In advance of Governor Christie’s state-of-the-state speech, the Democratic leaders of the state senate are giving their own assessment of New Jersey.

The governor’s speech expected to focus on rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy.

Senate President Steve Sweeney claims Christie is using Sandy to ignore other problems.

 “If you’re one of the 9.6 percent of the people unemployed in this state, you can’t wait for when that benefit of unemployment might come to you. We got to do something now. The health care issues and the women’s issues have not gone away. The foreclose issues have not gone away. We can’t just say forget about that.”

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg maintains Christie has failed to do the right things for women.

 “Whether it’s the right to choose to access health care or to receive equitable pay, the Democratic members of New Jersey’s legislature have taken a stand against the Republican war on women.”

Senator Nia Gill claims the governor has failed to lead on the issue of health care.

 “The governor rightly lobbied for and accepted federal funding for Sandy relief because New Jerseyans are in. Well governor New Jerseyans are also in need of health care.”

The Democrats say the state has to assist the people harmed by Sandy, but they also want Christie to work with them to approve job creation bills and help people in foreclosure from losing their homes.