Earlier today, the New Jersey Assembly and Senate passed S2676/A4389, which would establish a state-level Health Insurance Assessment (HIA). With a state-level HIA, New Jersey will raise over $200 million in annual revenue — at no new cost to insurance companies — to invest in initiatives to make health care more affordable in the state’s new health care exchange. In response to the passage of this bill, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.
Brittany Holom, Senior Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective:
“With the passage of this bill, New Jersey is solidifying itself as a national leader in protecting the Affordable Care Act and keeping health coverage affordable. The Health Insurance Assessment will provide ample resources for New Jersey to expand health coverage, lower the number of people who are uninsured, and address racial disparities in access to care. These are necessary steps to build a stronger and more equitable state where all residents can lead healthy lives. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that improving access to care will improve public health for all. We sincerely thank Senator Joe Vitale and Assemblyman John McKeon for their leadership on this critical issue.”
New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and advocacy.
Earlier today, Governor Murphy signed the COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act into law, allowing the state to borrow funds to address revenue shortfalls brought on by the pandemic. In response to this agreement, members of the For The Many NJ coalition release the following statements:
Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP): “Borrowing at this level is necessary for New Jersey to keep the state running and provide relief for the families and small businesses who need it. This will protect against deep and long lasting cuts to our public schools, social safety net, health care infrastructure, and so much more. Now, lawmakers must get to work ending Christie-era tax breaks for millionaires and big corporations so the state can pay back any funds borrowed. Raising new, sustainable revenue will secure the state’s finances in the short term and set the path for a strong recovery going forward.”
Sue Altman, Executive Director, New Jersey Working Families Alliance: “New Jersey Working Families is grateful the Legislature was able to put aside petty politics and pass this bonding bill. This pandemic is an emergency situation that requires an intervention, and now we can keep this state running. Austerity measures are not the answer — not for recession, not to fund the recovery. New Jersey’s recovery must be fair and benefit workers, residents and families, not just corporations and the already wealthy.
Marie Blistan, President, New Jersey Education Association: “By coming to an agreement on responsible bonding to prevent devastating budget cuts, Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin have once again demonstrated real leadership as they work together to help New Jersey navigate the incredibly difficult circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. While borrowing should be a last resort, it will be necessary to protect New Jersey’s working families and the services they rely on, including our public schools and county colleges. By opening up an additional source of funding, they have signaled that they are taking very seriously the needs of New Jersey students and families.”
Doug O’Malley, Director, Environment New Jersey: “The state’s fiscal and health crisis is unprecedented and the temporary furloughs this summer already have had a chilling impact on state government to fully function. We need to do more than keep the lights on — we need to provide funding for all of our state employees who are protecting our public health and the environment. We fully support the effort to bond to prevent a crisis in state government and thank the Legislature and the Governor for their leadership.”
Justin Goldsman, Chair, Our Revolution Essex County NJ: “The ability to borrow and bond nearly $10 Billion shows that the state may finally be on the pathway to prioritizing people amidst a global pandemic and economic recession. Essex County is not just one of the hardest hit counties in the country when it comes to COVID, but it also epitomizes incredible levels of income and wealth inequality. We must invest in the lives of every day residents of New Jersey, not in yacht sales, corporate tax deals, and gimmicks. The time is now to invest in people and our services. The time is long overdue for a budget that is transparent, equitable, and just, a budget that works for the people.”
For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations working collectively to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to adequately meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized.
Steering committee members include: New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Working Families Alliance, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Work Environment Council, Environment New Jersey, Make the Road New Jersey, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey, New Jersey Education Association, Communications Workers of America – NJ, Amalgamated Transit Union – NJ, Clean Water Action – NJ.
Earlier today, Governor Murphy and Senate President Sweeney announced a deal that would allow New Jersey to borrow funds from the federal government to balance the state budget. In response to this agreement, members of the For The Many NJ coalition release the following statements:
Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP): “This deal is great news for residents of New Jersey and will set the stage for a stronger and more equitable pandemic recovery. Borrowing at this level will ensure that the most important public services and safety net programs will be there for everyone, especially families who are already struggling. Lawmakers must now work to raise revenue by ending Christie-era tax breaks and require that the very wealthiest pay their fair share in taxes like everyone else. New revenue is necessary for New Jersey’s recovery in now and in the future; it will mitigate further cuts, allow the state to provide relief to those harmed most by the pandemic, and provide the state with ample funds to pay back any money we borrow from the federal government. The only other alternative is austerity — which always harms Black and brown communities the most — and that cannot be an option.”
Sue Altman, Executive Director, New Jersey Working Families Alliance: “We are thrilled to see the Senate, Assembly and the Governor come to the table and work together to agree to this borrowing plan. New Jersey is facing a Fiscal crisis that will hurt working class people. We could see evictions, layoffs, massive cuts in funding to schools, at the time when help is needed the most. We applaud these leaders for showing party unity and getting on board with the Governor’s plan to save New Jersey from this fiscal cliff and avoid draconian austerity measures.”
Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director of New Jersey Citizen Action: “Borrowing is the only way, in the urgent short term, to protect New Jersey’s low and moderate income families from profound financial hardship in the form of service cuts, tax increases and job loss. We are glad to see our leaders join in support of this necessary action and urge their continued dialogue on other more sustainable revenue raisers that will bring lasting economic security to New Jersey and our most vulnerable families.”
Sara Cullinane, Executive Director, Make the Road New Jersey: “New Jersey has taken a commonsense initial step to put our state on a pathway to recovery. A million workers have been displaced. A half million immigrant families have been without relief for more than 120 days. With the fifth month of rent under the pandemic coming due, our state must raise additional revenues so that families of color and immigrant families most impacted by the pandemic are not left behind.”
Marie Blistan, President, New Jersey Education Association: We are pleased that our elected officials agree on the need for responsible bonding to prevent budget cuts that would devastate New Jersey families and harm our state for years to come. We urge them also to explore other revenue options to ensure the long-term stability of our state’s finances and to protect our ability to invest in our key priorities. In particular we must find adequate funding for public schools and county colleges that are going to be asked to educate students under extraordinary circumstances in the coming year. Whether that happens in-person or through remote instruction, we must provide the resources needed to ensure that every student receives a safe, excellent education.
Barry Kushnir, President, IFPTE Local 194 and Hudson County Central Labor Council: New Jersey is facing the triple threat of a public health crisis, economic free fall, and impact of institutionalized racism all at once. Now is the ideal time to invest in our state instead of cutting many of the programs that benefit people who need them the most. The NJ COVID 19 Emergency Bond Act is a reasonable plan to borrow during an unprecedented crisis and must be acted upon as soon as possible.
Julie Borst, Executive Director, Save Our Schools NJ Community Organizing: “Without the additional borrowing, our excellent public schools would be facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions. Public education accounts for approximately a third of our state’s budget. There simply is no way to make cuts of the magnitude that would be required without decimating our public schools.”
Leslie Bockol, Co-Executive Director, NJ11 for Change: “NJ 11th for Change applauds this agreement. Senate President Sweeney made the right decision in finally joining the governor, and we are glad he and his allies now acknowledge the need to expand our ability to respond to the current economic crisis. New Jersey families need the state to maximize its flexibility to support and protect our economic future, our health, our infrastructure, our schools, and other essential services.”
Amy Goldsmith, Clean Water Acton’s NJ State Director: “We’re in the midst of overlapping economic, health, racial and climate crises. There’s no silver bullet but it’s great to see our state’s leaders coming together on bonding. It is a key step and, coupled with new progressive sources of revenue, ensures we’re moving in the right direction by enabling critical funding for transit, clean energy, water infrastructure, and so many other societal needs.”
For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations working collectively to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to adequately meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized.
Steering committee members include: New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Working Families Alliance, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Work Environment Council, Environment New Jersey, Make the Road New Jersey, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey, New Jersey Education Association, Communications Workers of America – NJ, Amalgamated Transit Union – NJ, Clean Water Action – NJ.
July 10, 2020– New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) has announced the election of three new members to its Board of Trustees. Joining the NJPP board are Rutgers University Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations Professor Janice Fine, Kensington Corridor Trust Executive Director Adriana Abizadeh, and Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Associate Professor Julia Sass Rubin.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented and intelligent women join New Jersey Policy Perspective’s governing body,” said Marcia Marley, Chair of NJPP’s Board of Trustees. “I am thrilled to welcome Janice, Adriana, and Julia to the board.”
Janice Fine is a nationally renowned scholar and teacher of economic justice and labor movements with broad experience in academia, research organizations, and labor and community organizing. Janice is currently a Professor at the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, where she writes and teaches about unions, worker centers, community organizing groups, labor standards enforcement, privatization, and more. She is also the Director of Research and Strategy at the Center for Innovation in Worker Organization (CIWO) at Rutgers, a national think-and-do tank that works to strengthen worker organizations.
Janice Fine
Prior to joining Rutgers, Janice worked as a labor, community, and political organizer and trainer for over twenty years. She holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Political Science and a bachelor’s degree in Labor Studies/Community Planning from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
“It is a great honor to be asked to serve on the board of NJPP, the premier progressive policy organization in New Jersey,” said NJPP Board Trustee Janice Fine. “NJPP’s research and analysis on economic and budgetary policy, public education and immigration has been so essential to informed policymaking and governance in our state.”
Adriana Abizadeh is a nonprofit leader who is deeply committed to building community power, with a focus on the intersection of immigration status, housing, poverty, and race. Adriana is currently the Executive Director of the Kensington Corridor Trust (KCT) in Philadelphia, where she promotes sustainable, community-driven development that helps residents prosper. The KCT ensures that local neighborhoods have control over and benefit from economic development.
Adriana Abizadeh
Prior to joining KCT, Adriana was the Executive Director of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) in Trenton, where she expanded the organization’s direct services by increasing staff fourfold and tripled its operating budget. Adriana holds a Masters of Science in Public Policy from Drexel University and a bachelor’s from Rutgers University in Political Science.
“I am so honored to join the board of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP), particularly at a time when our nation and our state should turn to policy solutions to fight systemic injustices that disproportionately impact communities of color,” said NJPP Trustee Adriana Abizadeh. “NJPP’s focus on equitable tax policies exemplifies how the correction of a broken tax code and system can support communities in achieving economic justice. I look forward to working alongside the board and staff of NJPP to advance progressive policies in the Garden State for the benefit of historically marginalized communities.”
Julia Sass Rubin is a scholar who has researched and written in the fields of developmental finance and the use of tax credits for economic development, nonprofit and governmental organizations and processes, and education policy. Julia currently is an Associate Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and an Associate Visiting Professor at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. She has advised a number of nonprofit and governmental organizations, including the U.S. Small Business Administration, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority.
Julia Sass Rubin
Previously, Julia consulted for McKinsey & Company and worked in brand management for the Procter & Gamble and Eastman Kodak Companies. Julia earned her Ph.D. and master’s from Harvard University, an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School, and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Harvard-Radcliffe College. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Alfred A. Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University, and spent a year as a Henry Luce Scholar in Bangkok, Thailand.
“I am very excited to join the New Jersey Policy Perspectives’ Board of Directors,” said NJPP Trustee Julia Sass Rubin. “NJPP takes on issues that directly impact economic and social justice, always punches above its weight, and is never afraid to speak truth to power. The staff and board members are smart, savvy and talented. It is a real privilege to be associated with this extraordinary organization!”
“New Jersey Policy Perspective is much stronger now with Janice, Adriana, and Julia on board to help us grow and continue to research ways to advance racial and economic justice,” said NJPP President Brandon McKoy. “Our three new board members personify NJPP’s mission that policy decisions should be based on sound research and center impacted communities and those who have been historically pushed behind.”
New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and advocacy.
Earlier today, the Task Force on EDA Tax Incentives released its final report on New Jersey’s scandal-plagued corporate tax subsidy programs. The report found that New Jersey awarded over $500 million in tax breaks to companies that did not deserve them. In response to the report, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.
Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst, NJPP:
“This report provides further evidence that New Jersey’s experiment with corporate tax breaks was a costly failure that provided little return on investment for taxpayers. Fortunately, the state’s bloated, scandal-ridden corporate tax subsidy programs expired over a year ago without a replacement, and the state is better off as a result.
“There is no good reason for New Jersey to offer limitless tax incentives to large and already successful corporations. It’s a glass half empty view of New Jersey’s economic potential that ironically robs the state of resources needed to promote a robust and healthy business climate. To remain a viable option for companies to relocate to and expand in, New Jersey should instead focus on the building blocks of a strong economy, like strong public schools that maintain an educated workforce and reliable transit infrastructure so workers can get to their jobs on time.
“With a state budget ravaged by the fallout of a global pandemic, lawmakers must stop awarding billions of dollars in corporate tax subsidies; it is not a wise use of public resources. Mounting research finds that tax subsidies for corporations are a subpar investment when compared to other state policies and investments that are proven to help grow an economy.
“Putting people first by investing in the development of lifelong skills through things like subsidized child care and community college grants has a better return on investment and more positive impact on the state economy than do shovel-ready photo ops that allow politicians to falsely claim they helped create jobs by luring businesses to the state.
Earlier today, the New Jersey Legislature approved a three-month supplemental spending bill, which relies solely on budget cuts to close New Jersey’s revenue shortfall. In response to the spending bill, For the Many NJ releases the following statement.
Brandon McKoy, President of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) and Co-Convener of For The Many NJ:
“This budget proposal, and the process through which it was developed, is an insult to the taxpayers of New Jersey. We are in the midst of the biggest economic crisis of a generation, yet this budget does not deliver the relief New Jersey families need, nor does it meaningfully address the racial disparities that COVID-19 has laid bare. Instead, this budget relies solely on damaging cuts that will worsen the economy’s fall and further harm those struggling to make ends meet.
“Since the pandemic began, the Legislature has recognized the importance of expanding the social safety net with a flurry of new bills meant to support families who have been devastated by the pandemic. This budget does the complete opposite of that. Recent history shows that austerity does not work. New Jersey took a cuts-only approach to the Great Recession, gutting public services and programs to the bone, which dragged the state’s recovery to a crawl. Repeating this strategy means we have not learned from the mistakes of our past and will bring massive harm to workers, families, and businesses who are already in tremendous pain. The scope and impact of this crisis is tremendous, and this three-month budget fails to match it.
“Governor Murphy and legislative leaders could have avoided such drastic cuts if they had pursued new sources of revenue, starting with the reversal of Christie-era tax breaks given to ultra-wealthy families and big corporations. There is no good policy rationale to delay these reforms to the state’s tax code, and insisting on waiting for federal relief is no excuse to not do as much as we can on our own.
“The economic fallout from COVID-19 has fallen disproportionately on low-paid workers and New Jerseyans of color the most and spared the state’s wealthiest households who are disproportionately white and overwhelmingly benefit from federal tax changes signed into law by the Trump administration. To once again balance the budget on the backs of New Jersey’s working families, those living in deep poverty, and Black and Latino communities will only further exacerbate existing inequities that are rife in our society. In this historic moment of recognizing the urgency of rectifying racial equity, we can and must do better.”
For The Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations working collectively to expand funding for essential services and improve budget practices to adequately meet current and future needs, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized.
Steering committee members include: New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Working Families Alliance, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Work Environment Council, Environment New Jersey, Make the Road New Jersey, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey, New Jersey Education Association, Communications Workers of America – NJ, Amalgamated Transit Union – NJ, Clean Water Action – NJ.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled against the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Since DACA went into effect in 2012, the program has provided critical protections and benefits to certain young immigrants without documentation, including forbearance of removal and work authorization. In response to the ruling, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.
Vineeta Kapahi, Policy Analyst, NJPP:
“Today’s decision is great news not only for Dreamers and their families, but also the entire Garden State. New Jersey is home to approximately 16,000 DACA recipients, who play an integral role in our communities and local economies. The protections in DACA allow these young immigrants to pursue higher education and professional training opportunities, providing them — and the state — with a strong foundation for future success. Each year, DACA recipients in New Jersey contribute $205 million in federal taxes and 105 million in state and local taxes. More importantly, Dreamers make immeasurable contributions to the social fabric of the state; they are our neighbors, family members, friends, classmates, coaches, businesses owners, community leaders, and so much more.
