Date : Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:02:15 -0500
For Immediate
Release
February 24, 2015
Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100
Governor Christie's Flawed Budget Targets Environment
The Governor has released his FY2016 budget failing to mention the environment.
"The Governor has not mentioned the environment in his speech. With his record how could he. All he has done is cut spending for the DEP and give money to polluters. As we expected it is a similar budget from previous years siding with polluters and special interest over clean energy and combating climate change. The budget will be used as an excuse to weaken and rollback more environmental protections. Money is being shifted to open space, but with the DEP budget being flat there is going to be cuts in DEP programs like Site Remediation, watershed protections and parks. By taking the money for open space and not replenishing DEP this means there will be significant cuts in programs. There will be more raids to the clean energy fund to balance the budget. There is no money for the Transportation Trust Fund or money for transit.
This budget will hurt our economy and undermine green jobs. It is an an environmental disaster."
"There will be another raid of the Clean Energy Fund. This is the money that helps people buy energy efficient products and weatherize their homes. This money could be used to help with Sandy recovery and instead it is going to the General Fund. This money also funds offshore wind and other renewable energy programs. We have been waiting more than 5 years for the administration to act on offshore wind. Other states around New Jersey will be reaping the economic and environmental benefit of offshore wind, while New Jersey is left in the wind."
"The Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) is broke. The Governor did not mention raising the gas tax. The Administration may steal money from other programs or do another budget gimmick like back loading bonds. There is no mention of money to improve mass transit or highways. More people will be stuck in traffic longer on roads that are falling apart. On public transportation people will see higher fares with worse service and no expansion of service. New Jersey needs to spend our money in expanding mass transit and fixing dilapidated bridges and roads."
"DEP staffing is down to the lowest level in decades and many positions are going unfilled. This will continue. Cutting staff at core programs in the agency like enforcement and water put our environment and public health at risk. Again this is a budget that does not meet the needs of the people of New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, Director of The New Jersey Sierra Club.