Jersey City's Joan Quigley says state budget is hard on seniors, middle-class, poor

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
April 07, 2010, 6:27PM

Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, D-Jersey City, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, released a statement today saying the budget would hurt senior citizens, the middle-class and poor after hearing testimony from state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff.

Assemblywoman Joan Quigley wasn?t impressed with state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff?s testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee today.

?We?re already beginning to see the damage wrought by Gov. Christie?s budget plan on public education and property taxes throughout our state, but this testimony drives home the terrible impact Gov. Christie?s budget is going to have on senior citizens, the middle-class and poor,? Quigley, D-Jersey City, said in a statement.

Quigley, a member of the Budget Committee, added, ?As my Republican friends have said, Gov. Christie?s budget philosophy will take money from people?s pockets and continue to drive middle-class taxpayers and senior citizens to bankruptcy.?

In his March 16 budget address, Gov. Chris Christie unveiled a $29.3 billion spending and announced $445 million in cuts to municipal aid.

In the days following his budget address the state released school and municipal aid figures. Under Christie?s proposal, Hudson County schools can expect to share $59.8 million less in state school formula aid.

The Legislature must still approve the governor?s proposal.