VAN DREW: VOTERS SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO SLASH STATE SPENDING

TRENTON –  Senator Jeff Van Drew today said the national economic crisis should motivate action to empower New Jersey voters to “fundamentally restructure state government spending” through constitutional reforms that would save millions of taxpayer dollars annually.

            “This economic crisis should awaken everyone to the need to change our culture of reckless spending,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland. “Inaction is intolerable at a time when people are being driven from their homes, jobs are being lost and seniors are watching their lifetime savings shrinking before their eyes.”

            Senator Van Drew said he is calling for legislative action on a seven-measure package he is sponsoring, including four proposed constitutional amendments requiring voter approval, to cut the size of State government, rein in spending and balance the budget without fiscal gimmicks.

            “By  empowering New Jersey voters to change the state Constitution, the people of New Jersey will be able to do what politicians in Trenton have lacked the will to do – make structural, long-term changes to the wasteful ways they spend tax dollars,” said Senator Van Drew.

            Of the four proposed constitutional amendments, three which were introduced by Senator Van Drew at the beginning of the year, would:

            - SCR-49: Create a constitutional Rainy Day Fund for both general revenue and the Property Tax Relief Fund for use to avoid future tax increases. In the past, statutory Rainy Day funds have lacked constitutional backing.

            - SCR-50: Impose  a four-percent cap on annual growth in State appropriations to match the state-imposed cap on property tax increases by local governments. It would eliminate “off-budget” expenditures which routinely show up in hundreds of “language” provisions in the State budget bill. “Since we’ve capped municipal spending, we should avoid hypocrisy and do the same thing at the State level,” Sen. Van Drew said.

            -SCR-79: Require that the State budget be balanced with regularly collected recurring revenues. Surplus revenues and non-recurring revenue could only be used to reduce debt, for capital improvements or for public employee pension and health benefits liabilities. “Let’s finally bury ‘one-shots,’ once and for all,” Sen. Van Drew said.

            Senator Van Drew said he is sponsoring a fourth proposed constitutional amendment, about to be introduced, to seek voter approval to require a two-thirds majority vote by the Legislature to advance any new or increased State tax, fee, surcharge or civil penalty.

            “Under these proposed amendments, voters would get the power to fundamentally enhance the protection of their tax dollars,” said Senator Van Drew. “My hope is that my colleagues join me now to empower voters to make these choices.”

            All proposed constitutional amendments must be approved by voters on a general election ballot.

            Senator Van Drew also called for legislative action on three proposals he is sponsoring to save tax dollars now and into the future. They would:

            - S-230: Save hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for costs associated with the production of multi-colored, glossy brochures and reports government agencies by making them available on the Internet. “We should use available technology to help us save money on reports that just get lost on shelves or thrown out,” Sen. Van Drew said.

            - S-421: Require the State Treasurer to draw up a four-year plan to reduce the number of executive-branch positions in State government by 10 percent. “By eliminating vacant positions and duplicative job slots, we can effect real savings,” Sen. Van Drew said.

            - S-1388: Require the State Comptroller to recommend a series of program cuts totaling 10 percent of the Governor’s proposed spending plan once it is presented to the Legislature and prior to its final adoption by the Senate and the Assembly.

            “I believe this package can lead to real and sustained improvements in the way tax money is treated,” Senator Van Drew said. “These proposals are built on a foundation of participation by the people who entrust us with their hard-earned money. What we need now in the Legislature is the collective will to move these proposals forward so the voices of our residents can be expressed.”

            Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam, also D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic, are sponsoring the reform measures in the Assembly.