Who We Are
As the state's largest citizen watchdog coalition, New Jersey Citizen Action works to protect and expand the rights of individuals and families and to ensure that government officials respond to the needs of people rather than the interests of those with money and power.
Through organizing campaigns that promote economic, social, racial and political justice, NJCA encourages the active involvement of New Jersey residents in challenging the public and private institutions and agencies that impact our lives. On Facebook see NJ Citizen Action, and on Twitter see NJCitizenAction. Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, NJCA Executive Director, was honored with a 2012 Women of Distinction Award.
We Support Earned Paid SIck Days
We call on our New Jersey State elected officials to implement legislation to guarantee a minimum standard of earned paid sick days for all workers. No one should have to choose between caring for themselves and loved ones and getting a paycheck!
Everyone benefits when workers are able to balance job obligations and family needs. Giving workers financial security by allowing them to earn paid leave to deal with their own illness, a child's illness, or a parent's recovery from a stroke not only improves outcomes for children and families, but also raises worker morale and productivity.
Learn more about the New Jersey Time to Care Coalition, a broad-based group of community, advocacy, union, religious, research, and academic organizations working to support policies that strengthen communities by ensuring that working families can balance their responsibilities at home and on the job.
TAKE ACTION! Click here to read the complete statement of support and add your name!
NJCA Campaign for Consumer Rights!
In this current political climate, when corporations are considered people and the 1% controls the vast majority of wealth and power, the laws that protect you from being ripped off are more important than ever. Please click here to be part of our work to defend your consumer rights in New Jersey.
Over the past few years there has been a movement afoot to whittle away at the consumer protections you as a New Jersey resident are afforded. The array of anti-consumer, pro-big business bills that have been introduced in the New Jersey legislature is frightening. For example, just last year our representatives in Trenton introduced bills that would have made it harder for you to combat dishonest merchants, sue a contractor who had done shoddy work on your house, or seek justice against a township that had not kept a boardwalk safe for you or your family.
One specific piece of legislation would have gutted a very important law that you may not know about: the Consumer Fraud Act (CFA). The New Jersey CFA is one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the nation. Because of the CFA, New Jersey is a first rate place for honest businesses to prosper and not a place for sleazy operators who try to bilk you of your hard earned cash. However, there are forces at work to limit the protections that laws like the Consumer Fraud Act afford you as a consumer.
We know there will be more attacks on your rights this year and New Jersey Citizen Action is dedicated to fighting for New Jersey to remain a safe place for consumers to do business with honest merchants.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please click here if you would like to be part of our work to defend your consumer rights in New Jersey.
September 2 — Calling All Runners! Join the 5K Run for Warmth
New Jersey financial aid organization, Spread the Purple, wants runners! The non-profit organization is hosting a 5K Run for Warmth on September 2, 2013, a fundraiser to raise donations for home heating oil scholarships to be used with the New Jersey Citizen Action Oil Group and its affiliates. Full details at the NJCA Oil Group site.
National Summit on Paid Sick Days and Paid Family Leave
The New Jersey Time to Care Coalition recently attended the July 8–10, 2012 National Summit on Paid Sick Days and Paid Family Leave in Washington D.C. They joined together with over 200 advocates from around the country to discuss strategies in the fight to advance family-friendly policies such as paid sick days and family leave insurance. Participants had a day of training with choices ranging from campaign planning to social media planning.
On the Day of Action, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was honored for her leadership in fighting for working women and men across the country. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) also spoke as chairman of the Senate HELP Committee and lead senate sponsor of the Healthy Families Act. The Coalition members then went to speak with their representatives about federal legislation for paid sick days.
Above: Representatives from the National Partnership on Women & Families and Family Values at Work with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and NJCA and Time to Care Coalition members.
Family Leave Insurance Turns Four!
