Murphy says he's optimistic about reducing health care costs for N.J. teachers
Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday night he and other New Jersey leaders are negotiating a way to help the state’s public school teachers take home more pay by revamping their health care benefits a decade after a controversial overhaul increased premiums.
Murphy stopped short of specifically endorsing a new bill, one that has divided his two fellow Democrats who lead the state Legislature, to reduce the cost of health benefits for tens of thousands of educators in the Garden State.
But the governor said he and other state leaders have been “working very constructively” for months on the issue with the New Jersey Education Association — the state’s largest teachers union — and that members of both the state Senate and Assembly have been involved.
“I’m optimistic something can happen here. It has to happen.” Murphy said during a town hall meeting at Union Township’s senior center. “If we claim that our most precious assets are our kids ... educators are on a pedestal. They have to be.”
Read more: https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/10/murphy-says-hes-optimistic-about-reducing-health-care-costs-for-nj-teachers.html