Eight of New Jersey’s House Democrats voted against the bill to reopen the government and all three Republicans voted yes. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
On Wednesday night, the House passed and President Donald Trump signed a spending package that reopens the federal government after a record-breaking shutdown and funds most of it through January.
The House passed the bill 222-209, with most Republicans voting in favor and most Democrats voting no. Democrats largely opposed the measure because it does not extend federal subsidies for health care plans purchased on the individual marketplace, subsidies that are expiring this year.
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Here’s what New Jersey’s House members said about the funding package:
Rep. Donald Norcross (D) voted no.
“For 43 days, America has been held hostage by this Republican shutdown. While it is a great relief that our federal workers will finally receive their hard-earned paycheck, not everyone is celebrating. There are some Americans who may be getting a death sentence as they lose their lifesaving health care coverage. I’m voting no on the Senate’s proposed government funding bill because lives are at risk.”
Rep. Herb Conaway (D) voted no.
“I’ve been crystal clear from the start: I won’t support any funding bill without the ACA tax credit. I voted NO on the CR tonight because it fails to meet the moment — and unfortunately, the American people will feel the effects of this failure the most. This fight isn’t over.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D) voted no.
“From day one of this shutdown, I’ve been clear: We must protect families from surging health care costs. Families are already suffering under the weight of child care, groceries, and higher energy bills. We had one request from Speaker Johnson: Let us vote to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and save families thousands on their health insurance premiums. They refused. They didn’t give the American people more affordable health care, so they don’t get my vote.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D) voted no.
“I voted NO to cutting your health care. I voted NO to sending your neighbors into bankruptcy because they can’t pay for their health insurance. I voted NO to making your relatives sicker. Republicans simply could not care less. I promise you, I’m going to fight every day in Congress to get your health care back and fight for what Republicans won’t: lower costs, healthier families, and a more prosperous America.”
Rep. Tom Kean (R) voted yes.
“Today, I once again voted to keep the federal government open and get back to doing the people’s business. Every step of the way, Republicans stood on the principles of good government, fiscal discipline, and common-sense. We fought to ensure that critical services from air traffic control to SNAP benefits were maintained. This shutdown was a reckless political ploy by Democrats that achieved nothing but unnecessary hardship for American families. The American people deserve a government that works for them — not one held hostage by partisan games.”
Rep. Rob Menendez (D) voted no.
“The funding bill that Republicans just passed fails to extend the ACA tax credits and will make health care more expensive at a time when so many Americans are stretched thin. Individuals and families in New Jersey are already seeing the damaging consequences of this as they look to enroll in health insurance for next year. That’s why I voted NO.”
Rep. Nellie Pou (D) voted no.
“I support reopening the federal government – but not at the cost of skyrocketing health care premiums. I am pleased that the longest government shutdown in our history is ending and federal employees like air traffic controllers will finally be paid. I am not pleased that tens of thousands of my constituents will pay an average of nearly $3,000 more for their health care. I am angry that millions of Americans will pay much higher health care costs because of this bad deal. At a time when Americans are struggling to pay record prices across the board, the Republican House tonight voted to raise costs even more. This is unacceptable and so I voted no without reservation.”
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D) voted no.
“I started off the morning having surgery, resting for few, and then hopping on a train to come to D.C. to try to protect your health care, to make sure that you have affordable health care, to make sure that my constituents are not being priced out, to be able to take care of themselves and have the dignified health care that they deserve. And Republicans just don’t see that, they don’t understand that, they don’t give a damn about that, and it’s horrible. But I’m going to keep fighting for you because that is what you elected me to do.”
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