Trump's Unemployment Aid Plan Needs NJ Governor Support: Senator

NEW JERSEY - President Donald Trump signed an executive order Saturday that would provide an extra $400 more than basic unemployment benefits, replacing the $600 federal contribution that expired on July 31.

But individual states would have to pick up $100 of that per person.

"The President’s proposal for additional unemployment would actually cost New Jersey an estimated $1.725 billion – and that’s just in potential benefits, not even the cost of setting up a system we don’t even have," Murphy said.

Senator Joseph Pennacchio said politics should not interfere with additional federal aid for unemployed residents, a plan Murphy has called the plan “unworkable.”

“Like Cuomo in New York and other Democrat governors, Murphy criticized this solution,” said Pennacchio. “He wants federal money to go to the state so he can spend it at will. That’s the wrong priority when so many New Jersey residents remain out of work through no fault of their own. Once again, he is prioritizing partisanship and politics over the people of our state.”

The President has said states that haven’t used all the federal stimulus money they received from the CARES Act could use that money for the $100 payments. Murphy has been sitting on more than $2 billion in federal funds, Pennachio said.

“As the Governor of our state, he should be doing everything in his power to make this happen, not thumbing his nose and politicizing federal assistance,” said Pennacchio.

A pair of Pennacchio's Democratic Party peers in the state Assembly disagreed. Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin of the 29th District, who represents Belleville and Newark, said she's "grateful" for Wednesday's ruling.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had and continues to have a devastating impact on the state's economy," Pintor Marin said. "Residents, businesses, and government units have all been impacted."

"The Bond Act provides an important solution that, along with significant cuts in spending that must be identified, will help stabilize the state budget," Pintor Marin contended. "We did not make this decision to authorize this borrowing lightly. The historic nature of the current pandemic has led to this unprecedented last resort due to the current fiscal crisis."

Assemblyman John McKeon of the 27th District, a sponsor of the act, also applauded the Supreme Court's decision.

"The Supreme Court's holding on the act's constitutionality is consistent with the arguments advanced on the floor of the Legislature by advocates," said McKeon, who represents towns including Caldwell, Essex Fells, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange and West Orange.

"The Supreme Court focused on the language in the Constitution so crafted by the framers for the type of fiscal emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic."

"The opinion is well-reasoned and a victory for all New Jersey residents whom would otherwise had suffered dire consequences without this legislation," McKeon said.

At his Monday COVID-19 briefing, Murphy addressed calls to use the CARES Act money, noting that is was not infinite. And that more was needed from the federal government.

"We need Congress to act. We need Mitch McConnell to finally get something done, and we need him to do it now," Murphy said. "As we battle this pandemic, and look to our recovery, we must be prepared and have every tool in our toolbox at our disposal to protect our state and to keep it a great place to live, to work, and to raise a family.

For his part, Pennacchio said he wants to see "some" of the unspent CARES money used.

"One way or the other, almost 700,000 New Jersey families are counting on help,” he said.

This post contains reporting by Eric Keifer.

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This article originally appeared on the Long Valley Patch