“While today’s Supreme Court decision provides temporary relief to many New Jersey residents, there is much more to be done, both by the federal government and here at home. State lawmakers should not have to wait for the Supreme Court or Congress to act. The Legislature can immediately support immigrant communities by removing immigration-related barriers to leading a healthy life in New Jersey. This can be accomplished by expanding eligibility for professional licensing, fully funding universal representation, and including immigrants in pandemic relief efforts. Promoting the ability of immigrants to live and work in New Jersey without risk of deportation will benefit all residents as we overcome the current crisis together.”
To read a PDF version of this statement, click here.
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Louis Di Paolo, (201) 417-5049 (cell) or dipaolo@njpp.org
June 2, 2020 – New Jersey Policy Perspective was formed, and operates, to develop and promote public policies that reduce disparities, eliminate trauma, and build healthy communities. To be fully successful and accountable to the history of our country, this requires an anti-racist stance that does not shy away from the ways in which public policies over the years have erected barriers to success for Black and brown people in communities all across our state. Policies like redlining, the War on Drugs, unequal investments in education, and gentrification that plunders communities of color have left our society rife with inequities and vulnerable to disaster.
New Jersey is among the wealthiest and most diverse states in this nation, yet we suffer from some of the worst instances of residential and educational segregation and witness racial wealth disparities that should embarrass every one of us. The median net worth for a white family in the United States is $171,000. For the median Black family, it is $17,150. That is not a typo, it is a tragedy. Research from New Jersey-based organizations shows it is likely far worse here.
Far too many Black and brown New Jerseyans face barriers to success that prevent them from pursuing lives of good health, safety, and joy. This is no accident. These barriers have arisen through centuries of institutionalized racism, bigotry, and hatred. They are destructive trends that undermine our collective welfare and damage our economy, and they are the result of explicit policy choices.
Many state and local leaders have expressed concern and solidarity with those calling for justice in the wake of the most recent spate of racist killings that violently took the lives of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and countless others. It would be irresponsible to ignore the ways in which their deaths are tied to policies that enable over-policing and racist vigilantism. The best way for our leaders to show their support of calls for justice is to overwhelm their words with swift and direct action by implementing policies that address structural inequities and dismantle white supremacy. Such policies have been advanced for decades by dozens of organizations and thousands of people in every corner of New Jersey. Such policies include:
Equitable state and local budgets that require the wealthy to pay their fair share and fully fund crucial investments in such building blocks of a healthy economy as quality education, reliable and accessible transportation, and safe, affordable places to live;
Following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., residents of cities across the country rebelled. Just seven days later, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed into law. It would be a show of good faith for lawmakers to implement these policies swiftly, so that New Jerseyans can be sure their expressions of solidarity and cries for justice are not simply hollow words. For it is only when such words are matched by clear and aggressive action that we will be able to rest with the comfort that our elected leaders have the best interests of all of our communities at heart and truly share our yearning for a more just and equitable state.
To put it lightly, the stakes are enormously high. We awakened today to a country where the President of the United States and his administration directed police forces to deploy tear gas on peaceful protesters, so that he could secure a photo-op at a church where he does not pray. We awakened to a country where journalists are harassed and arrested for documenting civil rights demonstrations and systemic instances of police brutality. We awakened to a country where the stench of racial injustice and callous lack of concern for Black lives have wrought violence and chaos for far too long. These disasters are not foreign. They are in the bedrock of our society—and New Jersey must take the opportunity to actively root them out once and for all. For if we do not, we will never secure a society full of health, joy, and love where all of our children can thrive. #BlackLivesMatter
Signed, Brandon McKoy, President On behalf of the New Jersey Policy Perspective staff and Board of Trustees
To read a PDF version of this release, click here.
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Louis Di Paolo, (201) 417-5049 (cell) or dipaolo@njpp.org
TRENTON, NJ (May 27, 2020) – New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) announced today two new additions to its research team. Dr. Brittany L. Holom joins NJPP as Senior Policy Analyst and will lead the organization’s health care research and analysis; Vineeta Kapahi joins as Policy Analyst and will research issues related to immigrants’ rights and economic security.
“We are so thrilled to have Brittany and Vineeta, two incredible analysts and experts with a wealth of experience and knowledge, join the NJPP team,” said Brandon McKoy, President of NJPP. “Brittany’s academic and professional background in public health is truly impressive and she’s going to help expand our work in new and exciting ways that connect health to everything from wages to the environment. Vineeta, in addition to a deep history of work in immigration organizing and advocacy, showed her depth of knowledge and data savvy as our Crotty Fellow in 2019, and it’s a real honor to get to work with her in a bigger way. With these two new hires, NJPP is very well positioned to tackle the challenges of today while thinking big about the solutions of tomorrow.”
Holom has extensive experience as a researcher and lecturer, and her policy interests include health care system reform, the role of social and cultural factors in access to and use of health services, and health outcomes. Prior to joining NJPP, she taught classes on health care systems, human security, post-Soviet politics, human rights, and development at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and in the Department of Political Science at The College of New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language and Literature and Political Science from the University of Notre Dame, and her Master’s and Ph.D. in Politics from Princeton University.
“Having lived and worked in New Jersey for almost a decade, I am excited to have this chance to give back to my community through this position at NJPP,” said Brittany L. Holom. “I studied policy and politics with the goal of helping to improve health and health care systems, and I am looking forward to continuing NJPP’s excellent work in this area.”
Prior to joining NJPP, Kapahi worked alongside immigrant communities as a social worker, organizer, and researcher for almost a decade. In the summer of 2019, Vineeta served as NJPP’s Kathleen Crotty Fellow, where she authored a landmark report on the benefits of expanding New Jersey’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Prior to that, she was the Manager of Policy and Volunteer Engagement at Womankind, a nonprofit organization that addresses gender-based violence. Vineeta completed her undergraduate studies at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and Rice University and holds master’s degrees from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.
“I am excited to join the NJPP team as a policy analyst,” said Vineeta Kapahi. “I look forward to contributing to research that promotes equity in access to critical resources and opportunities for all New Jersey residents, regardless of their zip code or where they were born.”
Brittany and Vineeta’s first day with NJPP was May 18.
Founded in 1997, NJPP is a “think and do” tank, driving policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based independent research, analysis, and advocacy.
Earlier today President Trump unveiled a $4.8 trillion budget for 2021, including major cuts to the social safety net. In response to the budget proposal, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement.
Raymond Castro, Health Policy Director, NJPP:
“President Trump’s budget represents yet another massive redistribution of wealth from low-income and working class families to the top 1 percent. His budget proposes devastating cuts to health and social programs — possibly the largest cuts proposed by a president in the nation’s history — and threatens to push far too many families into poverty. Meanwhile, wealthy individuals would receive a windfall as the budget makes the 2017 tax cuts permanent. If signed into law, this will widen growing inequities and pull the safety net out from under families struggling to make ends meet.
“The budget calls for $1 trillion in cuts over ten years in Medicaid and the marketplace which would result in billions of dollars lost for New Jersey and reverse the major progress that has been made in expanding health coverage across the state. The proposed cuts to Medicaid expansion endanger the health care of 500,0000 New Jerseyans currently in Medicaid. The health care of an additional 300,000 New Jerseyans is also at risk from a sharp reduction in marketplace premium assistance.
“Further, the budget would cut food assistance in New Jersey by $1.5 billion over five years. The budget would also fully eliminate the social services block grant, Community Services Block Grant, and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, resulting in a total loss of federal funds of $1.3 billion over five years and the complete loss of these supportive services at the community level. In addition, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which has not received an increase at the federal level in 20 years, would be cut by over $200 million in New Jersey over five years, further impoverishing these families that live well below the poverty level. Simply put, these cuts would be catastrophic for New Jersey and would directly harm our families, friends, and neighbors in every corner of the state.”
