The We the People Coalition and For the Many NJ, representing over 50 organizations across New Jersey, have urged state lawmakers to cease annual backroom deals and last-minute efforts in drafting the state budget bill. With a $58 billion budget affecting public investments such as schools, hospitals, public transit, and environmental protection, these groups argue that New Jersey residents deserve input on how funds are allocated before a rushed vote.
With only six days remaining before the constitutional budget deadline on June 30, the organizations called for the disclosure of the budget bill text at least 72 hours before a budget committee vote at a public hearing with testimony. This would allow both the public and legislators time to analyze the several-hundred-page bill prior to voting.
"With erosions in public accountability after changes to election contributions and now public records, this state cannot withstand even more backroom dealing without public accountability," said Antoinette Miles, New Jersey Director of Working Families Alliance. "We must replace a system that benefits political insiders with an open process that includes the voices of communities that this budget is supposed to serve."
"When lawmakers can spend billions of taxpayer dollars through a totally opaque process, that only benefits special interests with influence and access," said Peter Chen, Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). "Budgets are moral documents, and a budget written and voted on in secrecy without public input will not reflect the values of the public."
Last year, NJPP proposed reforms to end annual brinkmanship: requiring budget bills be posted no later than June 1; instituting a 14-day window between posting and second reading in committee; and including multi-year projections for revenues and expenditures to reduce reliance on one-off gimmicks for better long-term planning.
"We have seen how procrastinated budget bills lead to votes with little to no public feedback and legislators voting on bills they have not even seen," said Jesse Burns, Executive Director of League of Women Voters of New Jersey. "If we believe in a robust democracy, that has to include meaningful public feedback on the biggest single bill of the year. The people of this state deserve better and are sick and tired of Trenton’s anti-transparency antics."
"The opaque budget process has helped entrenched special interests instead of working-class and middle-class New Jersey residents who form the foundation of the state," said Nedia Morsy from Make the Road NJ. "The budget is a moral document that directly impacts immigrant and working-class people. When transparency is upheld to keep working-class people engaged we all benefit."
"The public has every right to shape how public dollars are spent. The Legislature must make the state budget proposal public at least 72 hours before a vote is held and hold a hearing to take feedback from the public on the proposal. It’s one way for restoring meaningful participation in budgeting," said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive Director at New Jersey Citizen Action.
"With just a week left, there is still no indication from Legislature about their progress on budgeting. Schools face draconian cuts so districts need funding clarity as soon as possible. We deserve an efficient transparent process just as our children deserve thorough education guaranteed by New Jersey's constitution," stated Julie Larrea Borst from Save Our Schools NJ (SOSNJ).
For The Many NJ is composed of over 40 organizations advocating for essential services funding improvement practices addressing current future needs especially historically underserved communities.
We The People NJ consists over dozen labor advocacy grassroots groups dedicated advancing equitable inclusive democracy engaging empowering underrepresented communities building sustainable power among all New Jerseyans.
