(Trenton) - Assemblymen Paul Moriarty and John Burzichelli on Thursday issued the following statement on Governor Christie's late-game admission that the democratically-led effort to restore property tax relief for seniors and disabled residents was the right thing to do.
"We fought hard to make sure that the Democratic budget we passed restored the cuts the Governor had made to the Senior Freeze property tax rebate program, knowing how hard it is for many seniors to get by in this climate," said Moriarty (D-Camden/Gloucester). "It's encouraging that the Governor now understands the plight of seniors on fixed incomes who are struggling to pay their property taxes."
The Governor initially proposed cutting the Senior Freeze program by $25.2 million this year (see page 68: www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/12bib/BIB.pdf). The final budget signed by the Governor increased Senior Freeze funding only after Democrats restored it via a resolution sponsored by Burzichelli and Moriarty. Today the Governor touted this accomplishment when meeting with seniors to discuss the importance of making property tax relief for them a priority in this year's budget.
"I'm getting a vague sense of deja vu here. Last year the governor proposed forcing seniors who receive prescription coverage through PAAD or Senior Gold to pay a sizable deductible, along with significant co-pays for name brand drugs," said Burzichelli (D-Salem/Cumberland/Gloucester). "It was only after the Democrats fought to eliminate these burdens that the Governor attempted to lay claim to these efforts. For the sake of the seniors, these moments of clarity are better late than never."
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