Chris Smith's Opposition to HEROES Act a Slap In The Face to NJ

Despite representing a state with the 2nd highest COVID death toll and warnings of “historic” layoffs and service cuts due to a crisis-induced budget shortfall, Chris Smith, R-NJ voted against the bill.

How will Smith, who campaigns as a moderate “leader you can trust,” explain this vote to his constituents? Why wouldn’t he stand up for NJ in our time of need? What will he say to the many public and postal workers whose unions endorse Smith and now face “historic” layoffs? Why would he not support hazard pay and childcare for essential workers? What about those facing income and food insecurity?

And how could Smith oppose funding for the testing and tracing that every expert says is necessary to safely reopen the economy?

Beyond failing to support NJ when it mattered most, Smith’s “no” vote advances the insulting and brazenly hypocritical narrative championed by Mitch McConnell: Democratically controlled states, despite contributing billions more to the federal government than they receive, shouldn’t receive aid to support local government services.

Unfortunately, this fits a consistent pattern of Smith’s: he’ll speak loudly when a vote is easy but acquiesce or be silent when it is hard. When Republicans pushed a tax overhaul that targeted states like NJ by eliminating the SALT deduction, Smith issued a statement and quietly voted no without any forceful effort to persuade his Republican colleagues. After years of opposing the Affordable Care Act, (which is now serving as a critical backstop to those losing income or insurance), Smith issued a statement and quietly voted against repeal in 2017, again, standing by while his party almost eliminated health insurance for 23 million Americans. When faced with a president abusing his power to solicit foreign help in an election, (maybe that $3.6 billion in election security is a good idea), Smith failed to defend the most sacred cornerstone of our democracy.

And, despite saying on March 27th that “we must do everything we can to flatten the curve and help our people and communities recover,” Smith failed to stand up for New Jersey when he opposed the HEROES act. This vote was a dereliction of Smith’s duty. NJ needs help now. The economic fallout and cascading effects of budget shortfalls will be felt by everyone in the state. Time and again, Smith has shown that when the stakes are high, when his party adopts a ludicrous position attacking Democratically controlled states, or when a high-profile vote is going to break along party lines, he lacks the courage to fight for NJ with his vote, voice, or both.

This is not to say that Smith has ignored COVID. He supported prior relief packages and made efforts to secure medical exam gloves, access to drugs without a positive test, worked to keep federal testing sites open, and communicated with the State Department about Americans stranded abroad. The point is not that all of Smith’s COVID responses aren’t worthy, it’s that they pale in comparison to his shortcomings and none are an example of the “bipartisan leadership” he campaigns on. Not all bipartisan votes are created equal and nothing can replace the direct assistance that the people and municipalities of NJ desperately need. Because GOP opposition has hardened, the HEROES act was the kind of vote where Smith could have demonstrated leadership, but despite being a senior member of his party Smith has again failed to steer Republicans away from their worst impulses and protect our state.

This is not leadership, this is not enough, and the people of New Jersey deserve better.