State Sen. Turner: NJ must collect what's owed

New Jersey lawmakers continue to argue over the budget even though the state is currently owed more than $2 billion. New Jersey drivers owe more than $1.2 billion in surcharges from speeding tickets.

News 12 Staff

May 13, 2008, 11:27 PM

Updated 6,090 days ago

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New Jersey lawmakers continue to argue over the budget even though the state is currently owed more than $2 billion. New Jersey drivers owe more than $1.2 billion in surcharges from speeding tickets. The state is also owed another $1.1 billion in back taxes. Many argue that money could go a long way in solving the budget problems, if the state could just collect it. Senator Shirley Turner (D-15th District) wants to know why the state is not getting the money it?s owed. ?That's almost $3 billion that people owe us and we should be doing more to collect that money aggressively, especially at a time when we're cutting vital programs,? says Turner. State Treasurer David Rousseau responded by saying, ?You're not going to get blood out of a stone. This is money from very low-income people. They're actually making the decision to drive illegally rather than pay that money.?Turner says she?s not convinced. She says people who owe the state should be made to pay something, even if it?s not the full amount.Rousseau, however, argues an amnesty program would send the wrong message to those who pay what they actually owe.