Tax Cuts

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee is a proud sponsor of the circuit breaker property tax act that passed the Assembly on August 19th. This legislation caps property taxes, giving homeowners a break while protecting the quality of education our children receive. Ellen believes that there is no one-size-fits all solution to protecting Rockland's taxpayers, so she continues to press for a variety of tax cuts and efficiency measures. By increasing state aid to all of the schools in the 95th Assembly District, Ellen has helped keep taxes down. During her two years in the Assembly Ellen has brought over $16 million to schools in the Assembly District over what the Governor proposed in his budget.

Energy Costs

Ellen supports a windfall profits tax on oil companies to expand HEAP benefits. Ellen backs the strong energy package the Assembly passed because it would save fuel costs for consumers both at the pump and in their homes. Ellen wants to see real incentives for the use of renewable energy by homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits.

Economy

Ellen Jaffee was the first Assemblymember to call for hearings on the sub-prime lending crisis and had the first bill in the Assembly (May 2007) calling for a foreclosure moratorium. Ellen believes that allowing families that were misled by predatory lenders to remain in their homes would stabilize the real estate market and our communities. This mortgage crisis has now caused a tremendous shortfall to New York State.

Ellen is committed to legislation that encourages employment in Rockland and throughout the state. She has repeatedly supported programs that provide Rockland's youth with job-training and has allotted most of her discretionary funds for children and youth; many of these programs include job training. Ellen successfully spoke out against cuts to BOCES.

Water Resources

Ellen Jaffee has been a leader to protect our water quality since her days as a county legislator. With Rockland County being one of the few areas in the state where water supply is limited, Ellen has called for more aggressive statewide water conservation incentives. She believes all options should be fully explored before any drastic desalination plan could proceed.

Climate Change

Ellen supports aggressive laws that will slow climate change. She calls for more incentives to encourage homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, and government to opt for renewable energy in new construction and renovations.

Environment

Ellen is one of Rockland's fiercest advocates for clean air and water. She is committed to environmental justice. During her first term, Ellen got NJ Transit to reduce train idling in a Spring Valley community where residents are plagued by asthma. She supports residents in their battles for a cleaner, safer environment.

Indian Point

Ellen believes that there is no place for a nuclear power plant in the most densely populated region of the country. Every evacuation plan has been rejected by three out of the four counties in the emergency planning zone.

Transportation; Tappan Zee Bridge

Ellen wants a regional transportation summit to set realistic goals to get county commuters onto mass transit. With the multi-billion dollar TZB project in her district's future, Ellen's priority is the safety of everyone who travels across the bridge. She supports NJ Transit's ARC rail alternative which will give Rockland riders a no-transfer ride to Penn Station by 2016 without destroying Rockland's communities.

Reproductive rights and health care

Ellen is a steadfast supporter of a woman's right to make her own health care decisions. and considers all choices about how families define themselves to be private matters. Ellen is a vigorous supporter of the rights of sexual assault victims and abuse survivors. Her groundbreaking law gives sexual assault victims immediate access to drugs that prevent HIV/AIDS. It passed both houses unanimously.

Healthcare

As a member of the Assembly, Ellen voted for the expansion of Child Health Plus to provide health insurance to every child in Rockland County. She backed the Assembly plan to expand EPIC, which provides drugs for seniors at affordable rates. She supports strong laws to prevent Medicaid fraud and believes health insurance and drug companies must be held accountable for out-of-control health costs.

Education

As a retired teacher, Ellen knows what a difference a high quality education can make in a child's life. Since she took office, she has brought approximately $16 million dollars to schools in the 95th Assembly District, an amount far greater than what the Governor had proposed. Ellen got 6 out of 7 school districts in the 95th District removed from 'save harmless,' a funding category that limits the amount of state aid school districts can receive.

Seniors

Ellen has met with every senior group in the district so she can respond to their needs and concerns in Albany. She has sponsored laws making it a crime to abuse and scam seniors, and to expand EPIC coverage. Ellen wants to see more access to transportation for seniors and programs that make it possible for seniors to remain at home as long as possible.

Election and Campaign Finance Reform

Ellen voted for the Assembly bill that would cap campaign contributions and limit the amount special interest groups can contribute.

Social Justice

Ellen has voted to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws. She supported the Assembly proposal to close four under-populated prisons. She supports employment training that offers good careers with a living wage as a deterrent to crime.