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Christie Vetoes Needlessly Punish New Jersey’s Poorest Children

Gov. Christie is looking the crisis of deep child poverty right in the eye, and turning away without action.

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Published on Jul 1, 2016 in Economic Justice, Tax and Budget

Last night Gov. Christie dashed the hopes of about 40,000 of New Jersey’s poorest children by keeping WorkFirst New Jersey assistance stagnant for yet another year, and kept in place an outdated policy that punishes poor children for being born.

By vetoing legislation, as well as budget language, that increased assistance and repealed the “family cap,” Gov. Christie is looking the crisis of deep child poverty right in the eye, and turning away without action.

This assistance hasn’t been increased in 29 years at the same time that rents have doubled. Leaving it where it is will only further increase income and racial inequality in our state. And the family cap has prevented over 20,000 poor kids from receiving assistance for no reason other than that they were born to poor parents.

By taking these punitive actions, Gov. Christie is putting New Jersey further out of step with other states, many of which have increased benefits and repealed the family cap in recent years, and with New Jersey’s Republican governors like Gov. Kean and Gov. Whitman, who have in the past supported and expanded WorkFirst New Jersey.

Author

  • Ray Castro was formerly the Director of Health Policy for NJPP. In this role, he worked to improve the health outcomes of New Jerseyans by producing reports, testifying in legislative hearings and working with advocates, legislators and their staff, and other key stakeholders to change policy and boost families in need.

    Ray’s research interests include: the Affordable Care Act, universal health coverage, NJ FamilyCare, health care transformation, poverty, the social safety net, public assistance and working family tax credits.

    Before joining NJPP in August 2006, Ray worked for the New Jersey Department of Human Services for more than 30 years, mainly serving as the Director of the DHS Office of Legislative Services in the Commissioner’s office. He was closely involved with developing federal and state legislation relating to Medicaid, mental health, welfare reform, child protective services, child care and other work support programs, and helped develop the policy and legislative strategy that led to New Jersey’s state Earned Income Tax Credit.

    He received a BA in psychology from the University of California-Berkeley and holds a master’s in social work degree with a specialization in policy from Rutgers University.