2013 New Jersey governor debates: on Health Care

Barbara Buono: NJ has lost half our pharmaceutical jobs

Buono's claim is largely correct. Buono's statement refers to New Jersey's percentage of pharma jobs nationwide lost since 1990. We reviewed Bureau of Labor Statistics data: New Jersey had 42,300 pharma jobs in December 1990. The nation had 210,400. So New Jersey's share was 20.1%. In December 2012 NJ had 28,100 pharma jobs, compared with 275,100 nationally. That means the state's share was 10.2%. So Buono is close to her claim that New Jersey lost "more than half" its pharma jobs.

Next, let's review where the lost New Jersey pharma jobs are going. NJ has lost life sciences jobs largely because the industry has a new business model for bio-based drug development; NJ specialized in chemical based drug development. We rate this claim Mostly True.

Barbara Buono: Keep collective bargaining for health benefits

Just as Gov. Christie celebrates how he approved pension and health benefits reform in June 2011, Buono says she stood up for her beliefs by opposing the landmark bill. Buono, who was Senate Majority Leader when the reform passed, broke with Senate President Stephen Sweeney when she voted against the legislation. That vote likely contributed to her ultimately losing the leadership post.

The 2011 reform mandates increases in health care contributions without employees' approval through negotiations, but the senator's wrong to suggest that bargaining right is eliminated forever. Once the increases are fully implemented after a four-year period, unions can resume negotiating those contribution levels.