It appears that as one of the first acts of business in the new Congress, the Republican leadership will bring to the floor a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would essentially revoke health care coverage for 20 million Americans who have gained coverage thanks to the ACA. Specifically, repealing the ACA would jeopardize the health care of 249,395 New Jerseyans that have enrolled in coverage through the Marketplace.

Not only does the ACA expand health coverage to millions of Americans that would otherwise go uninsured, it guards and strengthens the health care and financial security of every American, no matter where he or she gets health insurance. For example, up to 129 million people have a pre-existing health condition, including up to 3,847,727 people in New Jersey, that could have been denied coverage prior to the ACA. The ACA also allows for young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance up to age 26, including an estimated 59,000 in New Jersey, who may otherwise be uninsured without this provision. Additionally, the ACA prohibits annual and lifetime limits on policies and provides for free preventative care- like flu shots and cancer screenings.

An estimated 194,000 New Jerseyans have gained coverage through the expansion of Medicaid, improving their access to care, financial security, and health. If the Republican plan to repeal the ACA prevails, not only would millions of Americans lose coverage, but they would once again find health care coverage unaffordable, as many Americans, including 205,242 moderate-and middle-income New Jerseyans, receive tax credits that are available through the ACA to help pay for coverage.

The repeal of the ACA will negatively impact working families the most and take us back to the old days when insurance companies were in charge. I am committed to working with my colleagues to fight for the coverage and protections that millions of Americans rely on.

Congressman Albo Sires 8th District of New Jersey

Donald Trump may have won the White House but he did not win in North Bergen.

Hillary Clinton – 73% – 15,140 votes

Donald Trump – 24.2% – 5,010

Other – 2.5% – 515

See how other towns around the state voted by going to NJ.com

You may have noticed a sudden spike in the gas prices while driving to work today. This is because the state government passed legislation to raise New Jersey’s gasoline tax for the first time since 1988.

The elected officials who represent the area of North Bergen in the state legislature; Senator Nicholas Sacco, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, and Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez all voted ‘Yes’ to raise the gas tax.

The bill also eliminates the estate tax. The $675,000 threshold to be taxed on the transfer of estates increase to $2 million on Jan. 1. It would be eliminated altogether after Jan. 1, 2018.

Reduces in the sales tax. It will decrease from 7 percent to 6.875 percent on Jan. 1, and then from 6.875 percent to 6.625 percent on Jan. 1, 2018.

Boost the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers from 30 percent of the federal level to 35 percent and a $3,000 income tax exemption for veterans who were honorably discharged from active service in the military or National Guard.

This gas tax will bring New Jersey from the 2nd lowest gas prices in the country to one of the highest.

Read more at NJ.com

During Monday’s press conference revealing plans for the move of one of New Jersey’s biggest high schools- State Senator and Mayor Nicholas Sacco announced his resignation from his $259,550 job with North Bergen’s Board of Education.

Sacco has been on the payroll of North Bergen’s Board of Education as a principal, assistant superintendent, and most recently Director of Primary and Secondary education.

“I’ve been around a long time…I’m staying as a Senator and I’m staying the mayor. I leave, only now, because I have completed what I had to do,” stated Nicholas Sacco. “I feel really good about it and I thank everyone for their hard work.”

No date has been set by the Senator and no word if the position will be filled by someone else.

State Senator (D-32)/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco called leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy “our next governor”

“It became important to North Bergen and Hudson County and the State of New Jersey to elect a man who cares for us and understands our needs. Tonight, we just endorsed that man who will go on to become the governor and take the state out of the doldrums that we are in right now to a future where we belong,” said Sacco.

“I thank him for being here, he’s been here in the past, but tonight he becomes our leader as we move forward. So Phil Murphy, congratulations on becoming the next governor, next year,” he added.

Read more at HudsonCountyView.com

During the August 24th North Bergen Board of Commissioner’s meeting, Grovert Fuentes, Air Force combat veteran serving two tours overseas and lifelong resident, urged the town to adopt an ordinance to honor fallen soldier Sgt. Marcos Gorra.

The draft Mr. Fuentes introduced would dedicate the corner of 76th and Kennedy Boulevard to the late Marcos Gorra.

Sgt. Marcos Gorra was an Army paratrooper from North Bergen, N.J., died in February 12, 2010 of wounds sustained “while supporting combat operations,” the military said. Gorra was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. He was based at Kandahar Airfield.

“He passed away in February of 2010 and I think this would be a great way to honor Sergeant Gorra as a North Bergen resident,” Mr. Fuentes stated during the public portion of the meeting.

In response to the request, Mayor Nicholas Sacco stated that the township of North Bergen “does not usually name streets after people,” however, that Sgt. Gorra is honored in many other ways. The mayor referenced that Gorra is honored at the annual 9/11 memorial held in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the attack. “I know the Gorra family and they’re a great family but there are many great families that we would have to name streets all over town.”

“He basically just slapped the face of every veteran out there,” says Phil Camacho, a combat Veteran from North Bergen. “I may have moved to Philly a while ago but my heart is always North Bergen, and a huge part of that was Marcos and our parallel service together in Afghanistan.”

This writer and publisher of the HudPost also joined the public section of the meeting in support of dedication of the street corner.

“Sgt. Gorra is a prime example of those who should be honored in our town… Marcos came here as a Cuban citizen and signed up for the military as soon as he finished high school…he paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Sacco agreed that the Gorra’s are a “beautiful family” but that the dedication is unlikely. “If we name the street after him [Sgt. Gorra], where does it stop?”

This writer replied back, “those who served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

After the meeting, Freeholder Anthony Vainieri approached Mr. Fuentes about dedications to veterans and informed of the plans to build a dedication in the park and purchase of metal from ground zero.

“I thought this would be an easy approval from the Town of North Bergen,” said Mr. Fuentes. “Marcos is the only North Bergen veteran to have been killed during these two wars in the past 15 years. It’s a little disappointing.”

A petition has been started to push the township to dedicate the street corner after Sgt. Gorra