Prieto Statement on New Law Providing Back Pay to State Workers

‘It’s unfortunate that Gov. Christie made state workers wait needlessly’

            (TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement after Gov. Christie signed legislation (A-18) to ensure involuntarily furloughed state employees finally receive retroactive salary payments for the state government budget shutdown:

            “It’s unfortunate that Gov. Christie made state workers wait needlessly for so long for their pay, but at least he took time to sign this bill.

“The governor should have used his clear authority to pay workers immediately from the money included in the state budget, as I suggested, but he instead chose to play politics with people’s lives. That’s very disturbing, but also typical for Gov. Christie.

            “State workers were never to blame for Gov. Christie’s insistence on putting people’s health care at risk as part of the state budget, but I’m pleased to see this issue resolved on their behalf.”