On May 3, 2012, we held a successful celebration of the 4th anniversary of the enactment of New Jersey's Family Leave Insurance Program with families, legislators and advocates in attendance. Event speakers included Senate President Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Weinberg, Senator Greenstein, Assemblyman Albano, former Department of Labor Commissioner David Socolow, a small business owner, and two workers who shared their personal stories of using Family Leave Insurance and how it helped them. We had a packed room, and good press coverage — articles about the event have appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, NJ.com, NJBIZ.com, New Jersey 101.5, and New Jersey Newsroom.
For more information about Family Leave Insurance, follow this link. If you have questions or have used Family Leave Insurance and want to tell your story, you can call the NJ Health Helpline at 1-888-NJ-GET-WELL.
New Jersey Health Insurance Exchange
What is a Health Insurance Exchange?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) makes great improvements to access and affordability in our health care system. One major way that the law does this is by establishing new state health insurance exchanges. A health insurance exchange is a virtual marketplace intended to make purchasing health insurance more transparent and affordable for consumers. An ideal health insurance exchange would create competition, transparency and accountability in the insurance market, therefore bringing down the cost of insurance premiums for consumers.
Under the ACA, states are required to establish these state level health insurance exchanges or allow the federal government to establish an exchange for their state. It is also the only provision in the law that requires states to include stakeholders in the planning process. On January 1st, 2013, all 50 states must submit a proposal for their own health insurance exchange to the federal government and by 2014 all exchanges must be implemented. So far New Jersey has received $1 million to begin planning for a New Jersey exchange. The NJ for Health Care Coalition believes that a good exchange must meet the following principles... CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS about establishing a pro-consumer NJ health insurance exchange.
Tell Your Legislator to Stand Up to Chris Christie!
Governor Christie’s proposed budget includes reckless tax cuts that New Jersey just can’t afford.
We've already seen too many cuts to our schools, our police and fire services, and our communities. Now Governor Christie is pushing unaffordable tax cuts that will mean huge budget shortfalls in the future.
TAKE ACTION! CLICK HERE to tell your legislator to stand up for a balanced budget that protects our schools and our communities.
Executive Director Phyllis Salowe-Kaye Receives "Women of Distinction" Award
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| Phyllis Salowe-Kaye with her family and Senator Robert Menendez |
On March 11, 2012 U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) hosted his Third Annual Women of Distinction Awards to celebrate Women’s History Month. Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, Executive Director of New Jersey Citizen Action, and New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund, was among the six honorees at the 2012 Women of Distinction Awards presented by United States Senator Robert Menendez. Full details here.
FOOL ME TWICE?
New Report: Are Corporations Paying Congress to Rip Off Taxpayers Again?
Will one billion dollars in lobbying and campaign cash influence the debate over tax repatriation? That's the question asked by a new Public Campaign and USAction report entitled "Fool Me Twice? Corporations Pay Congress To Rip Off Taxpayers Again."
The report examines efforts by many of the nation's largest corporations to secure another "tax holiday" that would allow them to return hundreds of billions of dollars in profits from off-shore tax havens to the U.S. at a sharply lower tax rate. It shows that 20 of the nation's largest corporations have spent more than $1 billion on federal elections and lobbying since 2005, the year after Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law the last failed "tax holiday." Members of the deficit reduction "supercommittee" have received $6.4 million in campaign contributions from the companies studied. Learn more in the Press Release. Read the full Report.
NJ Citizen Action Protests Annual Chamber Train Trip to D.C.
Calls on Chamber Train Riders to Support Fully Renewed Federal Unemployment Benefits
NEWARK, NJ — On January 26, 2012, New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) members protested the annual NJ Chamber of Commerce's "Walk to Washington." The protest was held at the Newark and Metropark Train Stations. Protesters dressed as skunks with the message "unemployment stinks" and handed out clothes pins with a message that urged attendees not to make life harder for the unemployed and to support fully renewed federal unemployment benefits. Learn more in the Media Release, and at our Americans for Financial Reform Campaign.
TELL US YOUR STORY!
