Despite a national recession, Joan and Connie worked long hours to help pass a state budget that really delivers for New Jersey families. They're confronting the crisis head-on with innovative solutions
that save jobs and protect our children’s future.
"We need more tax credits to help small businesses create jobs."
Joan and Connie have helped create jobs by cutting business taxes and providing a three thousand dollar tax credit to small businesses for every job created. They secured $194 million in BEIP grants for businesses to retain and attract new jobs along with $50 million for small and midsized business that will help jump-start our economy. And to hold Wall Street accountable, Joan and Connie voted for tougher corruption penalties for investment advisors who abuse their clients’ trust, new regulations for mortgage brokers, and foreclosure protections for families who were taken in by shady lenders
"We must end the wasteful state spending that drives up property taxes."
Joan and Connie voted to cut $4 billion from the state's budget, slashing wasteful programs, while protecting critical property tax rebates. Thanks to their hard work, they provided $700 million in property tax relief for all New Jersey families making below two hundred fifty thousand dollars a year. To protect your hard-earned tax dollars, they amended the Constitution to require voter approval before the state borrows money. And they know more needs to be done: that’s why they support zero-based budgeting, which would require the state to defend every taxpayer dollar they want to spend.
"No excuses, no second chances— just stiff penalties for corrupt politicians."
Joan and Connie are lifelong educators and community leaders – not politicians – and are delivering tough reforms. Corrupt politicians now face stiff penalties, including mandatory prison sentences for as long as twenty years and fines up to $500,000. Convicted politicians face mandatory pension forfeiture – and Joan and Connie are continuing to fight pension abuse by working to ban double-dipping and no-bid contracts that waste billions in tax dollars.
"Nothing is more important than the safety of our families and children."
Joan and Connie are fighting to keep New Jersey children safe. Joan sponsored legislation to expand DNA databases to include violent criminals, and together with Connie have sponsored laws protecting children from sexual predators on the Internet. Joan also sponsored legislation that requires electronic monitoring of those convicted of domestic violence so they are no longer able to continue harming their victims.
"Everyone deserves access to affordable, quality health care, regardless of income or location."
Joan and Connie believe access to quality health care is a right, not a privilege—and that tough economic times should not mean our children, families and seniors are denied they care they deserve. That’s why Joan sponsored a law to protect New Jersey citizens from the spread of infectious disease at hospitals. And together with Connie, they successfully fought to require public disclosure of preventable medical errors as well as prohibiting hospitals from charging patients for mistakes that hospitals make. They ensured 170,000 seniors receive prescription assistance while providing $950 million in aid to hospitals. Joan and Connie will continue working to keep health care affordable by reducing premium costs and lowering administrative expenses.
"We must invest in our children and take our education system to the next level."
As lifelong educators, Joan and Connie know how important a strong education is to our children’s future. That’s why they invested $276 million more in K-12 classrooms while limiting state college tuition increases to 3%. Joan and Connie are standing strong against Ramapo’s proposed fee hikes, demanding the college go back to the drawing board and devise a new budget or lose federal stimulus aid.
