(TRENTON) – The Assembly on Monday will convene seven committee hearings examining the impact of Gov. Chris Christie’s budget on consumers, businesses, families, disabled children, college students and job creation.
All hearings are set for the State House Annex in Trenton.
They will be streamed live at: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
“Working class New Jerseyans continue to struggle with high unemployment, soaring property taxes and tuition and painful health care cuts,” said Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). “Businesses have lost vital tax breaks and other assistance, stagnating our job creation. This budget will have many deep impacts on the lives of New Jerseyans, and we plan to monitor it closely to see what might be done to ease the pain.”
The following hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m.:
· The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee will hear testimony on the impact on New Jersey consumers of the new Republican law that allows the state to seize stored value cards if they go unused for two years. Room 13.
· The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee will hear testimony on access to capital for New Jersey businesses looking to improve and expand and the extent in which credit is available to New Jersey consumers and homebuyers. Room 12.
· The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee will hear testimony on the impact on families of Christie’s cuts to NJ FamilyCare, which provides insurance to working families, and the New Jersey Early Intervention System, which helps young children with disabilities. Room 16.
· The Assembly Higher Education Committee will hear testimony on the tuition aid grant program and the increased demand for student financial assistance. It will also discuss the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act. Room 15.
· The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee will hear testimony on Christie’s cuts to the job-creating New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology. Room 9.
These hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m.:
· The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee will discuss the impact of Christie’s elimination of job-creating film and digital media tax credits and his slashed funding of Urban Enterprise Zones. Room 9.
· The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee will hear testimony on the impact of layoffs of public safety officers on New Jersey communities following Christie’s budget cuts. Room 15.
