A mixed bag for New Jersey in Bush's budget proposal for 2007

President Bush’s $2.77 trillion budget proposal for 2007 gives New Jersey a mixed bag of good and bad news: more money for transportation projects, a decrease in some homeland security money, 500 fewer National Guard positions and cuts in 141 federal programs Bush wants to reduce or eliminate entirely. The state’s congressional delegation and governor’s office searched the budget - four thick volumes totaling thousands of pages - after it was released Monday morning to see how New Jersey fared, a task that could take days to complete. Lawmakers reacted, predictably, along party lines. Through a spokesman, Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine said the budget slashes aid to education, transportation and social services to pay for Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy. ``The governor hopes that all members of the congressional delegation will join him to oppose these deep cuts that enrich the pocketbooks of those who need it least,’’ said Corzine’s spokesman, Anthony Coley. Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez issued a joint statement declaring the budget a ``disaster’’ for New Jersey. ``President Bush has proposed a budget that would slash billions of dollars in health care for New Jersey’s seniors, education for our kids and police on our streets,’’ Lautenberg said. ``The president’s budget puts New Jersey and its needs on the chopping block.’’ Menendez said if the budget passes, ``our children will have fewer opportunities to get a first-class education, our families will live in dirtier and more dangerous communities, and our seniors will pay more for health care.’’ Republicans were more conciliatory. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, said although the state is working with limited resources, by exercising fiscal discipline Bush’s budget ``lays the groundwork to address key priorities’’ in homeland security funds, the preservation of the Highlands and continued cleanup of Superfund sites. Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-Warren, said he hoped that Congress ``works together to finance the programs that need strengthening, especially homeland security funding for states like New Jersey that face a heightened threat of a terrorist attack.’’ Under the budget plan the state would lose 500 National Guard positions, bringing New Jersey’s authorized strength to 5,400 members, said Lt. Col. Roberta Niedt, spokeswoman for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. There are currently about 6,000 National Guard members in New Jersey. Niedt said the reduction could pose a problem for the state in the event of a homeland security emergency or natural disaster. Gov. Jon S. Corzine joined the country’s other governors in signing a letter sent to Bush protesting the National Guard cuts. New Jersey’s homeland security funding for 2007 seems to be a mixed bag, with most of the money to be distributed according to risk. That could be good news for the state, which has three high-risk areas: Elizabeth, Jersey City and Newark. Bush proposes giving a total of $838 million for counterterrorism grants in 2007. They will not be distributed until June. New Jersey received less money in 2006 in homeland security funds than it did in 2005. However, Bush’s budget proposes reducing or eliminating minimum homeland security guarantees, meaning New Jersey’s only guaranteed homeland security funding would be $1.5 million, down from $7.12 million last year. Lawmakers were still trying to determine how Bush’s proposal of cutting Medicare spending by $35.9 billion would affect New Jersey. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-Long Branch, warned the impact could be severe. ``The president’s Medicare cuts would force some New Jersey seniors to pay more in premiums for their health care,’’ Pallone said. Pallone also blasted the president for not allocating any money for beach replenishment projects north of Barnegat Inlet for the second year in a row. Congress went ahead and agreed to provide $5 million for beach replenishment projects along the Monmouth County shore for this year, Pallone added. In terms of social services, New Jersey stands to see a $14.7 million cut for various programs, such as substance abuse treatment, child care and foster care services. The best news appears to be in the transportation budget. It earmarks additional funds for ongoing projects, from the dredging of the Port of New York and Jersey to various rail and commuter ventures, mostly in the northern part of the state. There is $100 million more for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail project, and $90 million more for the dredging project. Also, the budget contains about $35 million for new construction projects for the joint military ``mega-base’’ of Fort Dix-McGuire Air Force Base-Lakehurst Naval Air Station. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-Mount Holly, said this money builds on $52.5 million in new construction projects earmarked for the base this year. Lakehurst would receive $20 million for ongoing Army consolidated logistics and training facility that will serve the New Jersey National Guard. Some $15.5 million would pay for a new assault landing zone to be built at Lakehurst, Saxton said.