Senate Approves Cryan-Sweeney Bill To Aid Federal Workers in Government Shutdowns

Threat Still Looms of Another Shutdown

TRENTON – Federal workers in New Jersey whose lives were upended by the longest government shutdown in history and who still live the threat of another closure would have some financial protections put in place under legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Cryan and Senate President Steve Sweeney that was approved by the Senate today.

“The irresponsible government shutdown by President Trump has fortunately come to an end – for now,” said Senator Cryan (D-Union). “But, he could do it again in a few weeks and as long as he occupies the White House there is a threat of another shutdown that would leave federal workers without the paychecks they need to pay their bills. We hope that does not happen, but we should be prepared. Donald Trump’s behavior is impulsive and unpredictable, and he obviously has no consideration for the hardship of federal workers.”

The bill, S-3347, would allow for a special grace period on property tax payments for workers affected by the federal shutdown.  The grace period would be similar to what is allowed for natural disasters.

There are more than 20,000 employees working at federal agencies in New Jersey and more than 5,000 of them are employed by an agency without an appropriation.

“These are working people who are having an increasingly difficult time paying their bills and they don’t know when this shutdown will end,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/ Cumberland).  “It puts a strain on family finances and causes real anxiety for those who are living paycheck to paycheck. This will provide a grace period on property tax payments that could ease their pressures.”

The bill would allow taxpayers affected by a shutdown to have additional time to make payment on installments of municipal property taxes. Specifically, it would give them until the next quarterly property tax due date to make payments on any unpaid balance without accruing interest.

The bill was approved with a vote of 37-0.