Governor Signs Bill Permitting Illegals To Receive Financial Help

On Wednesday, May 9th, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law (S-699), a bill that would permit illegal immigrants access to financial aid.

The bill passed in the Senate by a 27-10 margin, while over in the Assembly, the bill passed 49-24. LD-13 legislators, Assemblywomen Serena DiMaso of Holmdel voted 'NO', as did Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, of the Lincroft section of Middletown.

Newly elected state Senator, Declan O'Scanlon, Little Silver, a self-proclaimed 'straight shooter,' and a legislator that regularly calls for caps and limitations on public workers' pensions and benefits, inexplicably voted for the measure, that estimates indicate may cost the state's taxpayers 13 million dollars.

Senator O'Scanlon's Wednesday vote completely runs counter to his statement made in 2014 regarding this very same matter. In the past, O'Scanlon, has indicated the pool of available funds for student education, should not be diluted with those with an undocumented status.

Assemblyman Jay Webber, R-Morris, ripped Murphy's legislation that he said extends financial aid to "illegal immigrants."

"This new law is fundamentally wrong for our citizens and taxpayers," he said. "In the Assembly and now, I stand in defense of a basic belief: that citizens of the United States should be treated as well or better than non-citizens who happen to be in our country....the financial aid to students could cost taxpayers $13 million more in spending at the same time that Governor Murphy claims that New Jersey needs $1.7 billion more in tax hikes....This is ample proof again that our taxpayers and citizens are the lowest priority in Governor Murphy's pecking order,"

Senator O'Scanlon would like to hear from you. His office, which is located outside the district he represents (Red Bank), can be contacted by pressing here.