New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill declared her mandate is for immediate, concrete action to lower the cost of living for state residents, signaling a departure from what she characterized as slow political processes.
Appearing on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday, Sherrill said her election victory was a clear signal from voters who want an aggressive agenda to address economic concerns.
“They wanted to see an agenda to get their costs down, and something that was going to take place quickly,” Sherrill stated. “As I said, you know, I’m not writing a strongly-worded letter. I’m not doing a 10-year plan.”
Sherrill’s campaign focused heavily on affordability, and she specified a Day One priority to convey this urgency. She plans to declare a state of emergency upon taking office, a move intended to block utility rate hikes.
“The state of emergency will freeze rate hikes because there are some rate hikes that are set to come into play in the next several months,” she explained, adding that this step “conveys that sense of urgency that I feel to work for the people of New Jersey.”
Beyond rate freezes, the Governor-elect detailed a multi-pronged strategy to reduce costs, including:
- Cutting red tape and permitting delays to drive down costs.
- Adding power to the grid quickly by cutting through delays to get solar and battery storage projects done, which she expects will help lower the cost of electricity.
- Continuing to fight Washington on federal issues like the tariff program and cuts to healthcare subsidies, which she argued are raising costs for New Jersey families.
Sherrill stressed that residents are demanding a government that is focused on “governing for them,” noting that voters want to know that “whoever’s governing is going to be focused on governing for them not a party of one like Donald Trump.”
The White House has highlighted price decreases in a few key areas under the Trump administration, though overall inflation remains a factor for many goods and services, as leftovers from the Biden administration.
The most notable decreases reported include:
- Gasoline Prices: The nationwide average for gasoline has been reported as dropping, with prices approaching their lowest levels in more than four years.
- Prescription Drugs: Significant price reductions have been announced for certain popular medications, particularly a class of drugs known as GLP-1s (which treat conditions like diabetes and obesity). For example, the administration announced negotiated agreements to lower the prices of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for consumers and Medicare/Medicaid.
- Other Select Items: Economic data has also indicated lower prices for:
- Eggs (a substantial decrease from highs under the Biden administration)
- Used cars and trucks
- Motor vehicle insurance
- Communication commodities
- Propane
- Fresh fruits
- Nonprescription drugs
- Butter
- Apparel
READ: Economic Storm Warning: Shutdown Threatens ‘Negative Quarter’ And Military Pay
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