WELCOME TO NJCA!

• About NJCA
• Keep the Promise of Social Security Campaign – VICTORY! NJ Senate Passes Resolution Against Bush Social Security Privatization Scheme
• Join Our Action Network – NEW ACTIONS! Tell your NJ Assemblyperson to support the expansion of the NJ FamilyCare Program
• Donate to NJCA – any amount is welcome! (this one link opens a new window)
• Victories! – VICTORY! NJ Senate Votes to Expand NJ FamiliyCare
• Resources
• Upcoming Events – Americans With Disabilities Act Rally, July 26 in Trenton
• Employment & Volunteer Opportunities – NEW! Several New Openings

Keep the Promise of Social Security Campaign Social Security is a promise from one generation to another, guaranteeing the security of stable retirement income. Contrary to Bush administration claims, Social Security is not in crisis. With minor adjustments, its 70-year legacy can continue well into the century. However, the Bush administration wants to privatize part of the system which would result in benefit cuts of up to 45% and $1–$2 trillion dollars of borrowing on top of already astronomical deficits. Tell your representatives not to support any proposal that privatizes Social Security, calls for cuts in benefits, or increases the national debt. Learn more about our Keep the Promise of Social Security Campaign, and... VICTORY! NJ Senate Passed SR 94, the state resolution against the Bush plans to privatize Social Security, cut benefits, and borrow trillions of dollars! NJCA would like to thank Senator Barbara Buono (D-18) for her steadfast support of this issue! TAKE ACTION! Join our Keep the Promise of Social Security Campaign to receive Action Alerts on upcoming events like town hall meetings, protests, and more. The time to ACT is NOW!!

Join Our Action Network – We Need YOUR Voice!

NJCA effectively works to make accountable our elected officials and the major corporations (banks, hospitals, HMO's, polluters, insurers and utilities) that determine the quality of life for working families. Our victories can only be won with your support! (Each of the links below will open in a new window.)

• NEW ACTIONS! – Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Conversion and Stop Medicaid Co-Pays!
• TAKE ACTION! – see all of NJCA's ACTION ITEMS!
• Join NJCA's Action Network – sign up for free regular e-mail updates on issues that matter to you
• DONATIONS are welcome in any amount
• Tell a friend about NJCA

VICTORIES!

NJ Senate Votes to Expand FamilyCare Program
VICTORY! On June 23, 2005, the New Jersey state Senate passed S.2236, which will expand the NJ FamilyCare program to offer health insurance to double the current FamilyCare enrollment of 203,000 children and adults over the next three years. The bill also simplifies the enrollment process and would again allow new sign-ups by adults. The Assembly version of the bill (A.3724) will now go into the Budget and Appropriations Committees before going to the full Assembly for a full vote. TAKE ACTION! CALL YOUR ASSEMBLYPERSON AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF FAMILYCARE! Click here to find your Assemblyperson. Learn more at NJCA's Qualiy Health Care for All Campaign.

NJ Passes Minimum Wage Increase
VICTORY! On April 12, 2005, Gov. Richard Codey signed legislation to increase the state's minimum wage for the first time in six years, taking the rate to $6.15 an hour in October 2005 and $7.15 in October 2006, up from $5.15 an hour. Learn more about NJCA's Fair Minimum Wage Campaign.

NJ Passes Property Tax Relief
VICTORY! On June 21, 2004 the NJ senate and assembly passed the property tax relief plan long supported by NJCA. Read more about it at our Fair Tax Campaign and Fairness Alliance page, where you will find newspaper articles detailing this important victory for NJ residents!

NJ Passes Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project
VICTORY! On June 10, 2004 the NJ legislature passed the New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Project, crafted with the help of NJCA. Read more about it at our Campaign Finance Reform page, including a Fact Sheet: New Jersey Fair and Clean Elections Pilot Program.

NJCA Gets Results!
Read about NJCA's highlights and victories in our Year in Review annual reports, from 1999 to the present, linked from our Leadership & History page.

Resources

NJCA in the News
Read newspaper articles featuring NJCA, organized by our Issue Campaigns.

NEW! "Hidden Auto Finance Markup: The Costs and Impact on New Jersey Consumers" Report
New Jersey car buyers have been charged tens of millions of dollars in undisclosed "finance markup charges" when they have financed their cars at automobile dealerships, according to findings highlighted in a new report released by NJCA. This nation-wide markup practice often targets African-Americans and Hispanics. NJCA has called on New Jersey State Attorney General Peter Harvey to investigate and propose corrective action to this unfair and discriminatory practice. Read our press release, the full report "Hidden Auto Finance Markup: The Costs and Impact on New Jersey Consumers," and a summary sheet of the report. This is part of our Fair Banking and Community Reinvestment Campaign.