New Jersey Citizen Action wants to hear from you. We are collecting personal stories on a wide range of issues; such as telephone outages, economic hardships and unemployment, and access to quality affordable health care. By sharing your story, you can influence decision makers and empower other individuals to stand up for fairness and equality. If you have a personal story regarding any of these issues, or another story related to the tough economy, please share it with us here.
NJCA Launches Community Action in Jersey City to Help Save Christ Hospital
In response to the proposed sale of Christ Hospital to a for-profit company, NJCA launched a petition drive to protect the mission of the community hospital.
The people of Jersey City need to know that Christ Hospital, its services, and health care providers will always be here for Jersey City families. PROGRESS UPDATE COMING!
NJCA's Economic Security Center Can Help You — And It's FREE
Are You Struggling to:
- Buy Groceries for your Family
- Pay your Gas, Electric and/or Oil Bill
- Find Affordable Health Care for Your Kids
- Pay High Cost Tax Preparation Fees
New Jersey Citizen Action's Economic Security Center provides free, confidential benefits counseling to help individuals and families get information on public programs for which they qualify. These include food stamps, health insurance, heating and utility bill assistance and more. We also provide free tax preparation to help individuals and families file their forms and claim tax refunds from the federal and state government.
Our goal is to increase your economic security by helping you understand how to get public benefits, tax credits and other essential services to which you are entitled. These programs provide a cushion against everyday setbacks — a sick child, car trouble, temporary job loss — that can become catastrophes in your life. For more information click here.
Homelessness Prevention & Housing Emergency List
NJ Citizen Action provides counselor-assisted benefits screening for New Jersey families, and can provide some information on rental assistance and homelessness prevention services through our Economic Security Initiative. For additional information on homelessness prevention counseling or services, you may want to contact an agency that provides Family Shelter, Transitional Housing and/or Homelessness Counseling. Here is a list of contacts by county for NJ's Homelessness Prevention Program, as found on the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' website.
Call Us at 973-643-8800 x239
744 Broad Street, Suite 2080
Newark, NJ 07102
Map and Directions
HOURS: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM by appointment only. Photo ID required to enter the facility.
Support Marriage Equality!
WE DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL!
Contact Your State Legislators Today and Tell Them to Vote YES on S1967/A2978 — The Marriage Equality Act!
In 2007, New Jersey's civil union law was enacted to provide same-sex couples the same civil rights and responsibilities as married heterosexual couples without calling it "marriage." However, in a very short period of time it has become clear that the measure, and civil unions, do not provide and protect the civil and constitutional rights of same sex couples. Thousands of employers continue to refuse to recognize civil unions as equal to marriage. Despite the law, many employers fail to provide health benefits to their workers' civil union partners. Many New Jersey hospitals still do not allow same-sex couples to make medical decisions for one another and bar same-sex couples to from even visiting one another in the hospital. It is time to provide all couples equal rights under the law. No one should have to wait for equality. For details click here.
Invest in Safety & Jobs!
New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA), SEIU NJ, and the NJ Working Families Alliance gathered, on October 13th, near a structurally unsound bridge to highlight the need for investment in New Jersey's infrastructure.
"America's infrastructure is crumbling," said Lauren Townsend, Organizing and Advocacy Director of NJCA. The Morris Avenue (Route 82) bridge over the Rahway River is one of thousands of bridges throughout NJ and our nation that is in ill repair. Every day 28,471 cars travel over this bridge, yet it has structural problems and has not been inspected since July 2009.
For public safety and for our economy, we should put people to work fixing our crumbling infrastructure. Details in the Press Release. Read News Coverage.
Stop Verizon Greed
On Sunday, August 7th, 45,000 Verizon workers from Virginia
to Maine went on strike to defend the middle class and protest against
corporate greed. Verizon has been raking in BILLIONS of dollars in
profits and compensating their top executives to the tune of a quarter
of a BILLION dollars over the last four years. Despite Verizon's
record profits, they are demanding workers accept dramatic cuts that not
only threaten workers' livelihoods, but also their safety on the
job. These demands exemplify everything that has gone wrong in the
country in this era of unchecked corporate excess.
