With the state on the brink of a shutdown, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO has joined with its affiliates and progressive allies to demand that lawmakers rise above politics and put working families first by passing a clean budget.
Holding the state budget captive as a result of Governor Christie’s Horizon demands – a completely unrelated issue that was brought up less than one week ago today – is misguided and a disservice to all New Jerseyans. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO calls on the majority party to recognize the consequences of a government shutdown, and immediately pass a budget that puts the interests of New Jersey residents first.
A shutdown would have real ramifications impacting the lives of countless New Jersey residents, including the suspension of state services, furloughs, and closures of parks and beaches heading into a holiday weekend.
By expanding Horizon’s mission to serve as the insurer of last resort, S-4 is a health care tax imposed by Governor Christie on policy holders. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO maintains that any surplus should be returned to policy holders rather than diverted to other uses by the governor.