New Jersey Working Families State Director Sue Altman issued the following response to Governor Murphy’s budget proposal:

We are pleased that Governor Murphy chartered a course toward economic recovery today that focuses on protecting essential services and ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share.

At a time when 1.5 million New Jerseyans have filed for unemployment, the governor is focusing on restoring programs that help seniors living on fixed incomes remain in their homes while launching a new Baby Bonds initiative designed to address longstanding racial and socioeconomic disparities that prevent children of color from pursuing higher education, buying a home or starting a business.

At the same time, this budget proposal calls on the wealthy and big corporations to do their part to balance a budget during an unprecedented economic crisis. Millionaires who own yachts and limousines and politically powerful businesses that have taken advantage of tax loopholes can afford to contribute more so that senior citizens and working families get the services they need to recover from this devastating pandemic.

We look forward to working with Governor Murphy and the Legislature on enacting a budget that puts the needs of working families and communities of color first by curbing the powers of corporate special interests.