Nurses union endorse Democrats, but only those with them on safe staffing bill

The state’s largest nurses’ union is endorsing only candidates who support safe staffing legislation that mandates nurse-to-patient ratios in New Jersey hospitals, a move that puts them in the Democratic camp in the most competitive Senate and Assembly races this year.

The 13,000-member Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) union is backing Democrats in the 3rd, 4th, 11th, and 16th districts, along with Democrats in the 2nd, 8th, 14th and 38th districts.

While the union endorsed Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Senate Health Committee Chairman Joseph Vitale, they skipped over other key Democratic legislative leaders: Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, and Assembly Health Committee Chairman Herb Conaway, Jr.

“Nurses are the most trusted professionals in the country, and voters must heed these warnings,” said HPAE President Debbie White, “Our healthcare system is in crisis.  We are urging every voter to vote for those who support safe staffing.”

Among the endorsees: State Sens. Vin Gopal, Andrew Zwicker, Linda Greenstein, and Joe Lagana; and in South Jersey, four Senate candidates: Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick (2nd), former Assemblyman John Burzichelli (3rd), Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (4th), and former Pemberton Councilwoman Gaye Burton (8th).  Each of their running mates also received endorsements.

Four Republicans received HPAE support, including Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Mendham), Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Denville), and 9th district Senate candidate Carmen Amato.  The union is backing Democrats running against Dunn and Amato, but Bergen is the only candidate to get their endorsement in the 26th.

Democratic incumbents in the Camden-based, safe Democratic 5th district received HPAE support, but so did one of their opponents, Republican Joe Miller.

Assemblyman John McKeon was endorsed for an open Senate seat in District 27, but not his Assembly running mates.

The bill provides for the state Commissioner of Health to set minimum nursing care numbers for “hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals.