Gov. Christie issued a conditional veto Wednesday on a bill that would've created an oversight committee for Bergen Regional Medical Center.
Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a bill Wednesday that would establish a committee to oversee the state's largest hospital, Bergen Regional Medical Center.
The bill would create an 11-member committee with representatives from various industries to oversee the hospital. Christie wrote in his veto that he objected to what he called "problematic reforms" that were included in the bill.
The bill has a provision that says workers employed for services by a "private entity that has entered into a public-private partnership agreement with a county hospital authority" won't be paid less than the "prevailing wage rate," as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), a sponsor of the bill, had said that the language was not a "major portion of the bill."
Christie also wrote that he had "no objections" to a county creating a hospital authority and that the authority be able to create "public-private partnerships."
"Indeed, a single-purpose authority is likely necessary to oversee the State's largest, publicly-owned hospitals," he wrote.
Christie's recommendations will go back to the Legislature to accept or reject them. The bill, S2361, had passed the Senate 25-11 and the Assembly 52-25 in June.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.