Guadagno offers shutdown compromise
Lt Governor Kim Guadagno. Photo credit: Tim Larsen/Governor’s office
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno today called on Governor Chris Christie, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney to set aside the Horizon bill that is causing the deadlock in Trenton and instead take up a bill sponsored by Assembly Members Declan O’Scanlon and Nancy Muñoz that freezes existing government employee unused sick time payouts at the amounts already accumulated while eliminatinating the practice of lump sum payouts for unused sick time for new employees.
“All sides should look to alternatives to end the shutdown so the people of New Jersey don’t have to suffer any longer. The Governor, Speaker and Senate President have all telegraphed they are willing to get out of their corners and come to a compromise. Why not compromise on capping sick pay payouts? They should set aside the Horizon bill for the moment and take up the O’Scanlon-Muñoz sick leave bill, which could save up to $2 billion and deliver property tax relief for struggling New Jersey taxpayers.”
O’Scanlon, the Assembly Republican Budget Officer, said that Guadagno’s proposal could be the catalyst to break the stalemate in Trenton and reopen New Jersey’s parks, beaches, MVC offices and other “non-essential” services that have been closed since midnight on Friday when the State’s spending authority expired.
“The Governor and most of the people at the table have all signaled that we’re anxious to compromise and end the shutdown, ” O’Scanlon said in a phone interview. “It is time for Democrats in the Assembly to walk the walk.”
“Other than those kowtowing to special interests, everyone agrees that the unused sick pay reforms should be implemented, said O’Scanlon. “Governor Christie has indicated that he would accept another meaningful reform other than the Horizon bill and still sign the Democrats’ budget. The reform legislation I have proposed along with Assemblywoman Muñoz fits that criteria and will lead to significant property tax savings over time. Let’s get this done.”
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Thank you Governor!
Declan and Kim are working on solutions this holiday. We need more of these kind of people in Trenton and fewer big spenders, big taxeres, and special interest robo-politicians.
Steve Adams
they know the deadline, and never are prepared for it with more than one blasted budget they could, by law, have in place by July 1. Then politically, where the hell is our GOP State Committee, trying to help Kim out? Answer, nowhere, thanks to it being all about the big guy, from day one, and now, the money dried up due to the failures, and an obvious lack of any coherent, forward- looking planning, unity, commitment, and especially, leadership. It is like they are chastened children, relegated to the corner or back row, just waiting for the punishment, which, by the looks of the polls, has already begun, in earnest. This is so not pretty!!