Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco has criticized the recent endorsement by AON, New Jersey’s actuary, of Governor Phil Murphy’s plan to increase health insurance premiums for state workers.
“Republicans warned about the death spiral for years—now state workers are being handed the bill,” said Bucco in a statement.
Bucco expressed concern that warnings from Senate Republicans regarding potential problems with the State Health Benefits Program were not heeded. He stated, “Senate Republicans have been warning about this looming crisis for years and unfortunately those warnings were ignored. Then just weeks ago, we called for the Legislature to reconvene and form a bipartisan, bicameral committee to understand the root cause and develop real solutions. That call was ignored too. Now, instead of innovation, leadership, or reform to address the problem, the Murphy administration’s hand-picked actuary is moving forward with forcing state workers to shoulder the burden for the Democrats’ failures.”
Earlier in August, Bucco had requested a legislative session to advance SCR-61. This resolution would establish a bipartisan committee tasked with investigating rising costs in public employee health care programs. The proposed committee would examine factors behind an expected 37% increase in State Health Benefits Program premiums—a hike that could impact municipal and school budgets and potentially lead to higher property taxes.
“It’s honestly just shameful. Over the last two years, Democrats in Trenton have spent over $1 billion on last-minute pork projects, yet when it comes time to support our dedicated public servants, there’s suddenly no money and no will to act. This is not fiscal responsibility, it’s fiscal malfeasance and our public workers deserve better,” Bucco concluded.
