South Jersey Lawmakers to Murphy: Stop Burdensome, Discriminatory School Covid Testing
Sen. Ed Durr and Assemblywomen Beth Sawyer and Bethanne McCarthy Patrick want Gov. Phil Murphy to rescind his executive order that requires school staff and teachers who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to submit to once or twice weekly testing.

Sen. Ed Durr and Assemblywomen Beth Sawyer and Bethanne McCarthy Patrick want Gov. Phil Murphy to rescind his executive order that requires school staff and teachers who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to submit to once or twice weekly testing. (Pixabay)
The freshman legislators argue that executive order No. 253 is burdensome, discriminatory and remains in effect despite little Covid spread in schools and the public health emergency termination in March.
“Murphy’s mandates boil down to one word: discrimination. He picks the haves and have-nots. The superior and the inferior,” Durr (R-Gloucester) said. “There is no public health emergency. The pandemic is over. It is time to stop with the discrimination and let everyone do their jobs.”
Durr: Murphy’s April Fools’ Joke Really a Middle Finger to New Jersey
On Friday, Governor Phil Murphy issued an April Fools’ Day joke suggesting he was changing the New Jersey State Bird to the Middle Finger. Senator Ed Durr (R-3) said many New Jerseyans feel like the governor has been giving them the middle finger for years:

Sen. Ed Durr said many New Jerseyans feel like Gov. Murphy has been giving them the middle finger for years. (Twitter)
“How many New Jerseyans feel like the Murphy administration is flipping them the bird when they go to the MVC or try to collect unemployment? How many grieving families feel like they’re getting a giant middle finger from the governor every time they ask for an investigation of thousands of nursing home deaths? How many parents feel like Governor Murphy is flipping them off when they express concerns about sex and gender being taught to extremely young children?
Pennacchio, Durr Blast Murphy Administration for Two Years of Silence on Veterans’ Homes Tragedies
On the second anniversary of the initial confirmed COVID infection at a state-operated veterans’ home, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Ed Durr are demanding accountability from the Murphy Administration.

On the second anniversary of the initial confirmed COVID infection at a state-operated veterans’ home, Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Sen. Ed Durr are demanding accountability from the Murphy Administration. (SenateNJ.com)
“It has been two long, painful years for the families who lost loved ones in the veterans’ facilities, and we’re no closer to getting to the truth about what happened than we were in the heart of the pandemic,” said Pennacchio (R-24).
Democrats Block Durr Resolution Urging American Energy Independence
As families across our nation suffer due to rising gas prices resulting from the war in Ukraine, a resolution by Senator Ed Durr (R-3) urging American energy independence was blocked during today’s Senate session by the Democratic majority.

The Senate Democratic Majority voted to table a resolution by Sen. Ed. Durr urging American energy independence amid rising gas prices due to the war in Ukraine. (SenateNJ.com)
The resolution, SR-74, urges the United States Congress and the President to increase domestic energy production and to lessen regulatory burdens that prevent that from happening.
In urging his colleagues to take action, Durr made the following remarks to the Senate (click here for video):
“Every decade or so, we experience a major crisis where our nation is reminded that we are too dependent on foreign sources of energy. After each crisis has passed, we’ve gone back to the old way of doing business and quickly forgotten the lessons we should have learned.
Durr Introduces Bill Providing $500 to Families for Gas Price & Inflation Relief
Senator Ed Durr has introduced the next round of Give It Back tax credits proposed by Senate Republicans through a new bill that would give New Jersey families $500 to provide relief from soaring gas prices and inflation.

Sen. Ed Durr introduced the next round of Give It Back tax credits proposed by Senate Republicans through a new bill that would give New Jersey families $500 to provide relief from soaring gas prices and inflation. (www.GiveItBack.us)
“Gas prices and inflation are both soaring, which is making it harder for New Jerseyans to fill their tanks and feed their families,” said Durr (R-3). “At the same time, Governor Murphy is sitting on billions of dollars of extra taxes he collected this year that he doesn’t need. We should Give It Back, every penny of it, to help New Jersey taxpayers who are struggling with the rising price of gas and the highest inflation in 40 years.”
Durr Resolution Supports Upcoming Freedom Convoys Protesting COVID-19 Mandates
Senator Ed Durr has introduced a Senate Resolution expressing support for “Freedom Convoys” planned for the first week of March across the country and within New Jersey to protest ongoing government mandates related to COVID-19.

Sen. Ed Durr has introduced a Senate Resolution expressing support for Freedom Convoys planned for the first week of March across the country and within New Jersey to protest ongoing government mandates related to COVID-19. (New Jersey Convoy)
“The Freedom Convoys that are planned in New Jersey and elsewhere are intended to send Governor Murphy and President Biden the message that the pandemic is over, it’s time to get back to normal life,” said Durr (R-3), a career truck driver. “It’s time to end all of the overbearing mandates that have taken away our rights, choices, and freedoms.”
Durr Co-Sponsors Resolution Urging Murphy to Reopen State Offices Closed to the Public
Senator Edward Durr is co-sponsoring a resolution that would urge Governor Murphy to immediately address the unemployment claim backlog and reopen State offices closed to the public.

Sen. Ed Durr is co-sponsoring a resolution that would urge Gov. Murphy to immediately address the unemployment claim backlog and reopen state offices closed to the public. (©iStock)
“We’ve heard too many excuses from Governor Murphy for his refusal to reopen all unemployment centers that have been closed for nearly two years,” said Durr (R-3). “There are thousands of unemployed workers who can’t resolve their claims online or over the phone to get the benefits they’re owed. It seems absurd that we have to pass a resolution to force the Murphy administration to reopen offices to serve the public, but that’s the unfortunate reality of the situation.”
Durr Responds to Murphy’s New Vaccine Mandate Deadline
Senator Edward Durr responded to Governor Phil Murphy’s new April 11 vaccine mandate deadline for health care workers, first responders, and corrections officers.

Sen. Ed Durr responded to Gov. Phil Murphy’s new April 11 vaccine mandate deadline for health care workers, first responders, and corrections officers. (Pixabay)
“As Governor Murphy continues to postpone the vaccine mandate for health care workers and corrections officers, it’s obvious that the pressure we are putting on him is working,” said Durr (R-3). “Health experts have repeatedly warned us about the perils of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which are discriminatory and not based in science. Given these facts, and the rapidly declining threat of COVID, the Governor should just drop the vaccine mandates entirely.”
Durr: Murphy Administration Needs to Stop Blaming New Jerseyans for MVC Problems
Senator Edward Durr says the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) needs to own up to its mistakes and that the recent comments made by MVC Chief Sue Fulton are unhelpful and out of touch.

Sen. Ed Durr says the MVC needs to own up to its mistakes and that the recent comments made by MVC Chief Sue Fulton are unhelpful and out of touch. (Wikimedia Commons)
“It’s shocking that the MVC Chief would blame New Jerseyans for the agency’s abysmal performance during the pandemic. Perhaps the individuals in charge should focus more on addressing the concerns of drivers instead of playing the blame game,” said Durr (R-3). “The fact is, since the beginning of this pandemic, most New Jerseyans have had to put up with persistent lines, extremely long wait times, and poor customer service. This is inexcusable, and if the MVC were in the private sector, it would have been put out of business a long time ago.”
Durr: Where’s Murphy’s Vigil for Nursing Home Victims, Aborted Babies, Families Devastated by Unemployment Failures?
Governor Should Show Same Concern for New Jerseyans That He’s Showing for People Thousands of Miles Away
With Governor Phil Murphy set to attend a prayer vigil this evening for those suffering in Ukraine, Senator Ed Durr asked when the governor is going to show concern for thousands of nursing home victims, aborted babies, and families devastated financially by his administration’s unemployment system failures.

Sen. Ed Durr said Gov. Murphy should show the same concern for suffering and grieving New Jerseyans that he’s showing for people thousands of miles away. (CC0 Public Domain)
“The people of Ukraine are suffering horribly right now and they deserve all of our prayers,” said Durr (R-3). “While I’m glad Governor Murphy is supporting New Jersey’s Ukrainian community during this difficult time, I have to ask where’s the vigil for the nearly 10,000 victims in New Jersey’s nursing homes and veterans homes? Where’s the vigil for the countless babies who will die under the abortion bill he just signed into law? Where’s the vigil for the tens of thousands of New Jersey families that were destroyed financially when his administration failed to give them the unemployment benefits they were owed?”