We need to show Verizon's corporate giants that we've had enough of their corporate greed.
The rights of thse workers affect all of us — whether or not you are a union member. If corporate giants and those politicians who protect them have their way, none of us prosper. When workers are consistently devalued, the effects ripple across the entire community and throughout the economy. And when jobs are outsourced, middle-class Americans suffer.
Sign the Petition!Please sign the petition and tell Verizon President Lowell McAdam to stop Verizon's attack on the middle class and share his company's successes with those who made it possible.
For more information please contact Ann at ann@njcitizenaction.org.
STOP TELCO DEREG! Call Your State Senator NOW and Ask "What About Grandma?"
Everyone needs a phone.Yet telecommunications giants — like Verizon, Cablevision and Comcast — will hit pay dirt while Grandma could lose her phone service if proposed legislation is passed to completely deregulate phone and cable services in New Jersey. This anti-consumer bill will wipe out important consumer protections that defend against discrimination in rates, ensure billing errors are corrected, guarantee credits for outages, provide adequate service quality and ensure that everyone who wants a basic, no frills phone line can afford to have one.
CALL your State Senator NOW!
CLICK HERE to find your state senator's phone number — then say...
My name is [SAY YOUR NAME] and I'm concerned about how bill A3766/S2664 will hurt my family, senior citizens and others in my life. Deregulation will allow companies to drop telephone services, raise rates and eliminate consumer protections, forcing my loved ones to choose between food or a phone call. Stand up for my family and seniors, not CEOs. Please pull A3766 and S2664 from consideration.
You can still also CLICK HERE to email your Assembly members and State Senator TODAY and urge them to vote NO on A3766 and S2664!
Resources
Read the March 18, 2011 letter, from NJCA and over 20 more consumer advocacy organizations, to the NJ Senate: PROTECT CONSUMERS – VOTE NO ON S2664. New Jersey Policy Perspective and national nonpartisan policy organization Demos released a Report on March 14, 2011: How To Raise The Phone Bill Of The Average New Jersey Family: What S2664 Will Do To NJ Consumers. The report reveals S2664, "The Market Competition and Consumer Choice Act," will likely result in:
- Significant rate hikes for New Jersey families ranging from 50 percent to 63 percent of a current phone bill
- Rural communities at risk of being stranded without landline service
- Elimination of crucial consumer protections from both phone and cable companies
- Hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure funding in jeopardy, along with consumers left without an advocate in future Verizon landline sales through removal of BPU oversight.
In the News — media coverage click here.
This bill must be stopped! There is clear evidence this is an anti-consumer bill, call you State Senator NOW!
Don't Hang Up on New Jersey Campaign
Don't Hang Up on New Jersey is a coalition of consumer, labor and community organizations committed to protecting affordable, quality, reliable phone and internet services for New Jersey families.
Telecommunication services, including access to a phone and the internet, are a vital part of our daily life and economy. We depend on the telephone to call for help in an emergency and to stay connected with our family, our friends — literally the rest of world. In the event of a health emergency, family crisis or national or other disaster, lack of connection to the telephone network could have dire consequences for those without telephone service. Without access to basic, affordable telephone services thousands of New Jerseyans would be unable to reach loved ones or call for help when tragedy strikes. Particularly hard hit would be individuals and families struggling to make ends meet on low, moderate and fixed incomes.
The New Jersey legislature is preparing to pass one of the most sweeping, anti-consumer telecommunications and cable deregulation laws anywhere in the country — S2664. This bill, the so-called Market Competition and Choice Act, sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, was written for giant corporations and CEOs. If passed, it will have a devastating impact on our families and seniors, cost NJ good jobs, lead to increased prices and eliminate important consumer protections and oversight against poor services and shoddy business practices. We are calling on the legislature to stop this anti-consumer bill.
