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In her final act as a congresswoman, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill criticized a bill aimed at ending the government shutdown on Wednesday. Sherrill, who will resign from the House of Representatives next week, voiced her concerns on the House floor, arguing that the bill would lead to a significant increase in healthcare premiums for New Jersey residents. She emphasized that the bill failed to include provisions to extend federal subsidies for health care plans purchased on the individual marketplace, which are set to expire, leading to higher costs for over 450,000 New Jerseyans.
Sherrill, who has served in Congress since 2019, will be sworn in as New Jersey’s fifty-seventh governor in January. Her resignation will prompt Governor Phil Murphy to initiate a special election to fill her seat in the 11th district, covering parts of Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties.
According to the New Jersey Monitor, Sherrill urged her fellow Democrats to resist becoming "a ceremonial red stamp" for the Trump administration. She highlighted her Navy background, stating, "I swore an oath to run toward the fight."
The House passed the funding bill with a vote of 222-209, as reported by NJ Spotlight News. The bill, which President Donald Trump signed, will reopen federal offices and provide backpay to federal workers. However, many New Jersey Democrats, including Sherrill, voted against it, citing concerns over healthcare costs.
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