"Health Care Paybacks" Report
Health care related interests have poured more than $163 million into federal political campaigns and party coffers since 1999 and have reaped huge policy paybacks that are harmful to ordinary people's health, according to a new investigative report by Public Campaign, PAYBACKS: How the White House and Congress are Neglecting Our Health Care Because of Their Corporate Contributors. Both our Campaign Finance Reform page and Quality Health Care for All Campaign page have links to the full report, an executive summary, and additional resources.

Report Assesses State & Federal Sick Leave Policies
A new study entitled Get Well Soon: Americans Can't Afford to be Sick, by the National Partnership for Women & Families and New Jersey Citizen Action, finds that not a single state is doing enough to guarantee paid sick leave to employees. Almost 59 million Americans, including almost half the private sector, do not even have one paid sick day. At our Paid Familiy Leave Campaign, learn more about the report (and download a complete copy), the status of paid sick leave in New Jersey, and related issues.

"Recapturing The Windfall: Fairness Alliance State Income Tax Plan"
Read the latest version of the plan at our Fair Tax Campaign & Fairness Alliance page.

Insurance Redlining: Is it Happening in Your Neighborhood?
NJCA studied the rates and accessibility of homeowners insurance for low and moderate-income homebuyers and urban residents. See who is paying more – and in which cities you are less likely to find an insurance agent – in our study, "Insurance Redlining: Is it Happening in Your Neighborhood?" at our Fair Banking and Community Reinvestment Campaign.

"The Color of Money in New Jersey: Campaign Finance, Race and Civil Rights in the Garden State"
Read this special report at our Campaign Finance Reform page, which also includes information on our Fair And Clean Elections campaign (with a Support Statement and a petition which you can sign).

"The Drug Company Habit: A Study of Pharmaceutical Industry Campaign Contributions and Policy Influence"
Learn about this special report at our Quality Health Care for All Campaign.

NEW! NJCA's Loan Counseling Service Expands – Apply Online
Our Loan Counseling Service has further updated its Loan Counseling Service Application so that it encompasses all four types of applications: (1) general Loan Counseling Service, (2) Reverse Mortgage Counseling Service, (3) Loan Crisis Counseling Service (for defaulted mortgages, foreclosures, crisis and predatory workout counseling), and (4) Home Improvement Counseling Service. Our new form can be filled out and submitted entirely online; or you can print it and then mail or fax the completed form to us. At this time, the Spanish-language application forms are still handled in the traditional manner; full instructions are included with each form.

UPDATED! Emergency Housing Needs for New Jersey
Although NJCA does not provide homelessness prevention services, you may want to contact an agency that offers Family Shelter, Transitional Housing and/or Homelessness Counseling. We offer a list arranged by county of all state agencies for Emergency Housing Needs.

Americans With Disabilities Act – Rally on July 26 in Trenton

Rally and March for the Americans With Disabilities Act
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Trenton, New Jersey
Assemble at the New Jersey State House, 125 West State St., at 11 a.m. for march to Mill Hill Park,
South Broad & Front Streets

The "ADA: Forgotten at 15" funeral procession will begin at the State House, 125 West State St. in Trenton, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26th. We'll march to Mill Hill Park where we intend to have speakers and mourn the fact that 15 years after The Americans With Disabilities Act was passed, People With Disabilities are still denied access, not only to public buildings, but also to healthcare, housing, transportation, education, employment and everything else that able-bodied persons take for granted. This is a matter of denial of our basic civil rights. Join us in sending a very loud, very clear message that we will not allow any person to be deemed 'expendable'. We welcome all who would like to participate to bring as many people as they can and display their organization's banners and march in solidarity with Monday Morning Project. We SHALL Overcome!! Download this event's flyer (40K PDF).

Employment & Volunteer Opportunities

• New! Legislative / Political Director (full details)
  NJCA represents 60,000 family members and 100 labor, tenant, senior, environmental, fair housing, civil rights, women's, neighborhood and faith-based organizations.
  
  
• New! Regional Organizer / Activist (North Jersey) (full details)
  Organize low- and moderate-income citizens, members, affiliated organizations, and allies, in issue-based campaigns for social and economic justice.
  
  
• New! Part-Time Regional Organizer / Activist (North Jersey) (full details)
  A part-time (20 hours per week) North Jersey Organizer.
  
  
• New! Community Educator (North Jersey) (full details)
  Staff will reach out to targeted constituencies to educate consumers about energy and telecommunications issues, financial literacy and lead poisoning prevention.
  
  
• Updated! Event Coordinator (Full-Time) (full details)
  Working under the direction of the Financial Education Project Director, the Event Coordinator will plan and implement A Home of Her Own: Women's Housing Initiative, NJCA Small Business Forum, and other NJCA media and organizational events.
  
  
• Community Field Canvasser (full details)
  Build community and statewide organizations that are educating and organizing average people to get involved in political change.
  
  
• Updated! College Interns (Volunteers) (full details)
  Assist with advocacy and education campaigns, including voter participation, fair banking & housing, quality health care, campaign finance reform and environmental justice. Gain valuable non-partisan political experience and policy organizing skills with us.