newjerseynewsroom.com

Americans for Prosperity has designated 17 New Jersey legislators as "Health Care Heroes" for their support of bringing a legal challenge against the recently passed federal health care reforms and for urging Governor Christie to join the pending multi-state lawsuit.

Americans for Prosperity launched an e-mail letter campaign two weeks ago asking legislators to support the lawsuit, and formally requested legislators to state their position on this critical issue. Almost 1,300 AFP members signed over 4,000 letters to their representatives. Last month, Americans for Prosperity activists delivered 3,000 petitions to the governor's office, but the governor has yet to respond or to make a decision on the matter.

"Americans for Prosperity applauds those legislators who have joined this effort and publicly lent their support to the pending lawsuit challenging the Constitutionality of the federal takeover," said Americans for Prosperity State Director Steve Lonegan.

"The question now is will Governor Christie continue to ignore the calls of the citizens of New Jersey and a coalition of legislators who have asked him to join the lawsuit and to stand up for the rights of every American to make their own health care choices? Or will he continue to be AWOL when it comes to protecting the rights of the citizens of New Jersey and the sovereignty of our state?"

"The Governor has claimed he needed to consult with members of his cabinet, but the administration's recent decision to go along with Obamacare's high-risk insurance pools shows that the administration has already studied the bill," added Lonegan. "The time has come for the governor to lay his cards on the table."

The seventeen lawmakers supporting the lawsuit include:

Assemblyman John Amodeo (R-02)

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-11)

Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25)

Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-25)

Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R-24)

Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-23)

Senator Michael Doherty (R-23)

Senator Sean Kean (R-11)

Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-24)

Senator Steve Oroho (R-24)

Senator Kevin O'Toole (R-40)

Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-23)

Assemblyman Vincent Polistina (R-2)

Assemblyman David Rible (R-11)

Assemblyman Scott Rumana (R-40)

Assemblyman Robert Schroeder (R-39)

Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R-39)

Senator Jim Whelan (D-02), the only other legislator responding to Americans for Prosperity's request, stated his opposition to the lawsuit.

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM