TRENTON, NJ – Weeks after Governor Phil Murphy met with his peers at the National Governor’s Association’s annual convention, signaling an end to the pandemic phase of COVID-19, New Jersey’s Department of Labor offices remain closed and the services are in disarray.
Now, Republicans have filed articles of impeachment against N.J. Labor Department Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo.
Republican Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips introduced a resolution to impeach Asaro-Angelo for failing to perform the duties of his office, which contributed to residents’ suffering during the pandemic, according to DePhillips.
“Enough is enough and it’s time for a change,” said DePhillips. “Because of his incompetency, lawmakers have essentially turned their offices into satellite unemployment offices. What’s more, when the unemployed find their way to us, they are at their wits’ end and facing utility shutoffs, foreclosure and eviction.”
DePhillips said New Jerseyans shouldn’t be punished for the failings of Asaro-Angelo, who at one point blamed unemployed residents for the delays in processing their claims.
“His statements illustrate his arrogance during one of the worst times in our state’s history,” DePhillips added. “In the beginning of the pandemic, when there were more than a million people out of work, he said 94% of claims had been paid. It turned out that number included one-time payments and people who had received some money, but then had benefits unexpectedly stop. All the smoke and mirrors in the world couldn’t hide the deficiencies at the Labor Department.”
According to a statement by the New Jersey Senate Republicans, “Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have passed a resolution and introduced legislation demanding that unemployment offices fully reopen to the public for in-person assistance. The commissioner responded by announcing residents having issues with their unemployment claims would be able to get limited, in-person, appointment-only help at a dozen offices around the state starting March 28.”
“The labor commissioner is simply adding insult to injury. Our unemployed residents deserve undivided attention and unlimited in-person help so they can receive the payments they rightfully earned. It is what the Labor Department is supposed to do and since it’s not happening, the commissioner must go,” DePhillips said.
A two-thirds vote in the New Jersey Assembly is needed for the impeachment process to move forward.