Reference no: EM131629490
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WASHINGTON -- New Jersey, which gets less in federal funding on a per person basis than most other states, would see its aid from Washington shrink by 9.4 percent under President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget.
That's higher than the average cut of 9.1 percent and puts New Jersey 20th among the 50 states in the loss of federal funds, according to the study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. At either extreme, Maine would be hardest hit with a 14.7 percent decline while Alaska's funding would decrease by 3.5 percent.
Trump proposed cutting 9.1 percent of the $145 billion that the federal government grants to states and localities in his spending plan for the 12 months beginning Oct. 1.
"Elected officials and the residents will actually have to decide what their priorities are and how they want to respond," said Anne Stauffer, director of Pew's fiscal federalism project.
The discrepancy among the states occurred because of the programs on Trump's chopping block.
For example, New Jersey loses as much money as it does because the president proposed eliminating Community Development Block Grants that go to urban areas for housing and economic development, and the Low Income Home Heating Assistance Program, which helps poorer residents pay their home heating bills.
Should the state try to make up the cuts itself, other Trump proposals would make it harder to do so.
His tax plan would eliminate the federal deduction for state and local taxes, which disproportionally hurts New Jersey.
"When you add in some of Trump's proposed tax changes, it is pretty clear New Jersey could be in a world of hurt," said Matthew Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall University. "Citizens experience the whole package."
The one advantage New Jersey has in fighting the proposed budget cuts: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) chairs the House Appropriations Committee, which writes the government spending bills.
"The pressure is on the New Jersey delegation to fight for every penny," Hale said. "Congressman Frelinghuysen especially has a leadership role to play in protecting New Jersey from Trump."