By Matthew Fleishman, Yardley News Edito

“If they want to start a war, we’ll give them a war they won’t forget.”

That was the message Pennsylvania State Rep. John Galloway (D-140) had for the members of New Jersey legislature that are trying to force New Jersey state employees to move from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, or else quit their jobs.

State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-31) is leading a group of Pennsylvania legislators, including Galloway and State Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-10), in their fight against bills S-1730 and A-2478, brought by New Jersey State Sens. Donald Norcross and Kevin O’Toole, along with New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, which would require all employees of government and public institutions in New Jersey to live in-state.

On Thursday, April 22, Santarsiero and Galloway went to the New Jersey Statehouse and presented more than 1,000 signatures and e-mail testimonials from Pennsylvania residents, asking the New Jersey legislators to reconsider their proposal.

“Essentially what it would do is force people to choose between their jobs and their homes, and that is wrong,” said Santarsiero. “Now I know that New Jersey is facing some tough economic times…but it’s unfair when families have made decisions, based on one set of expectations, to suddenly change them mid-stream. And that is essentially what these bills would do.

“It would force families to uproot from the communities in Pennsylvania in which they live,” continued Santarsiero. “In many cases it would force families to take their children out of school districts and out of neighborhoods where they have their friends. It would force people to sell their homes at the bottom of the market, taking a huge economic loss.”

Galloway added that the Pennsylvania legislators are just looking for a compromise on the issue.

“Steve and I and others feel that this initiative is like declaring war on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Galloway. “We have tools at our disposal. We came here civilly. We don’t want to start a fight with the State of New Jersey. We came here today to compromise.

“We’ve talked to people who have been here literally for decades,” continued Galloway. “I talked to somebody today who’s been here for 30 years. Worked for this government faithfully for 30 years and they are just going to get thrown out on the street. For what? To make a political point?

“We want to negotiate,” said Galloway. “We’ve brought forth common-sense compromise to this issue but if this New Jersey legislature does not want to compromise, there are things that we can do…If they want to start a war, we’ll give them a war they won’t forget.”

Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) could not attend the gathering at the New Jersey Statehouse, but he firmly supports the efforts of Santarsiero and the other Pennsylvania legislators.

“I understand New Jersey’s need to address their budget issues, but it would be unfair to do so at the expense of Bucks County residents who planned their lives around a certain set of expectations,” said Murphy. “At the very least, the legislature should allow current Pennsylvania residents to remain employed so that families in my district are not uprooted.”

Yardley Borough Mayor Matt Sinberg spoke out on the devastation this proposal would have on the Yardley community, which sits just across the river from Trenton, and the Bucks County housing market.

“We’re going to lose maybe over 100 families, just in the borough, maybe 200 families,” said Sinberg. “I have dozens and dozens of friends who would be impacted by this and I can’t even imagine what the impact would be on the real estate market when 1,500 or 2,000 houses go up for sale in Yardley, Lower Makefield, Newtown and Upper Makefield.”

As part of the presentation, Santarsiero spoke about the personal stories and the people who would be uprooted by the proposed legislation.

Below are excerpts from those e-mails:

“I’m a school district employee. Why should I move? I’ve lived in Bucks County for 18 years. It’s never affected my job,” wrote Sharon Aungpe of Lower Makefield.

“I work for New Jersey DEP and would need to retire, move or quit. I know at least four other people on my street (Ferry Road) that also work for New Jersey state government,” wrote Alan Dresser of Lower Makefield.

“With all due respect, I can understand if this becomes a requirement for future employees, but how can you do this to people who have dedicated their entire career to the state,” wrote Joanne Ford of Upper Makefield.

“I reside in Bucks County, and to move my family at this point would cause me a great personal and financial loss,” wrote Elisa Adams of Solebury Township.

“I live right over the bridge in Morrisville and have always driven over the bridge to work. Uprooting my family, taking my kids from their only known home and school would devastate them, as well as my home and church community,” wrote Jennifer Ayling.

“I would have to leave a job that I have dedicated 15 years of my life to. Not only do I work in New Jersey, but I spend a significant amount of money in New Jersey. That is something that I would stop if they did not want to be ‘neighborly,’” wrote Leonard Herman of Lower Makefield.

When the New Jersey legislature returns in May, Santarsiero hopes that they will do away with these bills.

“Our proposal is to simply ask the New Jersey legislature, if you pass this requirement, at least grandfather in the current employees,” said Santarsiero.

After the press conference by Santarsiero and Galloway, New Jersey State Sen. Norcross issued the following statement, saying that he would be open to discussing a “grandfather” clause in his bill.

“Let me be clear: This legislation has nothing to do with border wars; it is about fairness to New Jersey taxpayers,” said Norcross. “While I respect the opinions of my fellow legislators, my first duty is to the working men and women of New Jersey that elected me to office.

“That being said, we are currently working on changes to the legislation,” continued Norcross. “I’ve had preliminary discussions with stakeholders and am open to talking further about amendments, including a grandfather provision for current employees, that could make this a better bill.”