Home News Tribune: Coalition presses to stop sensitive cuts to N.J. budget

May 2, 2008

By Christine Sparta
Staff Writer

NEW BRUNSWICK — Better Choices for New Jersey, a grass-roots coalition of nearly 30 organizations, is conducting a campaign to persuade legislators to stop budget cuts to much-needed state services before Gov. Jon S. Corzine signs the new budget over the summer.
   The group comprises a number of organizations including the American Association of Retired Persons, the New Jersey Environmental Federation and the Rutgers Labor Association.
   Jon Shure, president of New Jersey Policy Perspective in Trenton, said the state invests too little to fix schools and repairs bridges and highways.
   The coalition plans to travel around the state to talk about issues.  They conduct e-mail and door-to-door campaigns.
   Starting today, members of the group will start this campaign in Legislative District 18, state Sen. Barbara Buono's district.  Buono, D-Middlesex, is chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
   Shure would like to see revenue from places other than property taxes.
   "Increase the state income tax for the wealthiest 100 percent.  Close corporate tax loopholes," he said.
   Sy Larson, 83, said is worried about rising copay rates for Medicaid patients.
   "We believe it's socially irresponsible to cut programs in disadvantaged groups," said Larson, president of the AARP in New Jersey.
   He told a story about a person he knows who couldn't afford glaucoma medication and is now gradually losing eyesight.
   Larson said that case would eventually go to charity care and become more of a burden than if there was ample funding in place to get the medication.
   Matt Shapiro, president of the New Jersey Tenants Association, was upset about rising property taxes and the slashing of the Homestead Rebate Program.  He said that next year, a low-income person who used to receive a check for $350 would just get $80.  A move, he said, was "not a progressively better way to solve the housing crisis."
   Senior Class President Josh Ontell of Clifton, an economics major at Rutgers, is part of the Roosevelt Institute, a student-run think tank at Rutgers.  He said he would like to see New Jersey's racetracks add video lottery terminals similar to slot machines, with proceeds going to higher education.