MEDIA RELEASE |
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| For Immediate Release | Contact | Phone |
| October 12, 2009 | Phyllis Salowe-Kaye | 973-643-8800 |
| Marilyn Carpinteyro | 732-246-4772 | |
STATE’S LARGEST CITIZEN WATCHDOG ENDORSES
Governor Jon Corzine and Senator Loretta Weinberg
Paid Family Leave, Earned Income Tax Credit, and Health Care are Top Issues for New Jersey Citizen Action’s PAC
Newark, NJ — In a news conference today, New Jersey Citizen Action's Political Action Committee (NJCAPAC) announced its endorsement of Governor Corzine and Senator Weinberg for the November 3, 2009 General Election. Since 1990, NJCA's PAC has considered endorsements of candidates based on their commitments and leadership on the issues that are core to the organization's mission — health care, fair insurance and banking, progressive and fair taxes, affordable housing, lower utility rates, voting and civil rights, campaign finance reform — and other progressive issues.
"Under the Governor Corzine's leadership, the legislature has enacted legislation protecting New Jersey's children, working families and seniors," said Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, NJCA Executive Director. "This Governor has continued to demonstrate his commitment to improving the quality of life for all New Jerseyans, by ensuring that more children will have access to quality and affordable healthcare, enacting paid family leave, so that workers no longer have to choose between their family and a paycheck and expanding the State's earned income tax credit so more people can access this benefit," she added.
The PAC specifically highlighted that Governor Corzine's record is consistent with that of a public servant devoted to the betterment of those at the lower end of the economic scale as opposed to providing tax benefits for the wealthy. It is evident that he understands the need to support the financial stability of working families in this state and is proof positive that he won't be swayed by special interests nor influenced by those who's goals are inconsistent with his values. This is contrary to Mr. Christie, who vows to eliminate health insurance mandates so that he can line the pockets of his insurance company campaign donors.
"Governor Corzine and Senator Weinberg completed a detailed questionnaire, surveying their positions on our core issues and participated in a two hour candidate interview before the PAC, " said Mitch Kahn, NJCA PAC Chair and Vice President of the New Jersey Tenants Organization. "After reviewing their positions on the issues, their voting records and our history of working with them, NJCAPAC unanimously endorsed Governor Corzine and Senator Weinberg."
During his first term, Governor Corizne, signed landmark paid family leave legislation, making NJ the only the second state in country to implement such a program. NJ Paid Family Leave Program provides employees up to six weeks of paid leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child or a seriously ill family member. As of July 1, 2009, over 5,400 New Jerseyans have already received this employee funded benefit.
"Paid Family Leave is one of the most far-reaching and progressive workplace reforms to happen in decades" said Vic DeLuca, NJCA Board Member and Mayor of Maplewood. "Many workers do not receive a paid day off from work and can't take the unpaid time off they need. Now with NJ's Paid Family Leave program families no longer have to choose between their family and job." he added.
Wende Nachman, from Sicklerville, NJ is four and a half months pregnant and will be using the paid family leave benefit when her baby arrives. "It is reassuring to know that I will be able to take the time I need off to care for my new baby without the added financial stress of needing to get back to work, " she said. Mrs. Nachman is expecting her first child in March.
The NJCAPAC also praised Governor Corzine for expanding the qualification requirements for the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program. The expansion included increasing the income guidelines and allowing individuals without children who fall within the income guidelines to qualify. New Jersey's EITC qualification requirements now match the federal EITC program.
"The EITC is the most effective anti-poverty program in the United States," said Ray Ocasio Executive Director of LaCasa de Don Pedro, who's center serves as a VITA site. "The Governor's expansion of the program is not only enabling more individuals and families to receive these benefits but it also is putting more money back into their pockets."
La Tonya Ross-Mui, a resident Newark, who works for Federal Express, has completed her tax returns at NJCA for the past 3 years. She says, "As the main provider for my family, it's always difficult to make ends meet. The state EITC gives me the extra I need to help pay the bills and I even have a little money left to put in my savings." Ms. Ross-Mui's total tax return for 2008 was $7,699, including $1,085 from the state EITC.
NJCA will be working to educate and mobilize its members to get to the polls to re-elect Jon Corzine for Governor and elect Loretta Weinberg for Lieutenant Governor on November 3, 2009.
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