"Save the EMT Training Fund" Campaign

Updated 6/1/09
For the time being, it looks like our efforts have helped save this money.  The Department of Health has worked closely with the Governor's office, and has secured the money that we all vitally need. 

Thank you all for your help and support!

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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.  

It is vital, that in times like these, we as EMT's band together to fight poor decisions by the Governor.  At the same time, the people we treat every single day will be affected by this horrible decision, and those people are you.  Please help us, as well as yourself, by filling out one of the letters below and sending it directly to Governor Corzine himself.  One voice can be supported by many.

Here are how our Senators and Assemblymen are voting. (Link)

Below you will find links to three different documents.  Please, open these documents (Microsoft Word format) add your name to them and send them directly to Governor Corzine.  The hope is that when he sees the support Volunteer EMT's are getting, he will rethink his idea.

EMT Letter               Organization Letter           Citizen Letter

    

Mail to: Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

People to call

Use these phone numbers in your calling campaign:

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

Your support will be greatly appreciated in this matter, not only be the EMT's that use the funds, but by the patients we treat every day of the week!