TRENTON &mdash N.J. Senate Democrats are pushing a resolution today asking Gov. Chris Christie to take a pass on joining a lawsuit against the new federal health care law. The resolution is set to be heard at today's meeting of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. Conservative groups have appealed to Christie to ask Attorney General...
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Joe Vitale, vice chairman of the Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee sits in his Woodbridge office in this file photo. TRENTON &mdash N.J. Senate Democrats are pushing a resolution today asking Gov. Chris Christie to take a pass on joining a lawsuit against the new federal health care law.
The resolution is set to be heard at today's meeting of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Conservative groups have appealed to Christie to ask Attorney General Paula Dow to join the lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality, which 20 states have signed on to.
"I think the governor has said he's still thinking about it. So we want to say he should not join the lawsuit," said state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex). "We need health care reform in this country."
Americans for Prosperity State Director Steve Lonegan showed up to the hearing along with dozens of opponents of the bill.
"It's kind of hypocritical that the same state Senate that relies do much on Supreme Court validation in our state does not want to have it on a federal level," said Lonegan.
Tension grew as opponents of the resolution waited in the hallway while the committee heard two hours of testimony on another matter. Growing impatient, they chanted "Let us in!"
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Republicans request $10.5M in budget toward healthcare for homebound adults
• N.J. residents are split on health care bill, new poll finds
