newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Bruce Springsteen spends his share of time in Los Angeles these days, but it’s good to see that he’s keeping up with New Jersey news.

Springsteen wrote a letter to the editor in support of a recent Asbury Park Press story titled "As poverty rises, cuts target aid". 

The article Springsteen references mentions that anti-poverty groups have spoken out about parts of Governor Christie’s budget proposal they want reversed before a plan is adopted.

A restructuring of general assistance included in the budget would cut benefits to people in the program by 7 percent to 11 percent, said Herb Levine, executive director of the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness.

Michael Drewniak, Christie's press secretary, opted not to comment on Springsteen's criticism.

Springsteen writes that the paper has shone some light on anti-poverty workers and analysts who have real information and actual facts about what is happening below the poverty line.

According to the article, Governor Christie vetoed legislation that would have temporarily raised taxes on income exceeding $1 million. Senior policy analyst Raymond Castro of New Jersey Policy Perspective was also critical of planned cuts in business taxes worth nearly $200 million in the first year, growing to $690 million by the fifth year.

Springsteen concludes by saying the article shows that the cuts are eating away at the lower edges of the middle class, not just those already classified as in poverty, and are likely to continue to get worse over the next few years.

Springsteen has endorsed and played concerts for Democratic candidates in the past, including John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008. According to ABC News, he was particularly involved in the 1984 Presidential campaign, when the meaning of his song “Born in the U.S.A.” became something of a campaign issue.

The letter is signed: Bruce Springsteen, Colt’s Neck. His entire letter to the editor is found here.