Join the Don't Hang Up on New Jersey Campaign to:
- Insure all NJ residents have access to affordable and quality basic telephone and cable services.
- Maintain strong oversight of telecommunications industry so consumers and taxpayers are protected.
- Stop radical deregulation schemes like S2664 that will harm consumers.
Click here to download the Endorsement Form.
Social Security
New Jersey Citizen Action has formed the New Jersey Strengthen Social Security Campaign to oppose any efforts to cut Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age, or to privatize any part of the program.
Right now, a Fiscal Commission appointed by President Obama and Congress is debating the future of Social Security. It is charged with issuing a report by December 1 about how to cut the federal deficit and restructure entitlement programs, such as Social Security. News reports indicate that Social Security is the program that it could be easiest for the commission to reach agreement on cutting. Social Security is hugely popular, and one of the most successful social programs of all time. It has been around for 75 years. It lifts 20 million Americans out of poverty. At the same time it provides critical insurance against the disability or death of a family member.
Social Security did not cause the federal deficit. It has not added a penny to the deficit. Social Security has a $2.6 trillion surplus today. Its benefits should not be cut to reduce the deficit — or for any other reason. We need to make sure Congress continues to support Social Security, and not make cuts that will harm current and future generations.
Take Action! 1) Call your Congressperson and Senators (find their contact information here) AND 2) email them (click here).
You can learn more in this Fact Sheet.
Picketing "Scrooge" Alex DeCroce
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| (The Daily Record — Staff Photo/Dawn Benko) |
On December 22, 2010, NJ Citizen Action with our affiliates and friends picketed in front of the office of Assembly Republican Leader — and New Jersey's new Ebenezer Scrooge — Alex DeCroce.
Earlier, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce had told a business group that unemployment benefits should be cut to encourage people to look for work.
He said, "I'm one of the few people here... who feel that benefits are too good for these people." He later said that unemployed NJ residents are "gaming the system." DeCroce is out of touch with what many New Jersey families are facing this holiday season.
Republican Leader DeCroce got a visit, if not from Charles Dickens' ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, then a visit from us who protested any cut in jobless benefits, the arrogance and ignorance of Republican representatives who think residents have imposed a 9.2% unemployment rate on ourselves and on purpose, that workers have lost their jobs through some fault of their own, and who think that people don't want to work or can adequately care for their families on less than the average unemployment insurance check of $28,600/year.
- News Coverage: "Groups Demand Increased Support For Unemployed" (NorthJersey.com – January 5, 2011), "We 'These People' Really Want To Work" (Neighbor News – December 29, 2010), "Dozens Gather Outside Alex DeCroce's Office To Protest Comments On Unemployed" (Daily Record – December 23, 2010), "Condemning DeCroce — Ever So Politely" (Daily Record – December 23, 2010), "Whippany, NJ: Dozens Gather Outside Alex DeCroce's Office" (Daily Record – December 22, 2010)
"One Nation Working Together" Rally
On October 2, 2010 in Washington DC, NJ Citizen Action proudly joined in the "One Nation Working Together" Rallly, along with tens of thousands of other people, representing over 170 human and civil rights organizations, labor unions, and environmental, ethnic, peace, youth and student, and faith-based organizations.
In this time of economic crisis, banksters and corporate lobbyists have made off with trillions of public dollars while small businesses can't get loans and cities are laying off teachers, police, and firefighters.
But we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the American Dream — a secure job, a safe home, and a quality education. So we come together to refocus our national priorities on greater investments in the well-being of all Americans.
- News Coverage: "One Nation Working Together Rally" (C-SPAN – October2, 2010), "Group To March On D.C. To Demand Change" (New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio – September 9, 2010), "One Nation Working Together Rally" (Asbury Park Press – September 8, 2010).
Citizen Action's New Consumer Health Helpline!
GOT HEALTHCARE QUESTIONS?
