EMTs tell Corzine: Don't take our training money

50-plus rigs gather on Green to protest $4M transfer

By Rob Jennings

Daily Record

May 7, 2009

MORRISTOWN -- More than 50 ambulances parked around the Green on Wednesday as volunteers arrived to protest Gov. Jon S. Corzine's plan to transfer $4 million from the state Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund into the general budget. Advertisement

While paramedics spoke mostly of the training fund's importance, two Republican state lawmakers who took the podium at 7 p.m. directly slammed the Democratic governor and accused him of ingratitude in light of his near-fatal 2007 car crash.

"This is a governor who owes his life to well-trained emergency personnel. One would think he would have more appreciation for the services you people provide," said state Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Mendham Township, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run against Corzine in November.

Created in 1992, the EMT Training Fund generates more than $2 million annually via a 50-cent surcharge on all moving violation tickets issued in New Jersey. The fund helps EMTs pay for the training needed to renew their licenses, for example, as well as diabetic emergency classes and other services pertaining to their work.

Corzine, in his 2009 budget plan, is seeking to use $4 million from the fund to offset other reductions amid the state's fiscal crisis. State treasury spokesman Tom Bell, reached for comment before the 7 p.m. rally, said the fund transfer would come from its surplus and not reduce any services offered to EMTs.

"In this economic climate and the issues with the budget, we knew that the surplus could be reallocated without any programming impact on the training," Bell said.

New Jersey State First Aid Council president Sue Van Orden argued that the budget shift ultimately would deplete the training fund. Other speakers expressed similar concerns.

"If the volunteers have to put up the money, that's a problem. If municipalities have to pay, that's a problem. It's bad all around," said former Roxbury Mayor Tim Smith, who was standing in for state Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Boonton.

In response, Corzine spokesman Robert Corrales said the governor "welcomes alternative ideas, as long as they are reasonable, responsible and conform to the core values he laid out."

"Gov. Corzine made his priorities clear when he proposed a budget that invests in education and health care for children. At the same time it protects the most vulnerable and those directly affected by this national economic crisis. The governor faced some tough choices, but he made the right decisions for working families in New Jersey," Corrales said.

Merkt, before the rally, offered a suggestion -- eliminating public financing for the gubernatorial campaign. Taking the $4 million from the EMT fund, Merkt charged, is "1 percent of 1 percent of a state budget. ... It doesn't solve anything."

Wednesday's rally was the first of three planned in opposition to Corzine's plan, which will culminate in Trenton with a rally on May 18.

"This is more of a rally, not a protest. Our purpose is to show support for the training fund," said Morristown Ambulance Squad Captain Dominick Sandelli, an organizer.

More than 200 volunteers showed up, including Morristown Ambulance Squad vice president Jennifer Grant. She said EMTs need to renew their certifications every three years.

Van Orden said restricting the full 50-cent surcharge on motor vehicle tickets for EMT training is a good investment.

"This is not taxpayer money. This is 50 cents on all moving violations," she said, adding "These are the people we go out and rescue."