Save the NJ EMT Training fund

[jbullfrog09]

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 EMTs 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 the legislature. Every time there is a moving violation in New Jersey, $0.50 is collected and placed into this fund to train EMTs. 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 EMTs 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.

For information on helping our follow this link

http://www.njemsea.org/helpNJEMTs.htm

Please follow through the site and download the letter and send to Governor Corzine

With the voices of many, there may be a chance that we can save our training fund.

[akflightmedic]

Awesome!

Finally a bump in the road which may start to limit the dominating NJ volunteer system and force towns to hire full time paid providers, thereby creating more jobs and ensuring guaranteed coverage 24/7 for the citizens and also moving EMS forward throughout the state.

What was the problem again?

I wish I could find organizations that would pay for my personal hobby and all it's associated costs year after year.

[JPINFV]

Well, to play devil's advocate, the National Guard pays people to play weekend warrior (outside of war time) and the CAP pays people to play with airplanes.

[Dustdevil]

Well, to play devil's advocate, the National Guard pays people to play weekend warrior (outside of war time) and the CAP pays people to play with airplanes.

"Pays people" is the key term there.

[afib]

gee let take a severly antiqued system and make it friggen obsolete....it was good in its time but this nonsense of hospital based medics....................say ahhhh buh bye!

my .02 cents worth

[JakeEMTP]

Awesome!

Finally a bump in the road which may start to limit the dominating NJ volunteer system and force towns to hire full time paid providers, thereby creating more jobs and ensuring guaranteed coverage 24/7 for the citizens and also moving EMS forward throughout the state.

What was the problem again?

Exactly.

You should be looking at this as a wonderful opportunity to have ALS coverage for all. An antiquated system that needs a major overhaul, and the State just did it for you, and there was much rejoicing.

[spenac]

LOL I didn't think vollys cared about money?