"Citizens Against" is comprised of middle-class, poor and disabled residents
from all cities and towns in the state of New Jersey. Our numbers include 23,184 people and we are growing!
In the past, "Citizens Against" rallied together and sent
e-mails, letters, etc. to all state legislators, voicing our opposition to a gas-tax increase. With talk of another
potential gas-tax increase, we strongly voice our opposition to that idea once again and the absurd suggestions of additional
sales tax on various services!
"Citizens Against" is called upon once again to mobilize as our concerns focus on the budget deficit in New Jersey.
With a reportedly $4 billion hole in the budget, we offer the following suggestions on ways to eliminate the projected
deficit.
*********** After further examination of the NJ State Lottery scratch-off games,
"Citizens Against" has made some significant adjustments on ways to eliminate the deficit and also to tackle the pension
fund dilemma. ************
1) Hiring freeze on ALL state employment in the 2005-2007 calendar years.
2) A reduction of no less than (2) full-time employees from every state department. Police and
fire personnel would be exempt.
3) The elimination of overtime for all state employees with the exception of police and fire personnel.
4) Cameras placed above traffic signals at dangerous intersections in EVERY city and town to prevent speeders
from ignoring red ights. Small towns would have a maximum of (2) traffic light cameras while larger cities would have a minimum
of (5) traffic light cameras at dangerous intersections. Tickets would be administered and paid via the mail. Tickets for
violating red light signals would be accessed at the following rates: first offense ($25), second offense ($50), third offense
($75), fourth offense ($100), fifth and every additional offense ($500) in each calendar year. Failure to pay fines in 30
days would subject an offender to pay an additional $100 fine in addition to the original ticket. This program would generate
millions of dollars each year to balance the budget and fund the pension program.
5) Tax on ALL alcohol and tobacco products.
6) Elimination of the Homestead Rebate for a minimum of (2) calendar years for all homeowners with a gross
income of $60,000 or more. This program will generate millions of dollars in savings to balance the budget.
7) Place keno game machines in ALL bars and ALL stores with lottery machines. If casino industry officials oppose
this proposal, legislators should access all casinos a minimum $250,000 fee (per casino, not owner) each year in order to
retain exclusive rights in New Jersey to all casino-type games. This fee would be tax deductible.
8) It is time that legislators get SERIOUS and review EVERY scratch-off
lottery game in New Jersey. With as many as 60 scratch-off lottery games (as of June 20, 2005), legislators should access
if the proceeds from the lottery games are being used wisely. Apparently, they are not. Millions of dollars
generated from the state lottery is being wasted and it is a disgrace that our legislators are throwing millions of tax
dollars away into the state's prison system! Surely, money from at least half of these scratch-off lottery games could
help balance the budget, fix the pension fund problem AND assist all NJ mayors with additional aid so that they can hold
the line or even reduce property taxes in their communities.
9) Legislators should slash the advertising budget for the New Jersey lottery. There is NO need whatsoever to
waste taxpayers' money to promote any lottery game on the radio or in newspaper advertisements.
10) The state's Pick-6 Lotto should be expanded to (3) times per week with drawings on Monday, Thursdays and
Sundays.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
With all of these proposals on the table, "Citizens Against" believes there is NO NEED
whatsoever to raise property taxes and/or revive the gas-tax increase and/or propose additional sales tax on various services to
fix the budget problem.
We maintain that all of our proposals are reasonable and are in the best interest of all New Jersey voters. There
are countless ways to eliminate the budget deficit and fix the pension system program. We
will not stand for any more property tax increases! Enough is enough. Fiscal responsibility must be restored in Trenton
now!!!
_______________________________________________
Scroll to the "links"
section below and please take a few minutes to e-mail, mail letters and/or call your legislators. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. Write or call your legislators often.
Demand fairness to all voters in New Jersey. If legislators ignore our proposals, FIRE THEM! Government officials work for us - the voters of New Jersey.
New Jersey “Citizens Against”
E-mail:
njcitizensagainst@yahoo.com
Web address:
http://michaelnjbudget.tripod.com
Links:
State of New Jersey
http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html
Legislative Roster
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp
As of
June 29, 2005 at 5:00 pm, the following legislators have responded to our e-mail regarding the budget.
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Assembly, Vas, District
19
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Assembly, Chiappone,
District 31
-
Assembly, Fisher, District
3
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Senator Sweeney, District
3
-
Assembly, S. Kean, District
11
-
Assembly, Carroll, District
25
-
Assembly, Panter, District
12
-
Assembly, Morgan, District
12
-
Assembly, Van Drew, District
1
-
Senator Madden, District
4
-
Assembly, Smith, District
4
-
Assembly, Mayer, District
4
-
Assembly, Wisniewski, District
19
-
Assembly, Gibson, District
1
-
Assembly, Merkt, District
25
-
Senator T. Kean, District
21
-
Assembly, Munoz, District
21
-
Assembly, Bramnick, District
21
-
Senator Asselta, District
1
-
Assembly, Carroll, District 25
