NJ Newsroom: Better Choices for New Jersey coalition says Christie's Budget hurts working families

TUESDAY, 16 MARCH 2010 14:07
 
In response to news reports about Governor Christie's FY 2011 Budget, Better Choices for New Jersey spokesperson Margarita Hernandez issued the following statement:
 
"Governor Christie talks a good game about shared sacrifice, but so far he's only asking it from working families. Reported cuts of $800 million to school aid and $445 million to municipal aid will mean two things: higher property taxes for middle-class New Jerseyans and drastic reductions to basic services like public education, libraries, and fire & public safety. Meanwhile, he plans to cut taxes for the wealthiest New Jerseyans and big corporations like Citigroup and A.I.G."
 
"Last year, New Jersey took a balanced approach to weathering our economic crisis by modestly increasing income tax rates on those making over $400,000, which preserved vital services and maintained property tax relief. The contrast with Governor Christie's proposed budget couldn't be clearer."
 
"New Jersey's fiscal crisis is too severe to be addressed by spending cuts alone, and we need real shared sacrifice if we are going to get through it and lay the foundation for a shared recovery. Working families are already paying their fair share, and Governor Christie's wealthy friends should too."
 
Over the last two years, Better Choices for New Jersey has led the charge for a plan to increase revenue and protect services. The Better Choices campaign has previously called for:
 
Adjusting state income tax rates to better reflect ability to pay;
Maintaining and increasing the surcharge on the corporate business tax;
Protecting our environment while generating revenue by increasing registration fees on polluting, gas-guzzling SUVs over 5,000 pounds.
 
Better Choices for New Jersey represents 50 organizations including the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Tenants Organization, New Jersey Environmental Federation, and the Hispanic Directors Association. The campaign calls for increased investment in critical public services and long-term solutions to New Jersey's fiscal troubles. Some of its revenue proposals were adopted in the budget for FY 2010.