SUPPORT EITC AND CHILD CARE FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

The NJ Legislature is deliberating about the budget for the coming year. Some bills – critical for low and middle income families – are stuck in Committees until the budget review is done.

We want to make clear to the Committee Chairs how important it is for them to take up and fully support the following bills that make a huge difference for those living on the edge of poverty, struggling,  and those having a hard time getting back to work because of child care concerns.

PLEASE spend a few moments to email these 2 letters to the appropriate Committee Chairpeople. It’s simple – just cut and paste and send to the emails provided below. (Calls are great too.)

WHY? We want to inundate them in the next few weeks with our priorities and impact their thinking and votes.
Only calls and emails accomplish this.

The first of the letters in this “campaign” relate to NJ tax credits and child care.
Others will relate to healthcare and pharmaceutical drug prices in NJ.
Thanks for your help – Your activism makes a difference.

SUBJECT LINE: SUPPORT EITC AND CHILD CARE FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS
INTRO AND SIGNATURE: Your name

LETTER NO. 1
May 13, 2021
To: Senator Sarlo, Chair, Budget and Appropriations Committee (201 804 8118):
Sensarlo@njleg.org (mailto:Sensarlo@njleg.org)

I urge you to support 3 bills that provide expanded tax credits and child care to low and moderate income individuals and families.
These programs have proven effective tools in mitigating poverty, child poverty in particular, and promoting broader participation in the labor force.  They significantly boost paltry wages, assist struggling workers, and inject millions of dollars into the NJ economy.
Additionally, all avenues must be used to improve accessibility and applications for thousands of those who are eligible but remain  unsubscribed

Please Vote YES:

1)       S3428/A5345 – Expanding age eligibility for the NJ Earned Income Tax Credit  to 18 (including those without children) would benefit approximately 137,199 additional young NJ workers and add an estimated $17 million to state and local economies.
2)        S2194/A4229 – Expanding NJ EITC to include qualifying  taxpayers using Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) would assist approximately 54,000 households and approximately  686,000 in NJ.  This group proved its mettle during the pandemic by filling essential and frontline roles. They are taxpayers with little recognition or support, and are not eligible for the Federal EITC nor other assistance.  In addition to social and economic injustices reflected in this exclusion, NJ is also losing a boon to its economy.  EITC claimants typically spend most credits immediately and locally to meet immediate needs: transportation, utility bills, and household supplies.
3)       S3104/A4946 – Allowing gross income tax credits for certain education and child care expenditures engaged in virtual or remote instruction due to pandemic can only expand educational options for hard hit families.

NJ has consistently expanded the EITC and provided specific educational and food support during the pandemic.
We urge you to continue this pattern by supporting these bills to increase EITC access/eligibility, reinforce struggling workers – especially taxpayers receiving no benefits to date – and to constructively impact our economy and pandemic recovery.
Thank you for your attention and action,

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME