August - September 2002 Edition 

The State Budget Fair Lawn's Assemblyman Ahearn explains his vote on the controversial state budget adopted this Summer.  - - - - - - - - - - - -  Much was said in the media and on the floor of the Assembly about pressure being applied for members to vote certain ways. There was no such activity. Indeed, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Speaker Albio Sires, Majority Leader Joe Roberts, Democratic Conference Leader Loretta Weinberg, Speaker Pro Tem Donald Tucker, and Budget Committee Chair Louis Greenwald for their exemplary leadership in keeping the General Assembly focused on the peoples* business of getting the budget process completed rather than allowing the battle against the Newark Area to interfere with the business of the Senate     Despite the comments one member made to the press, nobody "pistol-whipped" me into supporting the Governor's budget. Indeed, I had some strong reservations about the proposed changes to the Corporate Business Tax proposal and related fee increases due to the potential impact on the huge number of small and medium-sized businesses in District 38. I did not support that particular legislation and said so openly in our caucus prior to the vote, and there was no retribution whatsoever for voting against my party's stance on that bill. Notwithstanding my concerns about the corporate tax and fee increases, my support for the budget bill was unequivocal because of the many good things that were in that plan that benefit the citizens of District 38 during a time of grave financial crisis.     Among the general benefits which the Governor's budget upholds is a commitment not to raise sales taxes or personal income taxes while at the same time maintaining the Senior Saver Rebate for families earning less than $200,000 a year, the maintenance of state aid to education at the same levels as last year's budget, an increase in the maximum Homestead Rebate check for senior citizens from $750 to $775, full funding for the state's PAAD prescription drug subsidy program, firm commitments backed by real dollars for homeland security projects, and the creation of, and funding for, the Office of Public Advocate to protect the interests and concerns of all our citizens with regard to the insurance industry, the utilities industry, etc.     Furthermore, this budget includes a number of items that will be of significant benefit to the residents of District 38. There are some $45 million dollars in highway and critical services aid that will benefit the communities in District 38, from improvements to our roads and bridges to emergency equipment for both police, fire and other critical infrastructure components. Rather than relying on old fashioned political horse-trading to distribute scarce resources for discretionary assistance (known in insider circles as 'christmas trees') a process is now established for open applications from towns and school boards with an objective review based upon project merits and the needs of local communities. With the willing help of the Assembly and Senate leadership and the Governor's support I was able to get language inserted in the budget bill last week that prevented the unintended elimination of state college tuition benefits for our National Guard members that existed in the initial budget bill.    Yet despite these tangible benefits gained through tough negotiations during the budget process, we were also able to show that we could live within our means by cutting $261million from the administration's original budget. Indeed, this new state spending plan represents only a 2% increase over the previous sessions of the Legislature, which is in sharp contrast to prior Republican budgets over the past 8 years which increased spending by an average of 7% per year.       In conclusion, with this budget I fulfilled my commitment to the people of New Jersey and the 38th District to support a budget that was fair and equitable, that closed a $3 billion spending gap that was left to us by the previous administration for the 2002 fiscal year, and at the same time closed a $6.1 billion deficit in the fiscal year beginning 7/1/02. All of this done without increasing sales or income taxes, and without any pressure on our members in the Assembly.