(TRENTON) – The Assembly Democratic Majority Leadership team responded to Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address Tuesday. Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex), Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden, Burlington), Speaker Pro-Tempore Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), Budget Committee Chair Eliana Pintor Marin (D-Essex), Appropriations Committee Chair John Burzichelli (D- Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem), Majority Conference Leader Annette Quijano (D-Union), Majority Whip Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D-Hudson) and Policy Chair Gary Schaer (D-Bergen, Passaic) issued the following statement:
“We applaud the Governor’s State of the State address for its optimistic tone and emphasis on successes we have achieved over the past three years. We share his recognition of the real challenges we face.
“It is clear we must ensure that as many of New Jersey’s nine million residents as possible are vaccinated as quickly as possible. Facing this pandemic head-on is critical to making sure our students are back to school as quickly as possible.
“2020 did include many positives. We are particularly pleased we were able to reduce taxes for working families with either a larger earned income tax credit or a direct rebate, or both.
“We look to continue to support Main Street businesses which are the backbone of our economy.
“We agree with Governor Murphy that we must make our healthcare system more transparent, more accessible, and more affordable. This must include a focus on behavioral health programs that are vital to countless New Jerseyans.
“The Assembly will continue to explore legislative action to ensure the middle class, seniors and our most vulnerable are protected as we return to relative normalcy in 2021.
“2020 was a year unlike any other for all of us, but we are confident that we are well positioned for a bright future in the near and long term.”