Call Us Toll Free at
1-888-NJ GET WELL (1-888-654-3893)
- How Will My Family Get Health Insurance?
- Will My Coverage be Adequate?
- Will I be Able to Afford Coverage?
- How do I Use the Coverage Once I am Enrolled?
- How will the New Federal Health Reform Law Help Me and My Family?
The NJ Consumer Health Helpline is a Free Health Care Consumer Assistance Program working to ensure that consumers are able to access affordable, quality health care and effectively navigate the often complex health insurance system. The Helpline also provides vital information to policy makers by identifying and addressing health care related problems as they occur in real time in our communities.
Our Helpline Counselors are trained and have up-to-date information about healthcare coverage in New Jersey, where to go if you have a problem with your insurance company and how to access other health related programs. NJCA is an independent, statewide education and advocacy organization. We are not a government agency. We work to ensure that all New Jersey residents have access to high quality and affordable health care.
For more information contact Yarrow Willman-Cole at yarrow@njcitizenaction.org. Download this program's flyer in English or flyer in Spanish. Funding for the New Jersey for Health Care Consumer Helpline Project was provided by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey. Like the Health Helpline on Facebook!
Renewal of PNC's Three-Year Community Reinvestment Commitment to New Jersey
On August 31, 2010, New Jersey Citizen Action, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, and PNC formally signed PNC's three-year Community Reinvestment Agreement for almost $1 billion.
In renewing their commitment to the people of New Jersey by signing this three-year agreement, PNC is extending its pledge to lend and invest in low- and moderate-income communities, to individuals, and to small businesses owned by women and minorities. PNC will offer below market rate mortgages with low down payment requirements, no points and no PMI for low- and moderate-income borrowers, grants for closing costs, and grants and loans for residents with disabilities. Read the full details and news coverage.
Senator Robert Menendez Joins NJ Citizen Action to Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Social Security
On Thursday, August 12, 2010 NJCA Joined with Senator Robert Menendez to release a report that shows how Social Security Works for New Jerseys. The event was one of over 100 events taking place across the country during the month of August to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Social Security.
There has been growing debate by some in Washington proposing to cut benefits and privatize the program as a way to reduce the federal deficit. NJCA emphasized opposition to any such cuts or reduction of benefits.
- Complete Report.
- Press Release.
- News Coverage: "Sen. Robert Menendez And Hoboken Seniors Salute Social Security On Its 75th Anniversary" (The Jersey Journal – August 13, 2010), "Sen. Menendez And Citizen Action Celebrate 75 Years Of Social Security With New Jersey Seniors" (NJ.com – August 13, 2010), "Social Security Turns 75" (My9News – August 13, 2010 VIDEO NEWS SEGMENT), "Social Security: 'An American Success Story'" (MSNBC – August 13, 2010), "Seniors, Sen. Menendez Celebrate 75 Years Of Social Security" (Hoboken Patch – August 12, 2010), "Social Security Benefits 1.4M In New Jersey Annually" (New Jersey Newsroom – August 12, 2010).
Support Fair Elections — Tell Congress to Pass Fair Elections Now!
In order to get a Congress that's accountable to us, not corporations and special interests, we need to change the way candidates finance their campaigns. The best and most comprehensive solution is the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752, H.R. 1826).
Under Fair Elections, candidates are able to run highly competitive races that rely on small donor contributions and limited public funding. Fair Elections allows elected officials to spend their time on important issues facing their constituents, and not spending countless hours attending $1,000 a-plate fundraisers and dialing-for-dollars. It's time we had a government that worked for working Americans, not for big corporations and their lobbyists. Click here to learn more and TAKE ACTION!
NJCA Celebrates Main Street's Victory Against Wall Street!
On July 15, 2010 NJ Citizen Action, having spent the past year fighting for Financial Reform legislation, celebrated the Senate passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, one of the last hurdles before President Obama signs it into law. The legislation will take unprecedented steps to clean up Wall Street:
- It will protect consumers buying homes.
