Judiciary Committee sends Juliano nomination to full Senate vote

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Bergen County Democratic Chairman’s nomination to the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Board of Directors.

He’s expected to see a confirmation vote before the full Senate later Thursday.

“I think what’s most important is that we have affordable access and the best possible care we can have,” Juliano said in brief remarks ahead of the Senate panel’s vote.

The vote to advance Juliano’s to a vote before the full chamber was unanimous.

Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Juliano to replace Michele Brown, a former top aide to Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

That nomination was made in early June, when the legislature’s upper chamber was not yet conducting any of its functions in-person. Senate President Steve Sweeney released Juliano’s nomination on Tuesday after a meeting with the Bergen chairman and the county’s Democratic senators.

“I’ve known Paul for most of my adult life,” State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Woodridge) said. “He has been engaged in public service and active in public service in many different ways, but he’s also been in a leadership and a managerial role in the county government for many years and has had multiple public employees reporting to him, so he fully understands Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield has a huge impact on our budgets, both our municipal, county and state budgets.”