Lame Duck School Spending Plan

As the legislature tries to unwind the details in Governor Corzine's school funding plan, a few pesky issues keep coming up that are raising eyebrows. For example, The Inquirer points points out a serious question from one legislator:

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, who represents communities in Passaic and Morris Counties, posed what he called "the $64,000 question":

"Can you tell me where all of this money is going to come from?"

What I find amazing is that this bill is coming up at all. This is a serious topic and one that should be thoroughly debated with no tricks and gimmicks hidden in the fine print. And I think that everyone involved would likely agree with that sentiment except for Governor Corzine and Assemblyman Greenwald who both want this legislation jammed through the lame duck session.

Because Corzine wants the Legislature to approve the measure before the lame-duck session ends Jan. 7, lawmakers gathered two days after Christmas, when Trenton is usually a ghost town.

"I would work 24-7 to get this done," said Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald, (D., Camden), chairman of the Budget Committee.

More than 100 people packed the hearing room, waiting for hours to weigh in on the legislation, which has drawn opposition from urban and suburban districts and advocacy groups.

Some complained that the bill, made public last week, was being pushed through despite many questions about its impact.

A good number of the politicians who may vote on this legislation will no longer be in the Assembly or Senate after their vote is cast. Shouldn't that bother us? Put two and two together. An unaccountable legislature and a bill with more questions than answers.

Someone should stand up and just say WAIT! This may very well be an excellent bill. But I expect not when I see the way it is being force fed through the system. WAIT... and let our new legislators handle this next year when the details can be brought to the light.

Read the Inquirer article here.

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