On The Issues

Steve Sweeney walking with a family parents and young children

Steve Sweeney talking with women at a round table

Fighting for New Jersey

The Jersey Option: A Public Health Plan for NJ

Healthcare costs are out of control – and Washington is only making it worse. We can’t afford to wait for federal solutions.
The Jersey Option is a state-level public health insurance plan designed to guarantee access to affordable, high-quality care for any NJ resident who wants it. This plan will be an alternative to the federal marketplace or employer-sponsored insurance, creating better choices and more affordable care.
Jersey Option participants who see an independent primary care doctor at least once a year will be provided a discount on their premium. This will help catch problems early and keep people out of hospitals.
With the Jersey Option, the state will become the largest single purchaser of healthcare in the state – and the most powerful negotiator.

Read my full plan for The Jersey Option here.

Fighting for New Jersey Workers

The state needs to heavily upgrade its infrastructure including water,
sewer, and energy. A Sweeney Administration will ask voters to approve billions in bonds funds for public works projects.
As Governor, I will create an apprenticeship pipeline for high school students and adult learners looking to change careers.
We will return the COLA for all public employee retirees.
Just as I successfully did with the teachers, I will work with public employees to save them millions on their healthcare plans.

Read my full labor policy paper here.

Lowering Housing Costs

As Governor, I will reduce housing costs by cutting red-tape that stands in the way of building new housing.
I will give seniors the ability to maintain their Property Tax credits — even if they move within the state or move from a single-family home to an apartment.
A third of people between the ages of 18 and 34 are living with their parents. It is time we increased down payment assistance for first time home buyers from $22,000 to $25,000.

Read my full housing policy proposal here.

Cutting Taxes for the Average New Jerseyan

Under my administration, there will be NO TAX INCREASES.
I will work with public employees to save them millions of dollars on their health plan and reduce how much they pay for their premium while also reducing costs to taxpayers.
With me as Governor, New Jersey will match the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit for small businesses approved to receive the credit by the IRS.

Read my full tax policy proposal here.

Keeping New Jersey Safe

I will fund the police. We will keep New Jersey residents safe by supplying additional grant funding for additional police funding.
My administration will promote community policing, so citizens are better served, and police officers can rely on the knowledge of residents.
As Governor, I will set up more programs to ensure the mentally ill are provided with the appropriate treatment and services to prevent future unsafe interactions with the community or the police.
Returning citizens will be provided with the resources to successfully integrate back into the community, to improve recidivism rates and reduce gang membership.

Read my full public safety policy proposal here.

Lowering Energy Prices

I will make energy more affordable by expanding nuclear generation, utilizing hydrogen energy, developing offshore wind and expanding gas generation, and using food waste generation.
Right now, New Jersey’s RGGI Strategic Funding Plan calls for 60% of funds to go to Industrial Entities and 20% to go to homes. A Sweeney Administration would reverse that.
My administration will expand programs like Community Solar to help reduce energy costs for residents who do not have enough space for solar or the money to fund it.
I will ensure there is enough gas coming into our state to ensure electricity and gas prices remain affordable.
We will make New Jersey a place where Hydrogen technology will grow and the state will harness the energy for a cleaner New Jersey.

Read my full energy policy proposal here.

Fighting for Disability Rights

We will develop intentional communities, improve housing access, and strengthen community-based healthcare options so individuals with disabilities can live with dignity and support.
As Governor, I will expand autism services, increase healthcare access, and improve care coordination for families.
A Sweeney administration will make sure individuals with disabilities have access to career training and meaningful employment. We will expand adult career training programs, create tax incentives for businesses to hire people with disabilities, and strengthen laws requiring reasonable workplace accommodations.

Read my full policy proposal on fighting for disability rights here.

