Doherty to Governor: Open Police, Fire Academies
Senator Michael Doherty called on Governor Murphy to open police and fire academies across the state.
Communities across the state are in need of newly trained police and firefighters, and Senator Doherty is urging the Governor to reopen the state’s training academies. (Flickr)
“Even in a state under strict lockdown during a pandemic, there is a constant need for qualified police officers and firefighters,” said Doherty (R-23). “When the academies were shut down due to the coronavirus, it blocked the dreams of hundreds of young men and women who are committed to protecting and helping state residents. It’s time to allow instructors to go back to work preparing and training a new generation of New Jersey heroes.”
Sweeney, O’Scanlon & Doherty Bill Allowing Reassignment of Public Workers During Crises Advances
Legislation authored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Senator Michael Doherty allowing for the temporary reassignment of state and local employees outside of their job classifications for up to 30 days during public emergencies was approved by the Senate today.
The Senate approved legislation by Sen. Steve Sweeney, Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Sen. Michael Doherty allowing for the temporary reassignment of state and local employees outside of their job classifications for up to 30 days during public emergencies. (SenateNJ.com)
The bill, S-2477, would allow available civil servants to assist departments handling additional workload which arises as a result of a disaster or other event triggered by a state of emergency. The temporary redeployment would be for the sole purpose of responding to the crisis. All the rights and benefits of the employees would be protected, including seniority, salary steps and job classifications, under the legislation.
Sweeney, O’Scanlon & Doherty Bill Allowing Reassignment of Public Workers During Crises Advances
Legislation authored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Senator Michael Doherty allowing for the temporary reassignment of state and local employees outside of their job classifications for up to 30 days during public emergencies was approved by the Senate Budget Committee today.
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Sweeney, O’Scanlon and Doherty that would allow temporary reassignment of state and local employees outside of their job classifications for up to 30 days during public emergencies was advanced today. (SenateNJ.com)
The bill, S-2477, would allow available civil servants to assist departments handling additional workload which arises as a result of a disaster or other event triggered by a state of emergency. The temporary redeployment would be for the sole purpose of responding to the crisis. All the rights and benefits of the employees would be protected, including seniority, salary steps and job classifications, under the legislation.
Testa & Doherty Call on Labor Department to Open In-Person Unemployment Service Centers
Say If Business Workers Can Serve Customers from Behind Protective Screens, So Can Public Sector Workers
As New Jersey’s unemployment crisis closes in on two months, Senator Michael Testa and Senator Michael Doherty called for Governor Murphy to reopen New Jersey’s One-Stop Career Centers and staff them with idle workers from other State departments.
Sen. Michael Testa and Sen. Michael Doherty called for Gov. Murphy to reopen NJ’s One-Stop Career Centers and staff them with idle workers from other State departments. (SenateNJ.com)
“A functional unemployment office during an economic downtown is the the epitome of an essential public service, yet hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans continue to go without the unemployment benefits they’ve earned for weeks on end,” said Testa (R-1). “We are calling for an end to busy signals, broken websites, and unanswered emails from the Department of Labor.”
O’Scanlon, Doherty & Sweeney Will Act to Allow Reassignment of Public Workers During Crises
Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Michael Doherty, and Senate President Steve Sweeney issued the following joint statement today saying they will introduce legislation (S-2477) to allow for the temporary reassignment of state and local employees outside of their civil service classifications for up to 30 days during public emergencies:
Sens. O’Scanlon, Doherty, and Sen. Pres. Sweeney issued the following joint statement saying they will introduce legislation to allow for the temporary reassignment of state and local employees outside of their civil service classifications during public emergencies. (SenateNJ.com)
“We recognize the impact the COVID crisis is having on the state’s ability to respond in a timely way to the emergent needs of the public and want to do what we can to improve the effectiveness of services, especially unemployment benefits. We will introduce legislation that will allow for the temporary transfer of state workers during public emergencies to where they are needed most. This will enable the strategic redeployment of human resources to respond to critical needs in times of crises.
Doherty Raises Awareness of Veterans’ Mental Health Needs During COVID Crisis
Senator Michael Doherty is working to raise awareness of veterans suicide during Mental Health Awareness Month.
Sen. Michael Doherty is working to raise awareness of veterans suicide during Mental Health Awareness Month. (©iStock)
“The psychological and economic consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to be devastating for many, further exacerbating risk factors for mental health related morbidity and mortality for our veteran community,” said Doherty (R-23). “This unprecedented crisis is a stressor for vulnerable veterans with mental health issues. COVID has the potential to worsen their overall health and put them at higher risk for suicide and other adverse outcomes, as well as for veterans who have no previous history of mental illness.
Doherty: Put Idle State Employees to Work Processing Unemployment Claim Backlog
With business closed across the state and families struggling to get by financially, Senator Michael Doherty proposed a solution to help all of the nearly one million out-of-work New Jerseyans to receive the unemployment benefits they deserve. He called for inactive State government workers to be reassigned to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) to help process a massive backlog of unemployment claims.
Sen. Michael Doherty is calling for inactive State government workers to be reassigned to the NJDOL to help process a massive backlog of unemployment claims. (SenateNJ.com)
“Many State government workers are sitting at home and getting paid at taxpayer expense while they are unable to do their regular jobs due to the pandemic,” said Doherty (R-23). “Let’s put those idle State workers to use at the currently understaffed and overwhelmed New Jersey Labor Department. With a quarter-of-a-million residents still waiting for their claims to be processed, we need to step up and do all we can to help their families keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.”
Doherty: “We Have a Governor, and Not a King”
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) issued the following statement:
We have a governor, and not a king.
On a daily basis, Governor Phil Murphy continues to eviscerate the New Jersey Constitution.
Statement from Sen. Mike Doherty on Gov. Murphy’s unconstitutional executive order in which he tears up private contracts between tenants and landlords. (SenateNJ.com)
Governor Murphy’s executive order of April 24, 2020, in which he tears up private contracts between tenants and landlords is clearly unconstitutional.
Doherty Launches Online Petition to Allow Religious Services to Resume in New Jersey
Says Outdoor Services Should Be Allowed with Reasonable Precautions
Senator Mike Doherty has launched an online petition urging Governor Phil Murphy to allow religious services to resume in New Jersey with reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of congregants.
Sen. Mike Doherty launched an online petition urging Gov. Phil Murphy to allow religious services to resume in New Jersey with reasonable precautions. (Pixabay)
“When many of us could be at Sunday services today replenishing a much needed sense of hope in these uncertain times, we instead remain separated in our homes from the communities of faith that sustain us in good times and bad,” said Doherty (R-23). “Our new online petition will allow people of faith to share with Governor Murphy their belief that religion is an essential service and constitutionally protected right that should be allowed to resume immediately.”
Doherty to Governor: Reverse HCQ Restrictions on Doctors
As the coronavirus continues taking a devastating toll on New Jersey, Senator Michael Doherty called for the Murphy Administration to stop limiting doctors to using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) only on patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Sen. Michael Doherty called on the Governor to save lives and reverse the state’s policy restricting the use of hydroxychloroquine to patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. (Wikimedia)
“To save lives now, the Governor must immediately reverse the state’s position restricting the drug’s use to patients who have tested positive,” said Doherty. “New Jersey’s inaction is costing lives and contributing to the overcrowding in our hospitals.
