S
enator Dawn Addiego (R-8) commended the inclusion of $200,000 in the approved FY 2015 New Jersey budget to protect and grow the state’s military installations in the likely event of another round of federal base realignments and closures.
“This was an extremely tough budget year, and some items in the budget that the legislature approved were reduced or eliminated by Governor Christie using his line item veto power,” Addiego said. “The fact that this funding has remained in the budget should serve as proof to anyone watching that New Jersey will be prepared to fight for the future of our military bases.”
According to a Rutgers University study, the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is the state’s second largest employer, providing 40,000 military and civilian jobs and contributing $7 billion each year to the state economy. In addition, the joint base supports more than 65,000 off-base jobs.
“I was proud to add my name in support of the resolution to include funding in the state budget to help protect New Jersey’s military bases,” Addiego said. “Only by working together and putting partisanship aside will we be able to prepare a coordinated opposition against any potential efforts to close our area bases.”
