Doherty Chides Murphy for Massive Payouts to Lawbreakers
Says State has Other Needs for the Money that Would Benefit All New Jerseyans
Senator Michael Doherty blasted the Murphy Administration for a program being rolled out today that will give tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds to illegal immigrants in the state.

Senator Michael Doherty blasted the Murphy Administration for a program being rolled out today that will give tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds to illegal immigrants in the state. (Wikimedia Commons)
The Excluded New Jerseyans Fund is a $40 million program that will disburse money by the thousands to “undocumented individuals, residents re-entering from the justice system, and any other individuals otherwise excluded” from federal pandemic relief payments, according to a web page operated by the Office of New Americans under the NJ Department of Human Services.
Doherty: Murphy’s Vaccine Mandate Intentions are Clear
Governor Murphy has publicly insisted he had no immediate plans to invoke more restrictive COVID mandates similar to what New York City Major Bill de Blasio has done, but Senator Mike Doherty isn’t buying it.

Sen. Mike Doherty warns that New Jersey residents should not be surprised if Gov. Murphy mandates vaccines in early November. (SenateNJ.com)
“Nobody should be shocked if the Governor implements DeBlasio-style vaccine and vaccine passport mandates two days after the election,” said Doherty (R-23). “He’s not honest enough to tell New Jerseyans the truth, but that’s exactly what he wants to do. Murphy regards state residents as rubes that he can easily fool.”
Doherty: Murphy’s Mask Mandate for 2-Year-Olds Is Child Abuse
Senator Michael Doherty said Governor Phil Murphy’s new executive order forcing two-year-olds to wear masks at day care is nothing less than child abuse.

Sen. Michael Doherty said Gov. Phil Murphy’s new executive order forcing two-year-olds to wear masks at day care is nothing less than child abuse. (©iStock)
“We held a hearing this summer where medical researchers and health care professionals told us of the emotional and physical harm that comes from masking school-age children,” said Doherty (R-23). “That level of harm that we heard in graphic detail would only be multiplied for toddlers that have even less ability to understand why they’re being forced to wear masks they won’t want to wear.”
Doherty, DiMaio & Peterson Call for Independent Review of Bound Brook Flooding Incident
NJ Transit Train Blocked Floodgates from Closing During Hurricane Ida
Senator Michael Doherty, Assemblyman John DiMaio, and Assemblyman Erik Peterson (all R-23) will introduce legislation requiring an independent investigation of the flooding of Bound Brook that occurred after a disabled New Jersey Transit train blocked the town’s protective floodgates from closing during Hurricane Ida.

This photo from NJ.com shows NJ Transit Train #5450 blocking one of Bound Brook’s floodgates from closing completely leading to flooding within the town from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. (Photo Credit: Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
“It’s extremely concerning that the $300 million floodgate system that was put in place to protect Bound Brook from flooding was defeated by a disabled NJ Transit train that shouldn’t have been running,” said Doherty. “We need a transparent, independent review of this incident to understand what processes failed during Ida to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Doherty: Murphy Silent on PCR Testing Concerns While Questionable Results Driving New Mask Orders
Senator Michael Doherty said Governor Phil Murphy still refuses to answer legitimate questions about COVID-19 testing even as concerns linger that overly sensitive PCR tests are driving bad policy decisions, including the re-masking of K-12 school students.

Sen. Michael Doherty said Gov. Phil Murphy still refuses to answer legitimate questions about COVID-19 testing even as concerns linger that overly sensitive PCR tests are driving bad policy decisions, including the re-masking of K-12 school students. (Pixabay)
“Governor Murphy still won’t respond to serious concerns about COVID testing procedures even as he uses the potentially flawed results to justify major policy decisions on masks and vaccines that limit our freedoms,” said Doherty (R-23). “If he has nothing to hide, why won’t he answer the most basic questions about PCR testing that we’ve been asking since last year?”
Doherty Blasts Murphy’s Plan to Issue New Mask Requirement for School Kids
Senator Michael Doherty blasted Governor Phil Murphy’s plan to issue a new mask requirement for all children attending K-12 schools in New Jersey.

Sen. Michael Doherty blasted Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to issue a new mask requirement for all children attending K-12 schools in New Jersey. (Pixabay)
“Governor Murphy seems oblivious to the fact that children have a 99.97% survival rate for COVID-19 and few develop symptomatic let alone serious infections,” said Doherty (R-23). “Given the minimal risk, it’s clear the governor’s new mask mandate has little to do with public health and much to do with politics. Maybe if it wasn’t an election year, Governor Murphy would give parents the same consideration he’s giving to the teachers’ union.”
Doherty: Don’t Be Shocked If Murphy Uses Delta Variant, Opaque Testing Procedures to Justify Another Shutdown
Senator Michael Doherty said New Jerseyans should not be shocked if Governor Phil Murphy uses the Delta variant and overly sensitive PCR tests as an excuse to reimpose COVID-19 restrictions and mask mandates.

Sen. Michael Doherty said New Jerseyans shouldn’t be shocked if Gov. Phil Murphy uses the Delta variant and overly sensitive tests as an excuse to reimpose COVID-19 restrictions and mask mandates. (Pixabay)
“The Murphy administration continues to engage in a massive display of fear-mongering over the Delta variant,” said Doherty (R-23). “Nobody should be shocked if the Murphy administration uses it as an excuse to lockdown New Jersey again and reimpose all of the COVID restrictions and mask mandates we fought to have lifted.”
Bucco & Doherty’s Bill Supporting Firefighters Signed by Governor
Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Senator Mike Doherty’s legislation allowing more firefighters to join the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association (NJSFA) was signed by Governor Murphy.

The Governor signed into law legislation sponsored by Sen. Anthony M. Bucco and Sen. Mike Doherty allowing more firefighters to join the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association. (Pixabay)
The new law, A-4745/S-3277, supports essential volunteer and professional firefighters in the state by increasing the maximum eligibility age to join the NJSFA from 45 to 57. As a result, firefighters could begin serving with the fire service later in life and still earn qualification for exempt firefighter certificates.
Bucco & Doherty’s Bill Supporting Firefighters Awaits Governor’s Consideration
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Senator Mike Doherty supporting essential volunteer and professional firefighters in the state cleared the Senate today and now moves to the Governor’s desk for review.

Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Senator Mike Doherty’s bill supporting firefighters and allowing more of them to qualify for membership in the NJ State Firemen’s Association passed the Senate. (Pixabay)
The bill, A-4745/S-3277, would allow more firefighters to qualify for membership in the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association (NJSFA) and earn exempt firefighter certificates.
Doherty Bill to Let Kids Run Lemonade Stands, Other Temporary Businesses Without Permits Passes Senate
Measure Expands Upon Doherty’s “Right to Shovel” Law
The New Jersey Senate has given final legislation approval to a measure sponsored by Senator Michael Doherty that would allow children to run temporary businesses such as lemonade stands without municipal permits.

Sen. Michael Doherty’s legislation allowing children to run temporary businesses such as lemonade stands without municipal permits has passed the New Jersey Senate. (©iStock)
“There’s an endless stream of stories from around the nation about children being harassed by local officials for running lemonade stands without permits,” said Doherty (R-23). “Instead of providing space for kids to learn about entrepreneurship, they’re being taught harsh lessons about the heavy hand of government by overzealous bureaucrats. Our legislation makes clear that New Jersey’s children have the right to run a lemonade stand from their driveway or mow a neighbor’s lawn for a few bucks without a municipal license or permit.”