Update: May 17/ Thank you to the Senate Environment Committee which passed SCR59 3-1 to invalidate the Waiver Rule. 

Now, on to the Assembly Environment Committee on Monday May 21. 

When is a rule not a rule? Apparently when Gov. Christie declares it "waived" for vague and subjective reasons. 

In March, the Governor signed an Executive Order creating a "waiver rule" which would allow any State agency to declare its own rules (some governed by statute). This waiver rule allows environmental laws, health laws, consumer protections, or potentially workers' rights through the Department of Labor or Civil Service Commission. That's why CWA 1036 and CWA NJ have joined a lawsuit with over 30 other groups to block this Executive Order. In addition, we're working with allies in the legislature to reverse this policy.

We ask our members to contact their legislators and ask them to support SCR59, which would invalidate the waiver rule. The first Senate Committee Hearing on SCR59 is Thursday, May 17th and we'll step up our efforts over the next couple of weeks as this bill will hit the floor of the Senate.

Please contact key Legislators. Ask them to Support SCR59/ACR37 which opposes the waiver rule: 

• The waiver rule violates legislative intent.
• The waiver rule will lead to pay for play where the politically connected can have rules waived in their favor. 
• The wavier rule rolls back environmental and workplace safeguards that have been in place for years, simply because the Governor says so.   

Members of the Assembly Environment Committee:

Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D), Chair - District Office: (973) 624-1730

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D), Co-Chair - District Office: (609) 292-0500

Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes, III (D) - District Office: (732) 548-1406

Assemblyman Matthew W. Milam (D) - District Office: (609) 465-0700

Assemblyman Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. (D) - District Office: (201) 714-4960

Assemblyman Scott Rudder (R) - District Office: (609) 654-1498

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R) - District Office: (201) 666-0881

Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D) - District Office: (973) 395-1166