TRENTON — Democratic state senators are mounting a challenge to a bill that would garnish income tax refunds from homeowners delinquent on their property taxes, questioning whether it adequately protects child support payments and saying it would punish the unemployed. Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) questioned the wording of the proposed bill, saying it was unclear whether the bill would...
Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) stands to speak at the State House in this file photo.TRENTON — Democratic state senators are mounting a challenge to a bill that would garnish income tax refunds from homeowners delinquent on their property taxes, questioning whether it adequately protects child support payments and saying it would punish the unemployed.
Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) questioned the wording of the proposed bill, saying it was unclear whether the bill would allow municipalities to collect money before delinquent child support payments. She and other senators in the Senate budget committee this morning also said it would be inhumane and unfair to people who were counting on the refunds to pay essential bills while they were unemployed.
"People are still losing their homes in record numbers," she said. "This is just going to add to their misery."
Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren), the sponsor of the bill, said lawyers with Gov. Chris Christie's office thought the bill protected child support payments, but said he would be willing to amend the proposal to make it clear that people owed child support would get first dibs on garnished income tax refunds. He accused Buono of playing politics by bringing up her concerns in public rather than contacting him before the meeting.
"I’m totally available, on the phone, over the internet," he said. "If you have concerns and you think there’s a question here, I could have been working on this Friday, Saturday, Sunday morning to make sure there was some appropriate language."
Buono and other senators recoiled at the accusation. Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) said several of her bills have been questioned in committee, which is the point of the public forum.
“This venue gives us the opportunity to have discussion,” said Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex). “I don’t think anyone’s intention is to sit here and make any mockery of any bill.”
The committee held the bill. It would have to be approved by the Democrat-controlled Legislature and signed by the governor before becoming law. The bill is one of several dozen Christie is pushing as part of a plan he says will allow towns to control costs and operate more efficiently.
Previous Coverage:
• N.J. towns could take income tax refunds from homeowners late on property taxes
• N.J. Senate considers bills to help keep state costs down
• Looking ahead, analysts say N.J.'s budget woes may be far from over
• N.J. property tax cap meets first challenge in 12 percent health care costs hike