FLEMINGTON, N.J. – AFSCME public service workers see how cuts to health care, child care and schools are harming New Jersey communities every day. On Thursday, several of them held New Jersey Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. accountable for his contributions to the affordability crisis.
Kean voted for the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill last year that slashed funding for Medicaid and Medicare. He has stood by while the Republican-led Congress and White House have cut services for the most vulnerable and driven up the cost of living for everyone.
“Last year, Congressman Kean voted for cuts that devastated funding for critical programs working families rely on. Now, with costs continuing to skyrocket and families continuing to struggle, where does Congressman Kean stand?” asked AFSCME Council 63 Director Steve Tully before introducing members of Local 2220 (AFSCME New Jersey) who work at Hunterdon Developmental Center who spoke at a press conference in Flemington.
Savanah Simeone, senior program assistant at Hunterdon, said what hurts her the most is realizing that her daughters’ generation may be worse off than their parents.
“That’s not the American Dream I grew up hearing about. That’s not making America great. We’re going backwards,” Simeone said. “And I’ll tell you why so many working families are worse off: Because the people who are supposed to represent us have chosen to prioritize billionaires and corporations over working people. Funding for health care, education and essential public services is being slashed so tax breaks can continue flowing to the wealthy.”
“Congressman Thomas Kean voted for the policies and budget proposals that are dismantling Medicaid, Medicare and affordable health care in our state,” Simeone added. “Roughly 350,000 New Jerseyans could lose Medicaid coverage outright.”
AFSCME members that provide essential services to seniors, children and working families of New Jersey demanded Kean push back on administration policies that favor billionaires over working people.
Jackie Mutter, a licensed practical nurse and president of Local 2220, said the health care cuts are hurting both patients and the workers who deliver the services.
“2020 came along and state workers became health care heroes. In 2026, with the passage of The Big Beautiful Bill, we’re health care zeroes,” Mutter said about how the profession has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My co-workers and I are struggling and working overtime to make ends meet, but for some co-workers it’s still not enough. They must rely on SNAP benefits to relieve the burden and make ends meet,” Mutter said, referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “Those are the same SNAP benefits Representative Kean and his pals in Congress made historic cuts to, to include the Medicaid and Medicare my patients rely on.”
Workers are not alone in sounding the alarm about the impending health care crisis.
Cathy Bennett, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association, said New Jersey is facing a “health care fiscal abyss.”
Gerardo Rivera, senior therapy assistant at Hunterdon, said the cuts are not abstract political debates in Washington and people are already being hurt.
“For those of us on the front lines, these aren’t political talking points. The people I care for do not have lobbyists. These decisions have real consequences,” Rivera said. “And we’re already seeing it. When health care facilities reduce services or close altogether and workers lose their jobs or lose income while expenses continue to rise, people leave the profession. Burnout increases. Recruitment becomes harder. Retention becomes harder. And again, it is New Jersey’s most vulnerable that ultimately pay the price.”