New Jersey’s Senate Labor Committee held a hearing today that included Senate Bill 558, which would protect the independent-contractor status of golf caddies—and only golf caddies—in the face of proposed rulemaking that is facing 99% public opposition at New Jersey’s Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
I testified about this golf caddie bill just after Chris Emigholz, chief government affairs officer at the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, whom you’ll hear me mention in the video above. He hit on a lot of the same points that I did, which was terrific for independent contractors in all kinds of professions.
You’ll also hear me reference:
this public comment that the Office of the Public Defender filed
this public comment about kids in the Early Intervention System
this public comment that AAA filed
this letter that Committee Chairman Gordon Johnson and Vice Chairman Andrew Zwicker sent to the state’s Labor Commissioner back in June
Finally, you’ll hear me urge lawmakers to work with state Senator Declan O’Scanlon to pass the concurrent resolution that he introduced, SCR138, which would invalidate the Labor Department’s rulemaking and protect us all.
The upshot from today’s hearing: The golf caddie bill did advance in what seems to me an egregious example of our Legislature playing favorites among professions, but I also managed to secure a commitment from Chairman Johnson to meet with me in person and discuss ways that we can work together to protect all of New Jersey’s independent contractors.
I’m taking it as a win, and I look forward to meeting with him soon.
