10th District Lawmakers Demand Restoration of MVC, Unemployment Services

Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano today increased pressure on the Murphy Administration to return staff to state agencies and restore all motor vehicle and unemployment services.

“The pandemic has dragged on for two years now and countless New Jersey residents remain on the outside looking in, unable to access the basic government services they expect and need,” said Senator Holzapfel. “People are fed up and they feel they have been abandoned by Trenton. Murphy has directed some state workers to stay home and collect a paycheck without going to the office to do their jobs. The situation is inexcusable, and it has to end now.”

Holzapfel said the 10th Legislative District Office continues to be barraged with calls from irate residents who are frustrated by poor service, the lack of in-person consultation, and limited access to New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission locations and the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

“Throughout the pandemic, the business community has shown resiliency, adaptability and transformability. Restaurants, retailers and service industries have been models of successful customer care in a challenging environment,” Assemblyman McGuckin said. “Unfortunately, the MVC and the Labor Department have demonstrated far less flexibility. If they were private companies, they would already be out of business.

“Residents depend on these critical government services, but Murphy has been unable or unwilling to address the problem.”

The 10th District lawmakers will join new legislative efforts to reopen and restore all MVC and unemployment locations and services to pre-pandemic levels.

“People have put up with this long enough,” said Assemblyman Catalano. “The pandemic can no longer be used as an excuse. Trenton has turned its back on our residents who have suffered long enough. For the tax money New Jerseyans pay, they deserve more responsive government.

“The Murphy Administration has taken too much from state residents, including access to reasonable service from MVC and unemployment offices. It is time to ‘Give It Back.’ Give back good government. Give back good service.”

Earlier this month, Senate Republicans launched the “Give It Back” initiative to give New Jerseyans an opportunity to tell Governor Phil Murphy in a unified voice to give back everything he has taken from them over the past two years, including emergency powers and parental rights to make mask decisions for their children.

More than 4,600 New Jerseyans have already told Governor Murphy to “Give It Back” at http://www.giveitback.us