O’Scanlon, Scharfenberger, and Flynn Torch Trenton’s Latest Anti-Freelancer Agenda
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton, NJ – July 29, 2025 Just when you thought Governor Phil Murphy couldn’t make New Jersey less affordable or more unfriendly to working residents, his administration is back with another anti-job, anti-reality proposal. This time, it’s a behind-the-scenes push to reclassify gig workers—think Uber drivers, freelance writers, insurance agents, photographers, and even Little League umpires—as employees rather than independent contractors.
Because of course, in Murphy’s Trenton, if something isn’t broken, let’s regulate the life out of it.
Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, and Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn (R-13) are leading the charge against this regulatory overreach, calling it a direct threat to worker freedom, affordability, and job growth in the Garden State.
🚫 Murphy’s Exit Gift to Freelancers: Fewer Jobs, More Red Tape
“Governor Murphy and his Labor Department seem determined to tank the gig economy on their way out the door,” said Sen. O’Scanlon. “They’re reviving a bad idea that was already defeated in 2019—and trying to do it this time without even going through the legislature. That’s not just bad policy, it’s bad government.”
The proposed rule would tweak the decades-old “ABC test” used to determine whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor. Spoiler alert: This redefinition could force thousands of New Jersey gig workers into employment status, stripping away the flexibility many depend on to earn a living.
“No one asked for this,” O’Scanlon added. “The only ones excited are the bureaucrats and the special interest groups.”
💼 Contract Work = Freedom, Not a “Loophole”
Assemblyman Scharfenberger echoed the sentiment, noting that independent contractors aren’t being exploited—they’re choosing freedom:
“People work gig jobs for flexibility. Companies rely on them to remain agile. This rule change is the classic example of big government trying to fix what’s not broken. Murphy should be focused on real problems—like the tax burden and outmigration—not creating new ones.”
Assemblywoman Flynn didn’t hold back either:
“Trenton isn’t creating jobs—it’s eliminating them,” Flynn said. “Contracting is a lifeline for many workers. Murphy’s rules would make it harder to earn, harder to hire, and harder to recover. The state is already bleeding small businesses—why is Trenton trying to bleed them out completely?”
🛑 A Rule Change NJ Doesn’t Want or Need
The Murphy administration’s proposal closely mirrors California’s failed AB5 law, which was so unpopular it was basically repealed within a year after massive backlash from gig workers and small businesses alike.
So naturally, in true Trenton fashion, we’re trying it anyway.
If passed, this reclassification would raise prices across the board—from food deliveries and rideshares to youth sports and event photography—while making it harder for people to work on their terms.
📣 Residents and Lawmakers Push Back
“This isn’t just bad policy—it’s a direct hit to people’s livelihoods,” said O’Scanlon. “We’ve heard from hundreds of terrified independent workers. Trenton needs to stop micromanaging how people earn a living.”
He called on Murphy and the Department of Labor to “abandon this nonsense” and refocus on making New Jersey more affordable, not more restrictive.
🗳️ The Bottom Line: It’s Time to Push Back
As the Murphy administration pushes this unpopular, job-killing rule with no legislative oversight, New Jersey residents and lawmakers alike are demanding accountability.
New Jersey doesn’t need another government power grab disguised as reform. It needs policies that support independence, innovation, and the right to work on your own terms.
Let’s hope the comment period is flooded with common sense.
Want to voice your opinion on the proposed gig worker rule change?
Visit the NJ Department of Labor website and submit your comments before the deadline. Don’t let Trenton decide your future without hearing from you.
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It’s just copycatting in order to make the PDRNJ the Kalifornia of the East.
Remember, he told you he was going to do this before he was elected. Despite this, the wise voters in the PDRNJ still voted for him, because that (D) after his name is as good as the “nimbus” behind his head in many official photos.
And there’s still time for him to do more damage. And no pressure to get his wife a Senate seat while he awaits a job in the next Democrat administration.