New Jersey Republicans To Gov. Murphy: Reopen More Child Care

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Want New Jersey employees to return to work amid the coronavirus crisis? Then give them a place to take their kids while they’re on the job, a group of Republican state leaders are telling Gov. Phil Murphy.

On Wednesday – just hours before Murphy released his latest update on the state’s “blueprint” to reopen – the 15 members of the New Jersey Senate Republican caucus sent the governor a letter pressing him on several issues, including child care.

READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

“We are especially concerned by the lack of clear direction from the administration on expanding access to child care and the absence of communication about a plan, or even a timeline to expect a plan, for education to resume in some capacity at New Jersey’s public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities,” the group of legislators and GOP party leaders wrote. (See a list of signatories below)

The GOP leaders continued:

“In the very short term, the child care needs of working parents must be addressed as more employers begin to reopen their offices, stores, and workplaces. Under Executive Order 110, which you signed on March 25, child care centers may only operate on an emergency basis to serve the children of ‘essential workers,’ including health care workers, first responders, and social workers. We have been advised by Early Childhood Education Advocates and the New Jersey Child Care Association, which represent facilities that care for hundreds of thousands of New Jersey children, that they have detailed operational plans that would allow them to serve many more children safely. Given that assurance, you should lift restrictions to allow the children of any parent who must return to work to attend their day care or child care center as needed.”

The bottom line? Without more child care options, the workers fueling New Jersey’s economic recovery will have a big monkey wrench thrown into their plans, the GOP leaders charged.

Signatories to the letter included Thomas Kean, Joe Pennacchio, Kristin Corrado, Kip Bateman, Robert Singer, Chris Brown, Steven Oroho, Anthony Bucco, Gerald Cardinale, Christopher Connors, Michael Doherty, James Holzapfel, Declan O’Scanlon, Michael Testa and Samuel Thompson.

Story continues below

During his daily COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Murphy said his "blueprint," called "The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health," allows for reopening schools and daycare based on the level of disease transmission risk and essential classification.

Murphy didn’t offer dates or case markers for when New Jersey can advance to the next stages, saying he didn't want to give people "false hope." But he did say that some of the steps – such as expanded daycare – could happen within a matter of weeks.

• See related article: Here's What's Next For NJ Schools, Daycare In Coronavirus Crisis

For now, Murphy said he expects New Jersey, schools and daycare will move, within a matter of weeks, to "stage two," which will allow restrictions to be relaxed on additional activities "that can be easily safeguarded." That would include child care expanded with capacity restrictions.

Once more progress is made, Murphy said New Jersey will move to "stage three," meaning restrictions are relaxed on most activities with significant safeguarding, meaning child care would likely open for most people.

Send feedback and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.