Beck, Casagrande & O’Scanlon Urge Corzine to Address Worst-in-Region Record of Uninsured Families

September 1, 2009

Contact: Senate Republican Office / (609) 292-5199
Senator Jennifer Beck

Beck, Casagrande & O’Scanlon Urge Corzine to Address Worst-in-Region Record of Uninsured Families

Calls for Governor to Support Job Growth Measures that Will Create Jobs and Insure Families

Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (all R-Monmouth) today noted that the most recent census data available indicates that even before New Jersey’s unemployment rate more than doubled from 4.6% to 9.3% since the end of 2007, the number of people in New Jersey without health insurance had already climbed from 1,076,000 in 2001 to 1,348,000 in 2007.

Beck, Casagrande and O’Scanlon believe the level of uninsured has swelled even higher than the 300,000 (25.3%) person increase during this interval due to the state’s dramatic increase in unemployment. The three indicated this is further evidence that Governor Corzine must finally embrace the economic development proposals they sponsored that he has been ignoring.

“If Governor Corzine won’t support economic growth initiatives just to increase jobs, he should do it to help combat the skyrocketing number of families in New Jersey without health insurance that could get health insurance that comes with a good job, ” said Beck.

The most recent census data shows New Jersey holds the worst ranking in the region for people who are uninsured. The state fares worse than NY, PA, CT, DE, and MD.

“The legislation we proposed is intended to create jobs in the private sector and stimulate the economy which will in turn assist in providing health benefits,” said Casagrande. “The federal stimulus funds are a short-term solution to a long-term challenge. We cannot afford to play politics with such a critical issue. The governor and Legislature need to address our proposals as soon as we reconvene.”

The percentage of population that is uninsured has risen to almost 16% as of the end of 2007 from 12.7% as of the end of 2001. While New Jersey uninsured problem is getting worse, the number of uninsured in NY dropped by 300,000 and the number of uninsured’s in PA increased at half the rate of NJ over the same period of time. New Jersey’s unemployment rate, once the best in the region, is also now one the worst, behind New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and other surrounding states.

“The governor seems content on waiting for a national solution to address the issue of those who are uninsured in New Jersey,” commented O’Scanlon. “We should be debating how to solve this problem in the Legislature. Creating permanent jobs in the private sector is the most viable public policy. But the first hurdle we need to clear is getting the governor to embrace the concept that bipartisan efforts are needed.”

“If New Jersey wants to stop being number one in the region for unemployment and people without health insurance, Governor Corzine is going to need to finally embrace constructive economic development proposals to promote job growth, ” said Beck.

Following are some of the economic development proposals introduced by Beck, Casagrande and O’Scanlon that address economic growth and job creation:

A sales tax exemption on the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles and energy efficient appliances;
A statewide gross income tax credit of $7,500 for first time homebuyers;
Reducing the corporate business tax and providing an additional reduction for businesses relocating their headquarters in New Jersey;
Revising the Business Employment Incentive Program to encourage economic growth;
Appropriating dollars for sewer infrastructure for the redevelopment of Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital; and
Providing for an income tax deduction for contributions to the NJ BEST college savings account or other federally qualified account.