Oroho Encourages Passage of Constitutional Amendment to Limit State Spending

Governor Corzine Says He is Not Opposed to the Measure

Senator Steve Oroho (R-24) is a prime sponsor of legislation that would require the state budget be balanced with only recurring revenue rather than one time financial gimmicks and short term budget fixes.

"In the past six years state spending has increased by more than 50 percent, state taxes have increased by $15 billion and property taxes have increased by an average of 7 percent a year," stated Oroho. "This constitutional amendment would place strict controls on spending by future Governors and Legislatures and help make New Jersey affordable again."

Senate Concurrent Resolution 70 (SCR-70) was introduced in January and has been referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee for review.

"I encourage the chair of the committee, Senator Barbara Buono, to post this bill for a vote as soon as possible," continued Oroho, who is also a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. "On Monday evening, the Governor stated he wasn’t opposed to this measure, so it is my hope that this bill will be ushered through the legislative process as quickly as possible and put to the citizens for a vote."

For SCR-70 to take effect, it would take a three-fifths vote in both houses of the legislature and a simple majority of statewide voters to support the measure. Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40) is also a sponsor of this measure and Senator Diane Allen (R-7) has introduced a similar measure (SCR-21), otherwise known as the Truth-in-Budgeting amendment.

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