John Reitmeyer
@johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
290 followers 140 following 220 posts
Budget/Finance Writer at NJ Spotlight News, the news division of NJ PBS.
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The federal government is still shut down. And a major sticking point between Republicans and Democrats is health care.

People in red states — like Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina — could be hit hardest by health insurance premium spikes if enhanced tax credits aren't extended.
Here's what the end of ACA subsidies could mean for your health insurance
“Premium payments will increase by 114% if Congress does not extend the enhanced premium tax credits,” warned KFF’s Cynthia Cox.
mktplc.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
A new state law enacted earlier this month preserves the same tier of pension benefits NJ teachers were on course to earn prior to a break in service, including teachers taking time away to raise children.
@njspotlightnews.org
NJ teachers get a pension boost | NJ Spotlight News
New law says some breaks away from job won’t cut benefits
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
Why is the federal government shut down?
Democrats are negotiating for more Medicaid money and also pushing for Congress to extend tax subsidies for state-run health insurance markets created through the 2010 health law commonly known as Obamacare.
Reporting: @bhulac.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org
Why is the government shut down? Partly a fight over healthcare | NJ Spotlight News
Democrats look to get Medicaid increases in talks with Trump, GOP
www.njspotlightnews.org
Reposted by John Reitmeyer
bflanagannj.bsky.social
Hospital-at-home, telehealth programs impacted by government shutdown: "Basically, they’re hoping in the next 10 days that the shutdown will be over…That still worries me, because I don’t know if it’s going to be over in 10 days."
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/10/hosp...
Hospital-at-home, telehealth programs on hold amid government shutdown | NJ Spotlight News
Expiration of federal waivers impacted 17 acute-care facilities in NJ
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
Not every low wage hourly worker will be paid the $15.92 hourly rate now due to go into effect in 2026.
NJ's wage laws allow for exceptions for several groups of workers, including employees of seasonal and small businesses; farmworkers; and service workers who earn a tipped wage.
NJ minimum wage to go up | NJ Spotlight News
Wage for most hourly workers to be almost $16. Several groups still exempt from that minimum
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
Announced today by NJ's Department of Labor and Workforce Development:
The minimum wage earned by many hourly workers in New Jersey will rise automatically to $15.92, starting on Jan. 1, under the latest cost-of-living adjustment required by the state Constitution.
@njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
About 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed each day at a cost of about $400 million each day, the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency that advises Congress on economic policy.
Reporting by @bhulac.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org
Federal government shuts down again under Trump | NJ Spotlight News
Social programs to stop, workers to be sent home
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
As a federal government shutdown nears, @njspotlightnews.org is there covering the latest developments.
This dispatch from @bhulac.bsky.social details the services and programs that would be affected by a shutdown.
With no updates and no deal, government shutdown gets closer | NJ Spotlight News
Advocates warn shutdown will mean harm for many
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
It’s still very early in NJ's July-to-June fiscal year.
But some state business leaders have begun to sound alarms about the initial corporation business tax collections – and the possible trajectory of the state economy.
@njspotlightnews.org
Are NJ’s lagging business taxes a bad sign? | NJ Spotlight News
State officials urge patience as business leaders raise alarms
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
"It’s very tough,” said the manager of a popular vegetarian restaurant in Little India in Edison, NJ.
“Vendors are charging 50% more, and we have no option but to increase our menu prices. Customers feel it and yes, we risk losing business.”
Reporting by Raven Santana @njspotlightnews.org
Trump's tariffs drive shoppers away from NJ's 'Little India' | Video | NJ Spotlight News
Imports face 50% tariffs on spices, clothes and more. Business 'have no option' but to raise prices
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
NJ's sales tax has become a flashpoint in this year's governor's race.
But left out of the political back and forth is any of the key context.
-The sales tax rate is 6.625%
-The sales tax generates $14B annually
-In NJ, the governor cannot unilaterally raise or lower taxes, including the sales tax
NJ governor’s race: What’s the deal with the sales tax? | NJ Spotlight News
Ciattarelli, Sherrill debate over NJ sales tax leaves out key details
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
Moody's analysts highlight fiscal policies incorporated into state government’s latest annual budget -- including a robust surplus and full pension funding -- as NJ earns another upgrade from a major Wall Street credit rating agency.
Wall Street gives NJ finances a better grade | NJ Spotlight News
Moody’s is the latest to approve of budget moves this year
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
-NJ's unemployment rate ticked up to 5% as the state gained 4,900 jobs in August, according to state labor officials.
-July gains were also revised downward, from 7,500 to 6,400.
-Year over year, NJ has added 28,900 nonfarm jobs, with total private employment up 36,500 jobs, labor officials said.
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
Moody's has moved NJ's credit rating up one notch, to Aa3, citing the maintenance of a "comparatively robust" budget surplus, even as the state has funded full actuarial pension obligations and other key spending commitments.
Moody's last adjusted NJ's debt grade in 2023.
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
The distribution of state-funded benefits via the $2B Anchor program begins this week as homeowners and renters throughout NJ face the latest wave of rising housing costs.
These payments can total as much as $1,750 per household. The application deadline this year is Oct. 31.
@njspotlightnews.org
Anchor property-tax payments are starting to be sent out | NJ Spotlight News
NJ policymakers decided earlier this summer to renew funding for state-funded housing-affordability payments through the popular Anchor relief program.
www.njspotlightnews.org
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
In 2016, China bought more than 40% of its soybeans from U.S. farmers.
As of last year, that had dropped to about 20%, customs data shows.
"It’s a pretty dire situation,” said Darin Johnson, president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. “We’re in a tough spot.”
Minnesota soybean farmers, facing ‘dire’ export orders due to tariffs, seek federal bailout
China hasn’t bought any U.S. soybeans this season, switching to South American sources and depriving Minnesota’s farmers of key market.
www.startribune.com
johnreitmeyer.bsky.social
So things have become more challenging in public media. But @njspotlightnews.org was defunded -- not defeated.
In fact, our team is doing a lot of cool stuff in some other places, such as: www.instagram.com/njspotlightn... &
www.youtube.com/@NJSpotlight...
Like, follow and subscribe there, too.
Reposted by John Reitmeyer
njspotlightnews.org
From the archives:

In this 2014 interview, former NJ Gov. Tom Kean discussed the 9/11 Commission's final report the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Kean served as co-chair of the commission. #NeverForget

Watch the full interview: youtu.be/XeznWZncWZE