Release: Groups call for new revenues rather than budget cuts
For release: Thursday, April 10, 2008
TRENTON -- A broad coalition of organizations announced the launch of a new campaign to prevent the proposed state budget cuts and return the state to a path of investing in its future.
The Better Choices Budget Campaign, which includes environmental, housing, labor, education and community organizations, called on legislators and Governor Corzine to consider revenue alternatives before passing a budget that cuts deeply into health care, higher education, parks, social services, tenant protection and many other areas crucial to New Jerseyans’ quality of life and ability to advance economically.
“If this budget goes through, we will see longer emergency room waits, higher property taxes and shuttered parks and libraries. This budget makes the wrong choices for working families,” said Eva Bonime, Executive Director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance and coordinator of the Better Choices Budget Campaign.
Jon Shure, President of New Jersey Policy Perspective, presented a set of revenue, including a modest income tax increase affecting 10% of New Jersey households, higher transportation fees tied to fuel efficiency, and a re-evaluation of New Jersey’s corporate subsidies.
“Better Choices means looking at sensible revenue options to fund the services and investments our state depends on. There are fair, realistic and environmentally sound ways to meet New Jersey’s needs,” said Shure.
Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, Executive Director of New Jersey Citizen Action, said that the Better Choices Budget Campaign will deliver its message through door-to-door canvassing, community events in targeted legislative districts, in-district lobby visits and leafleting at public places, letter-writing, phone calls and email drives.
"We know there are better choices for New Jersey, and we are going to
make sure the politicians in Trenton know it too,” said Salowe-Kaye.
"Disinvestment in the people of New Jersey is not a reasonable budget choice. Balancing the budget on the backs of New Jersey's low income renters by rolling back their Homestead Rebates and thereby increasing their property taxes is not a reasonable budget choice,” said Matt Shapiro, President of the New Jersey Tenants Organization. “New Jersey can do much better."
“It's a false choice to have to choose among state parks, charity care, education, and property tax relief, “ said Amy Goldsmith, State Director of the NJ Environmental Federation. “Instead, Trenton politicians need to fight with all their might for greater spending controls and targeted revenue enhancers. More pay to play reform would save property tax dollars. Instead of paying for sprawl we could make polluters pay if permit fees reflected the true cost of the pollution polluters profit from.”
“This budget destroys environmental safety, gutting DEP programs that protect our air, water, land, and families from exposure to toxic chemicals,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The cuts to state parks are outrageous – worse than the Whitman years! Even Governor Whitman did not try to close state parks.”
The Better Choices Campaign released a list of 21 organizations that so far have endorsed the campaign, as well as the campaign's principles and an outline of revenue alternatives.
Better Choices Budget Campaign Endorsing Organizations
(List in formation)
AARP
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, NJ Council 1
Bergen Community College Environmental Club
BlueWaveNJ
Center for Women and Work at Rutgers
Communications Workers of America, District 1
Health Professionals and Allied Employees, AFT
Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey
Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
New Jersey Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)
New Jersey Citizen Action
New Jersey Environmental Federation
New Jersey Immigration Policy Network
New Jersey Policy Perspective
New Jersey Tenants Organization
New Jersey Work Environment Council
New Jersey Working Families Alliance
Roosevelt Institution, Rutgers-New Brunswick/Piscataway Chapter
Rutgers Labor Association
Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter
United Presbyterian Church in Paterson