Today, in a letter to New Jersey State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger requested that his state salary be withheld until all unemployment claims in his district are fulfilled in the midst of the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.

“My staff and I have been working seven days a week yielding countless phone calls and emails from residents who have lost either all or part of their income due to this public health crisis,” said Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger. “They have sought state unemployment insurance, calling on a daily basis only to be told to be patient and they may have to wait another 4 to 6 weeks. This is unacceptable and as leaders in this State, we cannot allow families to struggle to meet the basic necessities of life. We must show that we stand with them, especially in these hard times.”

“With that I ask that you withhold my salary, effective April 20th, 2020, until every one of my constituents’ state unemployment claims has been fulfilled,” said Scharfenberger. “ I cannot, in good conscience, continue to accept a salary while these issues remain unresolved and my constituents struggle through no fault of their own.”

Members of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly receive an annual base salary of
$49,000 per year.