New Jersey Citizen Action responded on Mar. 10 to Governor Mikie Sherrill’s first budget address, with Director of Advocacy and Policy Maura Collinsgru outlining the organization’s views in a public statement.
The response from New Jersey Citizen Action highlights the importance of the proposed budget for working families and low- and moderate-income residents across the state. The organization said that addressing economic, healthcare, and housing challenges is critical as federal cuts impact millions of New Jerseyans.
“Governor Mikie Sherrill has been dealt a perfect fiscal storm for her administration’s first budget, and her proposed budget demonstrates she’s willing to make some hard choices to do what’s best for our state, particularly for working families. It’s a reform-minded budget that seeks to tackle the brutal economic crisis millions of New Jerseyans face because of draconian federal cuts. It also makes strides in addressing the wrongs of past fiscal decisions that strain both state resources and the household budgets of state residents,” Collinsgru said.
Collinsgru praised proposals such as eliminating certain business tax deductions, lowering thresholds for property tax relief under Stay NJ, imposing penalties on large employers whose workers rely on Medicaid, and supporting working families through lower utility bills and investments in pre-K and childcare. She also called for expanding tax credits like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, increasing funding for affordable housing programs, strengthening rental assistance efforts, and taking further action on healthcare affordability. “We also strongly urge Governor Sherrill to do more to address the health care affordability crisis engulfing our entire nation… People who lose health insurance fall off a fiscal cliff they may never come back from, and New Jersey should do everything possible to ensure all our residents have access to quality, affordable care,” she said.
Collinsgru urged reconsideration of taxes on high-income earners: “For this reason, we urge Governor Sherrill to reconsider increasing taxes on the ultra-wealthy. Under the Trump administration, our wealthiest residents have enjoyed a windfall while our working families find essentials increasingly out of reach.” She also called for greater transparency in the budgeting process with more public hearings.
New Jersey Citizen Action advances community efforts through grassroots organizing and civic participation initiatives according to its official website. The group unites labor unions, community groups, faith institutions and civic associations according to its official website. It serves as a nonprofit coalition advocating for social, racial and economic justice according to its official website, serving communities statewide through coalition-building and advocacy according to its official website. The organization promotes policies related to voting rights, environmental justice and housing affordability according to its official website.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Sherrill and our State Legislature to craft a budget that works for all New Jerseyans, while ensuring all state residents have a voice in the process,” Collinsgru said.