- It will create new rules of the road for credit to protect families and small businesses.
- It will rein in the casino economy and stop speculators from operating in secret.
- It will provide the tools to stop future bailouts.
- It will make our economy more secure and more stable.
- Learn more.
Override the Governor's Veto — Restore FamilyCare & Family Planning
Governor Christie has vetoed two bills that would have restored funding for parent enrollment in NJ FamilyCare (S2134/A3020) and full funding for women's health and family planning (S2139/A3018).
We cannot allow the Governor to balance the budget by sacrificing the health of New Jersey. Especially in these difficult economic times, when the needs of our state's families are increasing — we cannot and should not eliminate these vital health care programs. Please write your state legislators today and tell them to override the Governor's veto and restore funding to NJ FamilyCare and Family Planning!
TAKE ACTION! Click here to tell your state legislators to OVERRIDE the Governor's veto.
SAVE CIVIL SERVICE!
SAY "NO" TO POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND PATRONAGE
Governor Chris Christie is proposing to destroy NJ's Civil Service System. Gutting Civil Service will allow corrupt politicians to use good jobs providing critical public services as favors and rewards for fat cats, cronies and relatives. If you care about providing clean, honest government by having a public workforce that is protected from the corrupting influence of political coercion, call your elected representatives today and tell them to vote NO on destroying New Jersey's Civil Service System. Click here to learn more. Also download the Fact Sheet. And click here to download a postcard that will be sent to your leaders in Trenton.
Save New Jersey's Civil Service From the Hands of Corruption and Patronage
TAKE ACTION! Click here to email your state legislators and Governor Christie, and...
Call Governor Chris Christie: 609-292-6000
Call Senate President Steve Sweeney: 856-251-9801
Call Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver: 973-395-1166
On Sunday evening, March 21, 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives PASSED comprehensive national health care reform by a vote of 219 to 212.
Everyone who played a role in achieving this historic victory should be extremely proud. For the first time in history, a comprehensive health care bill has passed both Houses of Congress. The bill will give health care to 32 million Americans and save over 30,000 lives per year. And it will regulate the insurance companies so they can no longer deny care for pre-existing conditions, charge you more if you're sick, put limits on your benefits, or increase rates with impunity.
Immediate benefits will include the opportunity to keep adult children on family health insurance policies up to age 26 and relief for seniors who have fallen into the Medicare Prescription Drug "donut hole."
Not one Republican voted for the bill. In New Jersey — only one Democrat voted against the bill: Rep. John Adler (NJ-03).
Please CALL Toll Free: 1-877-264-4226 to THANK members of Congress who voted YES and express your disappointment to the ones who voted NO.
How NJ's Members Voted:
YES — Representatives Rothman, Pascrell, Sires, Payne, Pallone, Holt and Andrews
NO — Representatives Adler, Garrett, Frelinghuysen, Lance, Smith and LoBiondo
To find out how your Representative voted click here.
What Does National Health Care Reform Mean for New Jersey?
- More people with health coverage. About 859,000 New Jerseyans with health care coverage by 2019.
- Insurance companies play by fair rules. No more denials for pre-existing conditions or dropping coverage because we get sick.
- Health care will be more affordable. 854,000 New Jerseyans with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($43,320 for an individual and $88,200 for a family of four) will qualify for subsidies to help them purchase health coverage. Caps on everyone's out-of-pocket costs and insurance companies won't be allowed to set limits on how much health care they'll cover for a person each year. (Read the new Affordability Report by NJ For Health Care on how much NJ Families can afford to spend on health care).
- Consumer-friendly insurance products. Nearly 2 million more New Jerseyans will have access to affordable coverage options through a new health insurance exchange.
- Relief for seniors. Lower prescription drug costs for seniors and financial stability and solvency for the Medicare program.
- Help for small business owners. About 107,000 New Jersey small businesses helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.
