Republican turns Obama against Democrats in committee battle over healthcare

TRENTON - Confronting a tableful of testifying labor backers who agree that the State Legislature should lean on Washington, D.C., to create universal healthcare, state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) stepped gingerly.

The longtime labor-friendly lawmaker noted his support of the Paid Family Leave Act, which passed in the state Senate despite every Republican except Baroni voting"no."

But today he raised a question aimed at the underpinnings of the opposition party when he said, "Barack Obama opposes single-payer healthcare. Is he wrong?"

Laughter filled the chamber as people waited for the answer.

The senator followed up with a "just wondering" question about whether Obama's rejection of single-payer healtchcare means he is too conservative on this issue.

A cosponsor of this legislation (a two-bill package) aimed at providing healthcare for one million working New Jerseyans who lack coverage, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) said given current costs associated with healthcare, she is convinced a single-payer system would be the most effective reform measure and argued that Obama believes covering people "should be done in some kind of incremental manner."

Baroni objected, arguing that Obama's recent statements on the issue demonstrate that his endgame doesn't include a final leap to universal coverage.

State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Newark) joined the debate.

"U.S. Rep John Conyers (D-Michigan) and others have supported universal healthcare long before this President (was in the U.S. Senate)," said Rice. "Rep. Conyers and others have been pushing and driving this legislation for years. The President is going to compromise if he can. Just because we're supporting this as a goal doesn't mean it's going to happen, but we should be clear on this. This bill sends a message. ...We're not going to allow the perpetual demise of people because we're doing nothing over philosophical differences."

Rice specifically questioned the depth of effectiveness of a federal, multi-billion stimulus package when many of the people in his district, other urban districts, and in poor, rural districts, lack healthcare. 

Baroni and state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield) finally voted "no" on the effort to get Congress to enact universal healthcare. Fellow Republicans state Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington) and Sen. Robert Singer (R-Jackson) abstained.

The support of the remaining legislators, all Democrats - Committee Chair state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex), state Sen. Robert Gordon (D-Paramus), Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden), Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic City), Rice and Weinberg - drove the two bills out of committee.