PARAMUS — The legislative portion of the budget season kicked off this morning with a state senate hearing in Bergen County, where residents and organizations made their case for more funding. The hearing of the Senate Budget Committee was held at Bergen County Community College in Paramus and began around 9:30 a.m. Only about half of the committee was...
PARAMUS — The legislative portion of the budget season kicked off this morning with a state senate hearing in Bergen County, where residents and organizations made their case for more funding.
The hearing of the Senate Budget Committee was held at Bergen County Community College in Paramus and began around 9:30 a.m. Only about half of the committee was in attendance at 10:30 a.m.
Many of the people in attendance today represented the state’s physically and mentally disabled residents. In early morning testimony, representatives expressed concern about Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to seek a global waiver under Medicaid without providing many details.
“It’s a broad change, but there is too little information,” said Lowell Arye, executive director for the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities.
The Christie administration has promised to outline specific Medicaid changes in the upcoming weeks, which could include cutting optional services like dental and vision.
Melville Miller, executive director of Legal Services of New Jersey, which provides assistance to low-income residents, said his organization lost $9.7 million in state funding last year, and, while no further cuts are included in the 2012 budget, he said maintaining operations will be difficult
He said five out of every six state residents who live in poverty fail to get even the barest legal advice in civil matters, such as foreclosure or matters. In the past two years, he had to cut staff by more than 200 people and another 70 people are expected to go this year.
State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said with the economy she has seen an uptick in the number of constituents who have called her office looking for legal help.
“This is life and death for people,” said Buono. “We are certainly going to try to restore that funding.”