Today, March 10, the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee held hearings on Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 21-22 budget. NJ Citizen Action Associate Director Dena Mottola Jaborska presented testimony praising the Governor’s proposal and identifying where it falls short of the needs of working families, summarized in the following statement:

Dena Mottola Jaborska, New Jersey Citizen Action Associate Director:

“NJ Citizen Action (NJCA) is pleased that the Governor has proposed so many investments to support low and moderate income families, and that the Legislature has expressed support for many of them. We will have a budget that rightfully meets the moment, investing in health coverage for all kids, public schools and higher education, tax credits for working families, public health and so many more things that families need to survive and recover from the pandemic.

We are also glad to hear of the Legislative support for the components of the Governor’s budget that put New Jersey on the path to fiscal health by making an historic, full pension payment and by replenishing the budget surplus with a $2.2 billion allocation. These are important ways our state can become fiscally stronger and thus able to meet the challenges and public needs of the future.

That being said, there is one glaring deficiency in the Governor’s proposed budget. We are urging direct relief to immigrant families who have been excluded from stimulus and unemployment payments, who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. 475,000 immigrant workers, many of them essential, have been overlooked for desperately needed aid. They are part of our communities, they pay taxes, and we depend on them like any other workers. We cannot ensure a fair recovery for all without this investment, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of people.

NJCA is also advocating for additional investments in housing and utility assistance to avoid mass evictions and ensure access to heat and clean water.

Lastly, despite the Governor’s responsible proposals to fund the pension and a surplus, a real and true fiscal cliff is still in front of us. For this reason, NJCA continues to join the For the Many Coalition advocating for the adoption of new, fairly derived, and sustainable sources of revenue, which will be necessary if we are to tackle New Jersey’s deeply rooted racial and economic inequities.”