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NJ Democrats Will Push For Enactment Of Bills Christie Opposed

Senate President Steve Sweeney

Now that he’s won reelection, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney says Democrats who control the legislature want to work with Governor-elect Phil Murphy to advance legislation they couldn’t get through during the Christie administration.  

Sweeney says Democrats’ plans include funding for women’s health care, expanding paid family leave, a higher minimum wage, and phasing in higher pension payments and more money for schools.

“There’s things we want to get done, but we’re not going to be running around tax crazed, I can tell you that right now. We’ve always talked about a millionaires’ tax. We’ve talked about marijuana. So, there’s some taxes that make sense, but we’re not going to go beyond the things that make sense.”

Sweeney says he’s hoping to have a more coordinated effort between the Senate and Assembly in the next legislative session.

“I’m looking forward to having more opportunities to sit down and just discuss issues and where there’s problems to we can avoid the public fights that we had because they weren’t helpful to anybody.”

Sweeney says a bill to increase taxes on millionaires will be reintroduced the day the legislature reorganizes. Governor Chris Christie vetoed previous efforts to impose that tax surcharge.