Democrat,
I am deeply disheartened by the decisions out of the Supreme Court this week. The choices to gut affirmative action in higher education, overturn President Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness program, and rule in favor of a businesses’ right to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community will all take our country backwards and make it even more difficult for marginalized groups to thrive.
Affirmative action has long been a critical part of our nation’s efforts to address the systemic racism and sexism that persists in our society and has served as a powerful tool in promoting diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for our historically marginalized communities. By dismantling affirmative action, the Supreme Court has not only once again disregarded precedent, but it has dealt a severe blow in our nation’s ongoing struggle for social justice and equality. As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stated in her dissent, ‘Deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.’ This decision will undermine the progress we have made in breaking down barriers and creating a more equitable educational system.
We know that student debt is a crisis in our country - an entire generation is currently riddled with overwhelming debt. We also know that Black and Hispanic borrowers tend to carry more debt than anyone else, further hindering them economically and widening the racial wealth gap. Nationally, 90% of those who could take advantage of this debt relief program make less than $75,000 a year - including nearly 1.1 MILLION borrowers total in New Jersey that would benefit. I’m glad to see that President Biden and Democratic legislators are not abandoning this issue and that they are continuing to pursue options for debt relief.
Finally, the egregiousness of the decision to allow businesses to discriminate based on one’s sexuality or gender expression coming out on the final day of Pride Month is not lost on me. It undermines the progress that has been made in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and sends a distressing message to the community; implying that their identities are somehow less valid or deserving of protection and respect. As Democrats, we cannot allow this type of bigotry to continue being perpetrated, especially against a community already facing a relentless wave of legislative attacks. I want to be clear that New Jersey Democrats stand with our LGBTQ+ community and will continue to fight for a state, and country, that protects the rights of people to love and live how they want.
While the Supreme Court’s decisions are upsetting, it only strengthens our resolve to push for legislation that reinforces the principles of affirmative action and combats systemic inequalities. We will continue to work tirelessly to advance policies that address the root causes of discrimination and create a more just and inclusive society for all.
You can read my entire statement on the SCOTUS decision to gut affirmative action here.
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With the state budget now passed, it’s clear that Democratic legislators, led by Governor Murphy, have been fighting hard all week for a budget that reflects the needs and values of New Jersey families, including an expansion of the child tax credit that went into effect last year that would double the refundable per-child credit’s maximum level to $1,000.
Democratic Legislators have worked tirelessly to allocate our state resources effectively and responsibly, while ensuring that vital programs and services receive necessary funding. They have championed policies that promote equity and progress for all residents with a focus on education, healthcare, working families, childcare, and environmental responsibility. This proven dedication to investing in our future, supporting small businesses, and fostering an inclusive society is how we were able to pass a budget like the one we did today.
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Throughout the month of June, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee has been celebrating Pride Month with a weekly spotlight on leaders throughout the state that are spearheading the efforts to make New Jersey a more equitable and fair place for our LGBTQ+ community to live. In this final week of June, we are proud to be highlighting Dr. Joeigh Perella, candidate for Cumberland County Commissioner.
Dr. Joeigh Perella was born and raised in Bridgeton, NJ. Having grown up fascinated with medicine and the arts, Joeigh combined both interests in pursuing a career in Dentistry. Since 2018 she has been working as an Associate Dentist in Millville, NJ at Jacquet Family Dentistry.
When she isn’t treating patients, Joeigh can be found spending time on the many community service and volunteer organizations she is involved with. Since 2019 she has been a member of the Tri-County Rotary and has participated in many of their community service events; including Loads of Love, a project started by the club to help community members afford their cost of doing laundry. She also worked with the club to put on a small free dental clinic in 2021. In 2021 Joeigh was also asked to join the board of the newly formed Robert V. Hoffman III Memorial Fund, a non-profit started by her cousin, Ragan Hoffman, in memory of Ragan’s brother, whom we lost to suicide. Together with the rest of the board they have been working to spread awareness about mental illness in their local community to empower people to seek help for depression or to recognize when those around them may need care.
Dr. Perella is running for office to address the many barriers that stand in the way of success for people in her community. She wants to focus on improving county infrastructure, both physical and digital, invest in the Bayshore region to grow the local economy, and increase affordable housing to address homelessness. |
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This week President Biden was in Chicago to talk about Bidenomics, his economic plan that is rooted in the idea that the best way to grow the economy is from the middle out and the bottom up. It’s an economic vision centered around three key pillars: - Making smart public investments in America
- Empowering and educating workers to grow the middle class
- Promoting competition to lower costs and help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive
Bidenomics is also already delivering for the American people. Unemployment rates have dropped significantly, more than 13 million jobs - including nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs - have been added, and we've focused on growing a longer-lasting green economy.
Democrats have continued to prioritize reducing income inequality by advocating for higher wages, affordable housing, and accessible healthcare in order to provide the American people with a stronger foundation for economic stability. Through these targeted investments and policies, we can revitalize the economy while continuing to prioritize the needs of American workers and families and I look forward to continuing to work under President Biden's economic leadership towards a more inclusive economy for all.
— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.
P.S. Today is the last day of June and as Pride Month comes to a close, I want to reaffirm the New Jersey Democrats’ commitment to creating a society where LGBTQ+ individuals are accepted, advocated for, and included, and their rights protected. Celebrating one's identity should never be limited to a single month, which is why, here at NJDSC, we will continue to work towards a future where love, equity, and the vibrant diversity that enriches our collective human experience are embraced fully and protected.
P.S.S. This week we also welcomed two new County Chairs in Cumberland and Sussex Counties. Kevin P. McCann, a former prosecutor and New Jersey Bar Association president, is the new Cumberland County Democratic Chairman. Additionally, Sussex County Democrats elected 23-year-old Zoe Heath as their new county chair! I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to former Chairs Nancy Sungenis and Dawne Rowe for all their leadership, guidance, and service to Democrats in our state. I am excited to get to work with both Kevin and Zoe as we continue the work of making our state a more equitable and fair place for everyone.
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