Special Investigative Committee
Senator Anthony M. Bucco, Senator Kristin Corrado, and Senator Joe Pennacchio said the Murphy Administration’s massive failures in protecting nursing homes, processing unemployment claims, and reopening Motor Vehicle Commission agencies must be investigated by the Legislature to ensure that fixes can be implemented as quickly as possible.
Senators Bucco, Corrado, and Pennacchio said the Murphy Administration’s massive failures in protecting nursing homes, processing unemployment claims, and reopening MVC agencies must be investigated by the Legislature to ensure that fixes can be implemented as quickly as possible. (SenateNJ.com)
“It’s clear to everyone in New Jersey that the Murphy Administration has failed to properly protect nursing home residents, help unemployed workers, or plan for the MVC’s reopening,” said Bucco (R-25). “What’s not clear, however, is why the governor didn’t listen to the warnings raised by so many people or why he continues to refuse to enact the common-sense solutions we’ve proposed. It’s also not clear why Senate Democrats continue to delay the bipartisan investigation we were promised to help guide our efforts to fix lingering problems and prevent a recurrence of these critical failures.”
Bucco Bill Requires State to Pay for Police at Motor Vehicle Commission Facilities
Long lines and unsafe traffic conditions at recently reopened Motor Vehicle Commission locations has been a burden on local police departments, and Senator Anthony M. Bucco wants to ensure the state picks up the tab for the increased expenses.
Long lines at the MVC location in Randolph and across New Jersey increased expenses for towns, and a bill introduced by Senator Bucco would ensure the state pays for it. (SenateNJ.com)
“It’s the right thing to do. The MVC is responsible to cover the costs for these issues,” said Bucco (R-25). “It’s their job to ensure things run smoothly, and when they drop the ball like they have done with the reopening of facilities, they can’t expect cash-strapped municipalities to take the hit.”
Senate Approves Bucco Bill Establishing Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey
Statewide Initiative is Necessary to Combat Addiction and Save Lives
August 31 of each year will be designated Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey under a bill sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco and passed today by the Senate.
Senator Bucco’s resolution designating August 31 of each year as Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey cleared the Senate. (www.overdoseday.com)
“Every day, the battle against substance abuse disorder and opioid-related death continues in this state and across the nation,” said Bucco (R-25). “Information can be empowering to those who often feel helpless against this deadly disease. Establishing this meaningful day will honor the lives of those lost to addiction for years to come and hopefully save many more from the grasp of drugs. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle must work together now more than ever to increase awareness and remove the stigma surrounding addiction.”