Fighting for New Jersey Seniors

I will eliminate the retirement income tax for seniors earning less than $250,000 of household income.
I will ensure New Jersey seniors can live with dignity and independence by increasing funding for home health aides, expanding adult day care services, and improving transportation access for medical appointments.
A Sweeney administration will strengthen laws against elder financial fraud to crack down on scams that exploit retirees.
As Governor, I will allow flexibility in senior's housing options, giving seniors the ability to maintain their Property Tax credits.

Read my full policy proposal on fighting for NJ seniors here.

The New Jersey Builders Agenda

My administration will invest in infrastructure, the energy sector, and housing to improve quality of life for New Jersey residents while making the state a more attractive place to do business.
We will build 200,000 affordable housing units in New Jersey over the next five years, eliminate barriers to development, and unlock the reserves from local Affordable Housing Trust Funds.
As Governor, I will offer first-time homebuyer down payment assistance, allow for denser development, and create Housing Incentive Zones, leveraging state or municipal funds to prioritize development in these areas – instead of rewarding towns that resist growth.
My administration will explore state-of-the-art hydrogen technology and energy generation through food waste to create a more resilient and independent energy future.
As Governor, I will establish a major bond initiative to improve clean water systems, sewer treatment, and climate resilience. These investments will provide cleaner drinking water, modernized sewer systems, and greater flood protection.

Read my full New Jersey Builders Agenda here.

Improving Higher Education in New Jersey

I will create The New Jersey Innovation Commonwealth Authority to fund the commercialization of ideas from New Jersey's scientists and engineers, creating businesses in health, energy, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure.
NJICA will provide grants, SAFE notes, and royalty-bearing support for R&D and commercialization.
The state would also collaborate with Rutgers, Rowan, Princeton, Stevens, NJIT, county colleges, and trade schools
The NJICA would also partner with NJ-based companies such as Merck, J&J, BD, RWJ Barnabas, Hackensack Meridian.

Read my full release on NJICA.

Ensuring Excellent Education for our Kids
Our kids are our future. We must ensure they have the opportunity to start life on the right foot in our schools. As Senator, I sponsored “The School Funding Reform Act” to advance educational opportunities and help every New Jersey student thrive. I also authored the “Vocational Education Bond Act” to provide vocational job training and increase school security. Our students are heading into a complex world. As governor, I would make it a priority to ensure they’re ready by supporting a first-class education system, from pre-K through 12th grade, and a range of opportunities for higher education and training, right in New Jersey.

Improving Healthcare
I know from personal experience that our healthcare system can be costly and confusing. My family faced many challenges after our daughter was born with Down Syndrome. I advanced the “Health Care Transparency Act” to help patients know exactly what they can expect from the healthcare professional they see. To protect mental health patients from experiencing interrupted care, I supported legislation to ensure the delivery of mental health services by requiring commitments from providers in state contracts. As your governor, I would fight to lower our costs and increase the availability of high-quality healthcare in New Jersey.

Protecting the LGBTQ+ Community
Love is love. To prevent any backtracking by the Supreme Court, I sponsored legislation to enshrine marriage equality in New Jersey. I also prioritized ending the ineffective and discriminatory criminalization of HIV. Count on me to be a voice for the LGBTQ+ community.

Helping New Jerseyans Raise a Family
As a father whose daughter was born with Down Syndrome, the challenge of raising a family isn’t abstract – it’s a lived experience. I authored New Jersey’s Paid Family Leave program to ensure parents have the resources they need to take time with their children. To keep our kids safe, I sponsored numerous laws to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to protect children from sex offenders. As your governor, I will continue my lifelong fight to help families make ends meet, improve our schools, and keep children safe in every community.

Defending Women’s Reproductive Freedom
I support a constitutional amendment to protect a woman’s reproductive freedom in New Jersey because a woman should have the right to make her own decisions about her body. I was a prime sponsor of the “Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act” that guaranteed all New Jerseyans the right to make their own decisions about birth control, abortion, and prenatal care. Thanks to this law, New Jerseyans still have the right to an abortion despite the Supreme Court’s decision to end Roe vs. Wade. I’ll stand up to anyone to uphold those rights as your governor.