The current debate over health care is, along with the economy, one of the two most important domestic issues facing Americans right now.

While Obamacare hangs in the balance, the potential exists that the fight over government-run healthcare may turn to the states. And as we’ve seen on many other issues, New Jersey tends to be a laboratory for radical, liberal experimentation. If Obamacare fails, our state certainly will become a battleground for future health care debates.

As such, it’s important that Governor Christie appoints the right people to departments like Health & Senior Services, Human Services and Children and Families.

Americans for Prosperity, of course, has led the fight against the Democrats’ health care legislation. Aside from the Tea Party groups, in my opinion there is no other organization that has done more to fight back against the prospect of government-run health care.

In anticipation of the health care fight coming to the states, Americans for Prosperity decided to reach out to Governor Christie’s appointments to the aforementioned departments and find out their views on health care policy. These nominees include:

• Jennifer Velez, Human Services (Corzine holdover)
• Poonam Alaigh, Health & Senior Services
• Janet Rosenzweig, Children & Families

AFP developed a thorough 13-question survey addressing a range of critical health care issues. The survey was delivered to each nominee with a request to be returned within a reasonable amount of time before their hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Disappointingly, after several weeks and multiple requests, including reaching out to the governor’s office, none of these nominees has responded to our survey.

The governor, who has promised an open and transparent administration, has three potential cabinet members who have failed to live up to these principles.

New Jersey citizens now have to wonder if these Christie appointments favor the Democrats’ legislation that would move us toward more government control and less health care choice and freedom. We are left to wonder if they are Obamcare supporters or not.

Two of these nominees, Velez and Rosenzweig, will have confirmation hearings on Monday morning. If you believe like I do that these nominees owe it to us to answer these 13 simple questions and be open with the public about their views, then call the governor’s office and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and tell them you want these questions posed to each nominee so the people of New Jersey know where they stand on one of the most critical and personal issues of the day.

Governor’s office: 609-292-6000

Senate Judiciary Members

Scutari, Nicholas P. - Chair 908-587-0404
Girgenti, John A. - Vice-Chair (973) 427-1229
Bateman, Christopher (908) 526-3600
Beck, Jennifer (732) 933-1591
Cardinale, Gerald (201) 567-2324
Gill, Nia H. (973) 509-0388
Kyrillos, Joseph M. (732) 671-3206
Lesniak, Raymond J. (908) 624-0880
O'Toole, Kevin J. (973) 237-1360
Sarlo, Paul A. (201) 804-8118
Smith, Bob (732) 752-0770
Stack, Brian P. (201) 861-5091 or (201) 558-7926
Weinberg, Loretta (201) 928-0100