10 ways the Trump budget would slam N.J. (and 1 way it would help)
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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President Donald Trump's first budget would shift $54 billion from domestic programs to the military, which means everything from Superfund site cleanups to transportation funding and grants to local programs could be on the chopping block.
All of this could have a big impact on New Jersey, which prompted Brian Murray, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, to stress: "The federal spending proposal is not a final budget. This is the beginning of a lengthy annual process ... As the process continues, the governor's office will work with New Jersey's state and federal representatives in reaffirming the state's priorities."
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) arrives at the Stanley Congregational Church to attend the memorial service for Leanna Brown, the first Republican woman elected to the state Senate. (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
New Jersey's congressional delegation is well-positioned to fight the budget cuts. The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. which writes the government spending bills, is Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) and he promised to take a close look at what Trump proposed.
"As directed under the Constitution, Congress has the power of the purse," Frelinghuysen said.
Here's what's at stake for New Jersey.
An Amtrak train heads for Newark.
Gateway Tunnel
Trump's budget could hinder federal support for the $20 billion plan to build two new train tunnels under the Hudson River that would allow Amtrak to close and repair the existing tubes damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
That would be bad for New Jersey commuters and its economy, officials say.
"It is irresponsible for a president who claims to support investing in transportation infrastructure to propose cuts that would leave one of the nation's most desperately needed infrastructure projects into question," said Rep. Albio Sires (D-8th Dist.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Block grants to help N.J. cities
The budget would eliminate the annual grants that go to urban areas for housing and economic development. New Jersey and its localities received $81 million in community development block grant funding last year.
A New Jersey Superfund site. (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
All those N.J. Superfund sites
New Jersey has more Superfund sites than any other state, and the budget would cut federal funding for the program by $330 million to $762 million. The Trump administration said the savings would come through reducing administrative costs and would make it a priority to use settlement funds to clean up the sites.
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th Dist.), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the reductions would "drastically delay long overdue cleanups around the nation and in my home state of New Jersey."
The Trump budget would eliminate $190 million in Homeland Security funding to help map flood zones, forcing those who have federal flood insurance to pick up the cost, said Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.).
That's an issue Congress will look at it as it looks to renew the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program.
"South Jersey families and businesses are still recovering from Superstorm Sandy, appealing unjustified FEMA flood maps and claims decisions, and adjusting to a regional economy not fully recovered – we cannot and should not ask them to take on more of a financial burden," LoBiondo said.
Big Bird and friends respond to a hurricane. (2004 Sesame Workshop)
Hitting Big Bird -- and NJTV?
The president proposed eliminating the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides federal funds to public television and radio stations, including NJTV. In 2014, CPB allocated $2.7 million for public broadcasting in the state.
Heating assistance
As part of his effort to cut the Department of Health and Human Services budget by 18 percent, Trump proposed eliminating the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, known by its initials as LIHEAP, which helps poorer Americans, including those in the Northeast, help pay for their winter heating bills.
The program helps nearly 300,000 homes of elderly and disabled people in New Jersey.
Both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities would be eliminated. The arts agency provided $1.1 million in grants to New Jersey recipients in 2014, including the state Council on the Arts, local theater and festivals.
Former Miss America Kate Shindle, who grew up in Moorestown and is now the president of the Actors' Equity Association, said arts funding extends into the community, creating jobs and spurring economic development as restaurants, hotels and other businesses spring up to cater to visitors attending performances.
"The arts are an economic engine for growth and jobs," she told reporters at the National Press Club after Trump's budget was released.
'TIGER' transportation grants that helped Camden last year
TIGER stands for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, and Trump proposed doing away with that U.S. Transportation Department program, saying the projects it funded could seek federal money under existing formulas.
In July, the city of Camden received $16.2 million under that program to rebuild a network of streets north of the Ben Franklin Bridge in an attempt to enhance economic development in the area. Another $16 million went for relocating utilities and building a staging area for construction materials in preparation for replacing the Portal Bridge.
Aerial view of flooding and oceanfront damage on Ocean Avenue in Belmar after Hurricane Sandy. (Andrew Mills | The Star-Ledger)
Less money to prepare for another storm like Sandy
The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers grants to state and localities to take steps in advance of a major storm in order to reduce potential damage and shrink the cost of rebuilding. Trump proposed doing away with the program.
"Preparing for these sort of natural disasters can greatly reduce costs associated with recovery and bring down government spending," said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th Dist.) "That is, unless this administration is planning to leave storm-ravaged towns in the lurch as well."
Hudson-Bergen light rail
Besides the Gateway project, cuts in federal transportation funding could jeopardize the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension to Bergen County. Instead of having the federal government cover half of the estimated $800 million cost, the state might have to bear the entire expense itself out of the Transportation Trust Fund.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst hosts its 2016 Power in the Pines Open House and Air Show. (Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
One way it could help: Protecting N.J.'s joint military base
Trump's call for $54 billion in additional defense spending means that the new administration will not look for a new round of military base closings. That would be good news for Joint Base McGiuire-Dix-Lakehurst. But over all, New Jersey won't benefit too much by the extra Pentagon funding because the state received just 1.6 percent of defense spending in 2014. The state ranked 36th in defense spending as a percentage of the state's gross domestic product, a measure of economic activity.
Read more about Trump's budget and N.J.
Trump budget could kill vital N.J. transportation project
Trump EPA cuts could have big impact in N.J.
7 ways Trump budget could affect education in N.J.
Trump budget: Big base wins, Big Bird loses
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
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