92.7 WOBM News Flash Briefing: July 5 5am
https://jerseyshorepodcasts.townsquaredigital.com/WOBMNEWS%205AM%207-5-17.mp3
The deal that ended the holiday weekend's partial government shutdown followed a meeting Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield's CEO met with legislative leaders in Trenton a few hours earlier to discuss reforms demanded by Governor Christie.
Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto says he'd been talking with company officials for three weeks before the meeting to make sure the bill wouldn't be problematic.
"Horizon is going to give it their seal of approval that for me gives me the comfort level that that makes it a good public policy bill," said Prieto.
Christie said Horizon's CEO didn't return a call he placed to them back in February, which is the only time that's happened with any company in his time as governor.
Senator Joe Vitale said the agreement could have been reached a week ago by company officials were reluctant to meet.
Last Friday, Governor Christie said "Don't count on it" when asked if furloughed state workers would be paid for days they were forced off the job by the partial government, but Monday he indicated they may not lose pay.
"We'll have to go and look at that and talk to the legislature about it because there's nothing budgeting us...for us to do that at the moment, but we'll talk to the legislature about today," said Christie.
Christie says he filed a letter with the civil service commission to ensure workers receive a paid holiday for the fourth of July, despite a regulation that would otherwise prevent that.
A Franklinville woman is facing charges for careless driving for allegedly causing a five-car crash on Route 72 in Stafford Township on Monday morning around 10:15 am.
Alyssa Kelly, 25, was heading eastbound in a Mazda SUV over the causeway bridge near milepost 28 when she struck a Lexus SUV in the rear while it was stopped causing it to hit another car along with two others.
More From WOBM: