New Jersey State Grants and Programs to Fix the Economy

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1 New Jersey Legislative District 26 The League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund encourages informed participation in the electoral process. As part of this mission, we formulated the following set of questions to ask all the New Jersey candidates running for New Jersey Assembly. Answers have been truncated at 125 words and [truncated] indicates this in the body of the candidates answers. Answers have not been edited for spelling or grammar, but text using foul language, or attacking another candidate has been replaced with [content removed]. If a candidate did not return the questionnaire or did not provide a response to a particular question, No Response Received appears next to his or her name. Candidates for State Assembly (in alphabetical order) Jimmy D. Brash (Green Party) BettyLou DeCroce (Republican) Avery Hart (Democratic) Wayne B. Marek (Democratic) Jay Webber (Republican) 1. The Transportation Trust Fund is New Jersey s primary source of annual state income for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. In fiscal year 2016 that income will be needed to repay previously borrowed money for these projects. How should New Jersey move forward to fund road, bridge, and rail improvements? BettyLou DeCroce: I believe we should renew the funding. In addition, we must develop creative ways to maintain our roadways, bridges and railways. I have sponsored bi-partisan resolution AR50 to urge Congress to dedicate additional funds for highway maintenance and infrastructure improvements in NJ. As a member of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, I will continue to fight for funding the Transportation Trust Fund. 2. New Jersey levies some of the highest property tax rates in the country and they are on the rise. According to annual property tax data, in 2014 the average residential property tax bill

2 grew 2.2%. Factoring in a delay of tax credits, growth was 8.6%. What are your suggestions to combat this trend? BettyLou DeCroce: One measure to combat New Jersey s growing property tax dilemma, is to reduce the amount of regulations that are choking our ability to provide meaningful reform for our citizens. In addition, we need to revamp school funding, which is the major reason why our property taxes are so high. We must initiate measures to reduce the tax burden on our citizens. Prior to 2010, property taxes rose 60% statewide. I have sponsored various pieces of legislation to help with the tax burden, including the Tax Relief of NJ Families Act, to provide relief for homeowners via tax credits. 3. New Jersey s energy needs are expanding. What is your plan to meet the increasing energy requirement in our state? Jimmy D. Brash: BettyLou DeCroce: I believe one way of providing energy efficiencies is by establishing renewable energy portfolio standards. The types of renewable energy sources include solar, photovoltaic, wind, fuel cells powered by renewable fuels, geothermal, wave or tidal action to name a few. More importantly, we must find a way to tie the energy created by the renewable sources to a storage system that can be utilized when the renewable source is not producing. 4. Do you think the state should fund family planning services such as those provided by Planned Parenthood? Why or why not? BettyLou DeCroce: I believe that the educational components provided by Planned Parenthood for children and adults are important. I also believe that any monies given to any organization must be accounted for.

3 5. This past year, numerous protests have taken place concerning police action toward people of color. Given these concerns, do you believe measures to regulate the police, including the use of body cameras and new policies for officers, are appropriate or necessary? BettyLou DeCroce: I believe that the use of body cameras is essential for our law enforcement officer s safety and for the citizens they serve. I also believe that all police departments should undertake the police accreditation process, which by its very nature requires the agency to review every facet of its operations, policies rules and regulations, to meet high standards of excellence. The end result is the use of best practices protocols by the agency, which then becomes a benefit to the community. 6. Should New Jersey grant undocumented immigrants driver s licenses? Why or why not? BettyLou DeCroce: I do not believe that undocumented person s should be granted drivers licenses. I believe that the steps necessary towards legal citizenship should be followed. 7. Do you believe New Jersey needs stricter or different campaign finance regulations? What, specifically, would you propose? BettyLou DeCroce: I believe that New Jersey s campaign finance regulations are already some of the strictest in the nation. Candidates are held extremely accountable for the funds

4 they raise, and how those funds are recorded. While no system is completely 100% foolproof from those who wish to circumvent it, what we have in New Jersey is doing its job. 8. Do you support any changes to New Jersey s current voting laws? For example, would you support such measures as online voter registration, expanded in-person early voting, or automatic voter registration? Please explain. BettyLou DeCroce: I do not support any of the above listed measures. Each one of the aforementioned measures can lend itself to fraudulent activities. Our current system in New Jersey, while not perfect, has been working efficiently. Before additional electronic or other measures are considered, we need to solicit input to determine what the economic impact is to implement them. 9. Do you believe that the recent minimum wage increase was adequate or necessary? What benefits or detriments do you see in increasing minimum wage beyond inflation? BettyLou DeCroce: I believe a minimum wage increase on the surface sounds goodhowever, the problem is that the economy in New Jersey is not strong enough to support it. Small businesses would not survive a rapid increase. If the increase was phased in gradually, they may be able to initiate measures to adjust for their business. 10. Legislators have recently started considering plans to provide more drug treatment for convicts, end mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, increase funding

5 for prisoner reentry programs, and bring an end to for-profit, private prisons. What are your opinions about prison reform in New Jersey and what types of policies would you pursue regarding incarceration? BettyLou DeCroce: I believe that creative measures must be developed to address New Jersey s penal system. We cannot, and should not, incarcerate everyone convicted of a crime. Studies have shown that providing educational, job and life skills training in residential substance-abuse facilities, helps to transition some offenders back into mainstream society by gaining and maintaining employment to support their families. For profit prisons have been popular due to belief that they provide a lower cost, have improved quality of inmate care, and have less red tape to make decisions. However, human lives are their staple why they exist. The more they take in, the more money/revenue they make. We need to ensure the cost-benefit of private vs. government provided incarceration, and what it means for our citizens. 11. In the past several years, New Jersey has strengthened gun control policy by limiting the number of handguns, imposing longer waiting periods, and requiring background checks. Would you support or oppose additional gun control legislation? BettyLou DeCroce: The state of New Jersey has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. To stem gun violence, there needs to be greater emphasis on the physiological background of the perpetrator. If someone wants to act, they will find a way to get a gun & ammunition regardless of gun laws. Enforcement of the gun laws need s to be increased by all levels of law enforcement. Law enforcement needs to have the tools, such as a greater reliance on Community Policing, to have better personal contact within their communities to help stem some of the violence.

6 12. While New Jersey has begun to show some job growth in recent months, our state still lags behind in employment rates. How do you propose to increase our employment rate? BettyLou DeCroce: We must find ways to help business and particularly small business to thrive and remain in the state. To that end, I have sponsored several bill to enhance the economic climate in New Jersey such as The NJ Healthcare Choice Act, which provides competition for individual and small business health plans to residents and employers to reduce costs of healthcare; legislation allowing for Corporate Business Tax and Gross Income Tax Credits; and also legislation for Tax Credits for In-sourcing Business to New Jersey. I believe in the free market. Government s role should be to provide the tools and resources to allow business to thrive. Government must streamline not complicate the process. Business is vital to rebuilding and maintaining a vibrant economy.