RUIZ/COUTINHO/SPENCER: CHRISTIE REFUSAL OF $2 BILLION IN EDUCATION FUNDS WOULD SHATTER STATE’S EDUCATON SYSTEM, WORKFORCE & ECONOMY
|
For Immediate Release September 2nd, 2009 |
Contact : NJ Democratic State Committee |
(NEWARK) – Senator Teresa Ruiz, Assemblyman Albert Coutinho and Assemblywoman Grace Spencer today decried Bush Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for his rejection of billions of dollars from President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to assist the State in its recovery from the current global economic crisis.
Ruiz/Coutinho/Spencer said Christie’s political posturing would have cost New Jersey $2 billion in federal funding for education which prepares New Jersey children for a successful future and ensures the state has an educated workforce and prosperous economy.
“Governor Corzine has not been afraid to make tough choices and do what is best for our state,” said Ruiz (D-Newark). “He has led New Jersey through the current global economic crisis by being fiscally responsible while protecting what matters most to New Jersey’s working families like quality education. By investing in early childhood education and providing funding to build new schools, Governor Corzine has proven his commitment to building a strong work force to get our economy back on the right track.”
“Christie’s refusal of critical funding for the state education system is a scary indicator of just how out of touch he is with how to best ensure the success of New Jersey students who are the future of our state’s workforce,” said Coutinho. “His refusal of $2 billion in federal education dollars would have had devastating impacts on New Jersey’s young people and working families who are the foundation of the state’s workforce and bolster the state’s economy.”
In July, the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services reported that New Jersey would lose $5 billion in federal economic recovery money including $2 billion in education funding if the state refused the funding based on Christie’s opposition to the oversight and accountability conditions set forth by the federal government.
“Christie talks about our children’s education yet he jumped at the opportunity to refuse $2 billion in federal funding that would support quality education for our children,” said Spencer. “By rejecting these education dollars Christie would have crippled our state and reduced the ability of young people – our future workforce – from competing in the 21st century global economy.”
Ruiz, Coutinho and Spencer called Christie’s decision to refuse critical education funding “purely political” and criticized the Bush Republican for failing to understand the needs of hardworking New Jersey families.
In May, Christie praised Bush Republican governors like Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford for turning down federal economic recovery funds from President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), saying their refusal "makes sense. If they're going to put strings on that money that are going to tie your hands and make you expand programs and not be able to have the freedom of choice that people elected you for, then you shouldn’t take the money.” [Hannity Show, Fox News, 5/18/09]
Ruiz/Coutinho/Spencer said that Christie’s refusal of $2 billion of critical education funding would lead directly to a $2 billion increase in property tax bills for New Jersey taxpayers.
“We have a partner in Washington who is investing in our children’s future today as a way to ensure a strong economy in the days to come,” said Ruiz. “Jon Corzine worked with President Obama to secure billions of dollars for New Jersey – this is the single largest investment in our state education system ever.”
“Christie would deny New Jerseyans resources that will help keep first-rate teachers in classrooms, provide vital infrastructure improvements to our schools and ensure at-risk students and students with disabilities get the support they deserve,” said Coutinho. “We cannot allow Christie’s hollow promises and partisan posturing to shatter the foundation and future of our great state.”
Ruiz/Coutinho/Spencer commended Governor Corzine for making education a priority even while making difficult decisions like enacting a budget with the largest spending cuts in state history.
“Over the past three and a half years, Jon Corzine has demonstrated he recognizes that education is the foundation of our state’s workforce and economy,” said Spencer. “He has devoted more resources than ever before to New Jersey education, implemented a more equitable school funding formula and reformed the school construction program to give New Jerseyans every opportunity to succeed in the global economy.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Report Card lists New Jersey as first in the nation for postsecondary and workforce readiness and fifth for academic achievement. [U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2007]
# # #
Ruiz/Coutinho/Spencer said Christie’s political posturing would have cost New Jersey $2 billion in federal funding for education which prepares New Jersey children for a successful future and ensures the state has an educated workforce and prosperous economy.
“Governor Corzine has not been afraid to make tough choices and do what is best for our state,” said Ruiz (D-Newark). “He has led New Jersey through the current global economic crisis by being fiscally responsible while protecting what matters most to New Jersey’s working families like quality education. By investing in early childhood education and providing funding to build new schools, Governor Corzine has proven his commitment to building a strong work force to get our economy back on the right track.”
“Christie’s refusal of critical funding for the state education system is a scary indicator of just how out of touch he is with how to best ensure the success of New Jersey students who are the future of our state’s workforce,” said Coutinho. “His refusal of $2 billion in federal education dollars would have had devastating impacts on New Jersey’s young people and working families who are the foundation of the state’s workforce and bolster the state’s economy.”
In July, the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services reported that New Jersey would lose $5 billion in federal economic recovery money including $2 billion in education funding if the state refused the funding based on Christie’s opposition to the oversight and accountability conditions set forth by the federal government.
“Christie talks about our children’s education yet he jumped at the opportunity to refuse $2 billion in federal funding that would support quality education for our children,” said Spencer. “By rejecting these education dollars Christie would have crippled our state and reduced the ability of young people – our future workforce – from competing in the 21st century global economy.”
Ruiz, Coutinho and Spencer called Christie’s decision to refuse critical education funding “purely political” and criticized the Bush Republican for failing to understand the needs of hardworking New Jersey families.
In May, Christie praised Bush Republican governors like Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford for turning down federal economic recovery funds from President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), saying their refusal "makes sense. If they're going to put strings on that money that are going to tie your hands and make you expand programs and not be able to have the freedom of choice that people elected you for, then you shouldn’t take the money.” [Hannity Show, Fox News, 5/18/09]
Ruiz/Coutinho/Spencer said that Christie’s refusal of $2 billion of critical education funding would lead directly to a $2 billion increase in property tax bills for New Jersey taxpayers.
“We have a partner in Washington who is investing in our children’s future today as a way to ensure a strong economy in the days to come,” said Ruiz. “Jon Corzine worked with President Obama to secure billions of dollars for New Jersey – this is the single largest investment in our state education system ever.”
“Christie would deny New Jerseyans resources that will help keep first-rate teachers in classrooms, provide vital infrastructure improvements to our schools and ensure at-risk students and students with disabilities get the support they deserve,” said Coutinho. “We cannot allow Christie’s hollow promises and partisan posturing to shatter the foundation and future of our great state.”
Ruiz/Coutinho/Spencer commended Governor Corzine for making education a priority even while making difficult decisions like enacting a budget with the largest spending cuts in state history.
“Over the past three and a half years, Jon Corzine has demonstrated he recognizes that education is the foundation of our state’s workforce and economy,” said Spencer. “He has devoted more resources than ever before to New Jersey education, implemented a more equitable school funding formula and reformed the school construction program to give New Jerseyans every opportunity to succeed in the global economy.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Report Card lists New Jersey as first in the nation for postsecondary and workforce readiness and fifth for academic achievement. [U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2007]
# # #