- Security and peace of mind for everyone. Many of the 5.6 million New Jerseyans with employer-based insurance will benefit from increased competition in the market place, limitations on premium increases, and more efficient health services.
To find out how the House Bill will impact YOUR Congressional District click here.
What Next? Making Health Care Work for New Jersey
A Statewide Health Care Implementation Conference
Thank you for attending the Health Care Implementation Conference on June 8, 2010 and making it a huge success! Special thanks to Community Catalyst, all the panelists, our planning committee, and all the conference participants — your breadth of knowledge, diversity, thoughtful questions, and feedback made this a truly dynamic and substantive event.
Now that we have set the stage for implementation in our state, it is time to roll up our sleeves and get the work done. Please join us in taking the next steps to support implementation by joining our NJ for Health Care Coalition. With your help we can ensure that our state maximizes the benefits available to us through the federal health reform law. Please sign on to the NJ for Health Care coalition to get more involved.
Click here to see all Materials from Conference.
Call Senators Lautenberg and Menendez Today! Tell Them To...
Finish The Job On State Aid, Unemployment Insurance and COBRA Health Subsidies
CLICK HERE to Call Your Senators
The U.S. Senate is considering a bill that will extend Federal UI programs, extend increased federal Medicaid payments to states (FMAP) and give a much needed infusion of resources to the TANF Emergency Fund which has provided crucial support for low-income families and has led to the creation of over 180,000 jobs over the last year and half. However, due to a last-minute House compromise, the bill excludes extensions of COBRA health subsidies for the unemployed and much-needed aid to state governments through the Medicaid program (FMAP). We must ensure these necessary provisions are included in the final bill!
Ask Your Senators To Vote For The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act In Order To:
- Extend UI/COBRA Benefits Until The End of The Year.
- Extend State Fiscal Relief (FMAP) For Another Six Months.
- Fund The TANF Emergency Fund Through FY 2011
CLICK HERE to Call Your Senators NOW (Toll-Free)!
Congress must work to lift our country out of the current jobs crisis. Congress must be bold and take action. Washington's current proposals are weak and do not go far enough in addressing the problems families are facing each and every day. Tell Congress they must do more and:
- Expand unemployment & COBRA benefits to assist workers who have lost their health insurance with their jobs;
- Provide fiscal relief for New Jersey;
- Create good public service jobs;
- Invest in our crumbling infrastructure; and
- Provide tax incentives to small and medium businesses to grow and expand.
America Needs a Jobs Bill Now!
Job for America Now is a nationwide campaign of more than sixty groups organizing to put America back to work. For more information, contact Ann Vardeman at 732-246-4772 ext. 13, or ann@njcitizenaction.org.
Support Marriage Equality!
WE DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL!
Contact Your State Legislators Today and Tell Them to Vote YES on S1967/A2978 — The Marriage Equality Act!
In 2007, New Jersey's civil union law was enacted to provide same-sex couples the same civil rights and responsibilities as married heterosexual couples without calling it "marriage." However, in a very short period of time it has become clear that the measure, and civil unions, do not provide and protect the civil and constitutional rights of same sex couples. Thousands of employers continue to refuse to recognize civil unions as equal to marriage. Despite the law, many employers fail to provide health benefits to their workers' civil union partners. Many New Jersey hospitals still do not allow same-sex couples to make medical decisions for one another and bar same-sex couples to from even visiting one another in the hospital. It is time to provide all couples equal rights under the law. No one should have to wait for equality.
NJCA Oil Group
New Jersey Citizen Action Oil Group is a project of New Jersey Citizen Action. The Oil Group was formed in 1983 to provide consumers with an alternative to the high cost of heating fuel. The Oil Group uses group purchasing power to negotiate discount prices. See a 10-minute video interview with NJCA Oil Group Director Wende Nachman, on "Help With High Heating Bills." Also read the extensive news coverage the Oil Group is receiving.
For more information about the NJCA Oil Group, please call 1-800-464-8465, or visit njcaoilgroup.com.
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