Dunn’s Attempt to Restore Funding to Opioid Addiction Services in Majority’s $128M Bill Gets Blocked
- voteauradunn
- Jan 12
- 1 min read
by Aura Dunn. Read article on NJAssembly.gov
Assemblywoman Aura Dunn questioned the majority party’s priorities and motives before moving to restore funding for opioid addiction services in a bill that expends $128.25 million outside of the budget process. Her motion to amend the bill was blocked by state Democrats by a 41-26 vote.
Dunn explained how $45 million from opioid settlement funds paid by pharmaceutical companies were diverted from life-saving addiction programs to fund the Democrat’s pork spending in the bill (A6319) under consideration.
“Tens of millions for marketing and promotion tied to the World Cup. Millions more for projects added with little detail and no public vetting. Meanwhile, the very programs designed to save lives from opioid addiction remain underfunded,” Dunn (R-Morris) said. “Let me be clear: the World Cup will be just fine. Marketing the most popular sporting event on Earth does not require opioid settlement dollars. But you know who does? The families fighting addiction.”
The fiscal year 2026 budget cut critical spending to opioid addiction prevention and treatment programs, child care assistance for working families, and public schools, said Dunn. When new spending is added, state Democrats choose to fund the FIFA World Cup and special interests instead of restoring the cuts.
“I ask every member in this body to restore funding to the opioid programs that were cut. It puts dollars back where they were promised. It says, ‘Saving Lives matters more than political convenience.’ This is about trust. Trust in our budget process. Trust in our commitments. And trust with the people we represent,” Dunn said.
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