FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Nat Bender, Communications Director
American Federation of Teachers NJ
(908) 377-0393. nbender@aftnj.org
Cliff Freid, New Jersey Area Director
Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU
(917) 687-2635. cfreid@cirseiu.org
Financial impact statement needed to evaluate higher education legislation
Union coalition calls for Senate Budget Committee to get fiscal analysis
TRENTON, N.J.—Representatives of the doctors, nurses, professors and all levels of higher education workers are calling for a financial analysis of the “New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act” sponsored by Senators Norcross, Vitale and Sweeney. “We are calling for the legislation to be second referenced to the Senate Budget Committee for fiscal analysis,” said Jean Pierce, Public Policy staffer for the Health Professions and Allied Employees (HPAE) union. “The Senate and Assembly Budget committees have been asking for a fiscal analysis so legislators can make informed decisions regarding the cost of the proposed reorganization” said Pierce. “Now that legislation has been introduced it is imperative that a fiscal analysis be completed; how much will it cost the state to see these universities succeed once reorganized?”
The Higher Education Healthcare Coalition of labor unions represents professionals at each of the institutions affected by a merger. “We have been calling for a transparent process and fiscal responsibility; we need to understand the cost of this plan to ensure the state’s health care and higher educational needs do not suffer in order to have this plan implemented by July 1,” said Pierce.
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