Budget In, Dual Office Holding Out…Sort Of, Stem Cell Research TBD
Posted June 22, 2007
As expected, the New Jersey Legislature easily passed a $33.48 billion state budget yesterday, nine days before the constitutionally-mandated deadline. The vote was largely along party lines, with the Senate approving the measure 20-15 and the Assembly giving it the nod with a 50-30 vote.
Although the budget is over 8% larger than last year’s, for the first time since 2001, the state’s spending bill includes no new or increased taxes, and half of the budget is devoted to property tax relief for many New Jersey homeowners. Homeowners earning $100,000 or less will receive a 20% rebate; those earning between $100,000 and $150,000 will receive a 15% rebate, and those with incomes between $150,000 and $250,000 will receive a 10% rebate. We are very concerned that another substantial increase in the budget will place the burdens for solving what is a looming financial crisis on the backs of our children. We will cover this in future issues of Trenton Musings.
Additionally, the budget allocates $756 million in state aid to hospitals for the purpose of providing charity-care to uninsured individuals and families, marking an increase in aid of $173 million.
Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny, Jr. (D-Hudson) hailed the measure as proof “that State government can guard taxpayers without abandoning those who depend on vital services.”
Despite the promised relief, however, the budget is also drawing its share of criticism.
State Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-Warren/Hunterdon) claimed that the budget does nothing to address the projected 2008 $2.5 billion budget deficit. Rather than praise the smooth sail-through this year, Lance argued that the budget “will make next year’s budget process much more difficult.”
Farther east, Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Bergen) noted that additional spending in this year’s plan will eventually require higher taxes to sustain. Vandervalk also questioned the validity of the property tax relief, claiming the government is taking money from New Jersey residents in sales tax only to give it back to them in property tax relief.
Over these objections, however, Governor Corzine is expected to sign the budget prior to the July 1 deadline. He has indicated, however, his intention to review each appropriation item and his willingness to use his line-item veto power.
In other Trenton happenings…
By a 33-2 vote, the State Senate passed a ban on dual office holding, the controversial practice that allows legislators to serve concurrently in two or more public positions. The Assembly passed the measure two weeks ago by a 69-3-8 vote.
Unfortunately, the legislators voting for the measure opted to insulate themselves against its provisions, instead excluding all those who hold two elected offices prior to February 1. Currently, 19 legislators are exempted under the measure. Apparently, those supporting the exemption believe that the bill is good policy…as long as it’s for someone else.
And finally…
The Senate and Assembly have each passed a bill that would approve borrowing $450 million to fund stem cell research for 10 years. The bill now rests in the hands of New Jersey voters. The measure will hit the ballot boxes this November and, if approved, the money would go both to adult and embryonic stem cell research.
Willfully ignoring the fact that embryonic stem cell research has not produced even one treatment or cure, legislators remain fixated on destroying life in a utilitarian grasp for progress. It is an undisputable fact that adult stem cell research has already shown great promise of treatments for conditions ranging from cancers to blood disorders. We urge voters to reject the killing of innocent human lives and cast their vote against this harmful ballot referendum. If this measure is defeated at the ballot box, then perhaps legislators will get the message and resend legislation to the ballot that supports adult stem cell research only.
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/
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