New Jersey Assembly Republicans

06/23/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2022 16:23

Vanishing Democrats show Murphy’s agenda too far left, says DiMaio

TRENTON, N.J. - A clear indication Democrats in New Jersey have moved too far left and out of the mainstream, two vulnerable Democrats left an Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing Thursday just prior to votes on Gov. Phil Murphy's latest gun package.

"I have to get somewhere," Chairwoman Lisa Swain said before leaving the meeting. "So, I'm going to ask Vice-Chairman Mukherji to take my place."

Swain (D-Bergen) and Assemblywoman Gabby Mosquera (D-Camden) left before the committee completed its more than four-hour hearing, missing votes on Gov. Phil Murphy's gun package.

"It's apparent they were afraid to make tough votes," said Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio.

The bills are part of Murphy's third gun-control package, which he introduced in April 2021, but was met with resistance by some Democrats and stalled in the state Senate.

"It goes to show that these bills are passed to satisfy the far left of the Democrat party," said DiMaio. "That is the only reason the Appropriations committee passed so-called gun-safety legislation today."