Speaker Sheila Oliver slams Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, who apologizes for not making his argument 'more effectively' Watch video
N.J. Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, left, today engaged Speaker Sheila Oliver, right, in a heated argument over DeCroce's comments on unemployment benefits.TRENTON — A war of words erupted Wednesday between the top Democrat and Republican in the Assembly, culminating with Minority Leader Alex DeCroce accusing Speaker Sheila Oliver of "introducing the race card."
The dispute stemmed from a Tuesday speech DeCroce (R-Morris) gave to a business group in which he said unemployment benefits should be reduced to encourage people to look for work. "I’m one of the few people here... who feel that benefits are too good for these people," he said.
The remarks drew immediate criticism from Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Glouceseter) who demanded DeCroce apologize to jobless residents "just trying to survive these economic times." Wednesday, Oliver (D-Essex) picked apart DeCroce’s choice of words in a press release.
"Republican Leader DeCroce owes an explanation to the people of New Jersey as to whom exactly he was talking about when he referenced ‘these people.’" she said.
DeCroce apologized for not making his argument "more effectively" and said he was referring to people who were gaming the system and not looking for work. He lashed out at Oliver for not acting earlier to save the fund, which went broke last year, forcing the state to increase taxes on businesses by $130 per employee. And then he turned up the criticism:
"Shame on the Speaker for introducing the race card into a legitimate public policy issue. I recognize that politics is a full-contact sport, but her implication crosses far beyond the line of decency and is without merit."
The office for Oliver, the state’s first female African-American speaker, responded within minutes.
"The Speaker simply asked Mr. DeCroce to point out which New Jerseyans enjoy being out of work and living on their unemployment," said Tom Hester, Jr., spokesman for the Assembly Democrats. "It’s sad if Mr. DeCroce sees race as an issue in that question and in his very own words."
DeCroce’s home town of Parsippany-Troy Hills, in suburban Morris County, had an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in October, according to preliminary data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate for East Orange, Oliver’s urban home town in Essex County, was 13.3 percent. The state’s unemployment rate is 9.2 percent.
The state’s Unemployment Trust Fund, which once enjoyed a healthy surplus, was raided of $4.6 billion by governors and lawmakers from both political parties over a 15 year period to pay for programs such as hospital charity care.
Early this year, Christie proposed reducing the maximum unemployment benefit from $600 to $550 and not allowing people fired for misconduct onto the unemployment rolls. Although the maximum benefit remains $600, the Legislature agreed prohibit people fired for "gross misconduct" from claiming unemployment. The state Department of Labor has proposed rules that would make it more difficult for those fired for misconduct to claim benefits.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More coverage:
• Editorial: Apology not accepted: DeCroce's unemployment comments show he's clueless