TRENTON – Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, D-Hudson, who serves on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement regarding Governor Jon Corzine’s fiscal year 2009 budget address:

            “I commend Governor Corzine for taking courageous steps to address the State’s financial woes. I understand that crafting a budget that helps to reduce the spending, while also maintaining necessary programs is a difficult task.  Even harder still is coming up with a plan that has broad voter approval.

            “It’s no secret that the Fiscal Restructuring plan has received some opposition from tax payers, so we must continue to look at other alternatives that can be used to balance the budget.  At the end of the day, the wishes of our constituents must be honored, but we need them to trust that the State Legislature is doing its part to help maintain the programs they’ve come to rely upon, while making sure that State funds aren’t being tapped dry.

            “The Legislature has been presented with the Governor’s recommendations and now it’s time for the hard work to begin.  I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I am committed to putting in the long hours necessary to make sure that the fiscal year 2009 to a budget is both fiscally sound and responsible.”

###