Our vision for New Jersey is a place of opportunity and prosperity for everyone. For that to happen, progress must be made in a wide range of areas, guided by an overriding need to invest in the future of all New Jerseyans. Our issues agenda aims to increase participation in the democratic process and improve the quality of life for all people in the Garden State.

Fair Taxes and Good Services. A budget balanced the right way -- by making sure corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, not by cutting essential services. No more raising local property taxes to make up for inadequate state income and business taxes. Reliable public services and smart public investment. For more information, visit the website of the Better Choices Budget Campaign (http://www.betterchoicesfornj.org).

Health Care for All. Guaranteed, affordable health care with a choice of providers for every New Jerseyan.  Good hospitals in all our communities. Costs shared fairly with business and the state -- employees shouldn't bear the whole burden. And use our purchasing power to force the pharmaceutical companies to keep prescription drugs affordable.

Honest, Accountable Government. An end to "pay to play" at all levels of government. Stopping all dual elected office holding, and creation of standards to address those who combine elected and non-elected public positions to avoid conflicts of interest. Clean, publicly-financed elections for all offices.

Great Schools from Pre-K through College. Excellent, well-funded schools in every district. Public pre-K for all our children. High-quality, affordable colleges and universities and equal tuition rates for immigrants who grow up in New Jersey.

Living-Wage Jobs. Index the minimum wage so it increases with the cost of living. Real economic development programs that create good jobs instead of enriching political insiders.

Equal Rights. Inclusive policies that reflect the diversity that makes New Jersey strong. Increasing immigrants' access to the full range of public services, and treating all people with the respect and dignity they deserve. The right to marry for all New Jerseyans, with the full social and economic benefits that come with it. Updating criminal justice policies with reasonable approaches to more effectively reduce crime.

Clean Air and Water. Public investment in clean energy and green buildings. Controls on polluting diesel emissions. Remediation of former industrial "brownfields" so they can be redeveloped. And reforms to eminent domain to protect homeowners and small businesses.

That's the program of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. Together, we can make it happen.