Lawmakers send Murphy some, not all, bills in liberal agenda
TRENTON » New Jersey’s Democrat-led Legislature held a whirlwind voting session on Thursday, sending to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk some, but not all, of the bills that fit within his promised liberal agenda.
They include measures that would make voter registration automatic, require employers to offer paid sick leave and reinstate the Affordable Care Act’s health care mandate.
The Assembly and Senate voting sessions are the final chances for the chambers to pass bills until the Assembly meets again in late May. The Senate is set to vote again in June.
As Murphy nears the 100-day mark of his administration, he has an opportunity to bolster the liberal agenda he promised on the campaign trail if he signs many of the bills he has indicated he favors, such as paid sick leave.
But he and lawmakers still have not agreed on several other of his key campaign promises like legalizing marijuana, a $15 minimum wage and plans to raise taxes to finance pension and school funding.
A closer look at what headed to Murphy’s desk: is other state agencies that collect resident’s information to participate in automatic registration. Republicans say the bill tries to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. Democrats say the measure expands the franchise. Census and state election figures show roughly 96 percent of residents over 18 are registered to vote.
the measure for years. Dena Mottola Jaborska, the associate director of New Jersey Citizen Action, said it would be “inhumane to deny workers the right to earn paid time off for illness.”
But business owners worry the legislation could strap already-tight budgets.
“Forcing us to pay for sick leave will create a hardship for us and our employees,” said Donna Stewart, who owns Stewart Family Chiropractic, in a statement from the National Federation of Independent Business. “In order to keep payroll within our budget, we will have no choice but to cut hours, reduce raises, and decrease employee bonuses and regular vacation time.”