HELP NEW JERSEY's EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDERS
"Save the EMT Training Fund" Campaign
On April 23, 2009 New Jersey Governor Corzine announced he would raid the EMT Training Fund for $4,000,000 to reallocate the funds to the general treasury in an attempt to relieve the budget crisis. This fund provides training monies for Volunteer EMT's and is a critical preparedness and retention tool for Volunteer EMS agencies.
The Problem
The EMT Fund does not have this type of surplus. This action would leave $400,000 in the EMT Training Fund as of 7/1/09. As-is with current expenditure, the EMT Fund spends $1,000,000 more than it takes in. This action would in effect discontinue the training for NJ Volunteer EMTs and force individuals (during a recession) to pay for their own training to donate their time to their communities. It's expected that many will not be able to afford it and will have to be replaced by paid providers (who cost much more than the training expenses the state is saving).
Why it's in particularly poor taste
The EMT fund is not tax money. It's a public trust created by legislature. Every time there is a moving violation in New Jersey, $0.50 is collected and placed into this fund to train EMT's. Raiding this fund to finance state spending is awful - if we can't trust the government with our Fund, who can we trust?
The Plan
The NJEMSEA has a plan, but it needs your help. We plan to appeal to the Governor's office, enlist other legislators' support, and mount a public action campaign to bring public attention to the issue.
What you can do
EMT's
1. Send us an email with your name, your organization and a
phone number to president@njemsea.org
so we can keep you informed of the game plan.
2. Get your family and friends to make calls on your behalf. We need to keep the
pressure up. If you call, plus 4 of your friends and family call, we can
give our legislators an idea of the clout NJ EMS really has.
3. Print and sign the INDIVIDUAL
letter below and fax it to the NJEMSEA legislative coordinator at 908-241-1433
or email the signed copy to president@njemsea.org. We will fax it to the relevant state officials.
4. Call the following state representatives:
Governor Corzine's Office:
609-292-6000
Tell his staff you DO NOT support the raiding of $4M from the EMT Training Fund.
Tell them that you urge the Governor to replace those funds immediately.
Tell them this matter will majorly affect how you vote on this year's Governor's
race (he's up for reelection).
State Senators:
Call your state senators and assemblymen. Even though they may not have
anything direct to do with the raid of the Training Fund, getting their support
may get them to express their concerns to the Governor. We need their
help!
A list of state representatives can be found here: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/abcroster.asp
EMT INDIVIDUAL LETTER: CLICK HERE
Concerned Citizens
Your volunteer EMT's efforts help keep your taxes low and
help your community. If you support NJ's EMT's in this effort, make sure your
representatives know that.
1. Send us an email with your name, your organization and a phone number to president@njemsea.org
so we can keep you informed of the game plan.
2. Get your family and friends to make calls on your behalf. We need to keep the
pressure up. If you call, plus 4 of your friends and family call, we can
give our legislators an idea of the clout NJ EMS really has.
3. Print and sign the INDIVIDUAL
letter below and fax it to the NJEMSEA legislative coordinator at 908-241-1433
or email the signed copy to president@njemsea.org. We will fax it to the relevant state officials.
4. Call the following state representatives:
Governor Corzine's Office:
609-292-6000
Tell his staff you DO NOT support the raiding of $4M from the EMT Training Fund.
Tell them that you urge the Governor to replace those funds immediately.
Tell them this matter will majorly affect how you vote on this year's Governor's
race (he's up for reelection).
State Senators:
Call your state senators and assemblymen. Even though they may not have
anything direct to do with the raid of the Training Fund, getting their support
may get them to express their concerns to the Governor. We need their
help!
A list of state representatives can be found here: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/abcroster.asp
CONCERNED CITIZEN LETTER: CLICK HERE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST - WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN SAVE NJ's EMT TRAINING FUND!