Durr: Democrats Violate Senate Rules to Prevent Vote on $500 “Give It Back” Tax Rebate to New Jersey Families
During a session of the New Jersey Senate today, Democrats violated the rules of the Senate to improperly block a vote on legislation that would provide an immediate $500 rebate to most New Jersey families.
During today's Senate session, I made a motion to call a vote on my "Give It Back" bill that would provide New Jersey families with immediate $500 rebates to offset the impact of soaring gas prices and inflation.
Democrats actually broke the rules of the Senate to block a vote on this tax relief. Absolutely unbelievable.
Posted by Senator Edward Durr on Thursday, May 26, 2022
“It’s unbelievable that Democrats would violate the rules of the Senate to prevent New Jersey families from getting a $500 rebate to help offset the impact of soaring gas prices and inflation,” said Senator Ed Durr (R-3). “They just demonstrated clearly that they’d rather divvy up billions of dollars of tax overcollections in a back room for pet projects than help struggling families. Why are Democrats so afraid of giving real tax relief to New Jerseyans?”
Durr Bill Will Hold Drunk Drivers Financially Accountable
Senator Edward Durr introduced legislation yesterday that would require courts to order financial support for children if their parents are killed by a drunk driver.

Sen. Ed Durr introduced legislation yesterday that would require courts to order financial support for children if their parents are killed by a drunk driver. (Flickr)
“A child that loses a parent or guardian to a drunk driver experiences an incredible amount of emotional distress. Their entire life is upended in an instant and, in addition to emotional consequences, they may also suffer significant financial consequences,” said Durr (R-3). “Since parents are ultimately responsible for the upbringing and education of their children, if a parent is killed by a drunk driver, that driver should be held responsible for the financial well-being of those children.”
Durr Introduces Mega-Bundle of Bills Protecting Gun Rights of Law-Abiding NJ Citizens
Senator Ed Durr introduced a bundle of five gun rights bills this week, the first installment of his 15-bill package to advance safe, responsible firearm ownership for law abiding citizens.

Sen. Ed Durr introduced a bundle of five gun rights bills this week, the first installment of his 15-bill package to advance safe, responsible firearm ownership for law abiding citizens. (Wikimedia Commons)
“With some of the most rigid gun laws in the nation, New Jersey aggressively prevents innocent residents from protecting themselves, but fails miserably when it comes to controlling illegal arms and locking up predators who commit crimes with firearms,” said Durr (R-3). “These bills will help save the lives, families and constitutional rights of New Jerseyans who have been forsaken by Trenton bureaucrats committed to releasing convicts and weakening the criminal justice system.”
Durr: U.S. Supreme Court Appears Likely to Fix 50-Year Mistake
Senator Ed Durr issued the following statement in response to reports that the Supreme Court of the United States has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade:

Sen. Ed Durr said the U.S. Supreme Court appears likely to fix a 50-year mistake following reports it has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. (Wikimedia Commons)
“As someone who believes in the sanctity of life, I am hopeful that Justice Alito’s draft decision proves to be the final opinion that is approved by the majority to overturn Roe v. Wade and reaffirm states’ rights when it comes to abortion,” said Durr (R-3). “While it’s possible things can change, it seems likely the Supreme Court is on the verge of fixing a 50-year mistake. It’ll be a major victory for the pro-life community and for all those who kept faith that change would one day come.”
Durr to Introduce Bill Prohibiting Classroom Instruction on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity from Kindergarten Through Sixth Grade
Senator Ed Durr announced plans to introduce legislation to prohibit classroom instruction by school personnel on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Sen. Ed Durr announced plans to introduce legislation to prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through sixth grade. (Pixabay)
“I highly doubt that New Jersey parents would want their children to learn about gender identity and sexual orientation in elementary school,” said Durr (R-3). “The new curriculum being foisted on us by the Murphy Administration is not only absurd and unnecessary, but it is incredibly insulting to every parent in the state. My legislation will reverse the implementation of these new sex education standards and allow parents to determine if and when such curriculum should be offered to their children.”
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.”