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Yesterday, I met with Representatives of the National Education Association
to discuss legislative issues affecting the quality of education across
the Nation and here at home in South Jersey. On the top of the agenda,
were issues concerning funding for education. Many schools, including
those here in South Jersey, are feeling the budget crunch caused by shortages
in state revenue as a result of a faltering economy. As such, schools
are being forced to come up with cost-saving measures while attempting
to limit the detrimental impact on the quality of the education being afforded
to our students.
I am sympathetic to these concerns because I believe that education
of our children is one of the most important responsibilities I have as
both a parent and a legislator. Unfortunately, the revenue shortages
experienced at the state level are equally problematic at the federal level
and have been exacerbated by President Bush's 2 trillion tax cut from 2001.
I was opposed to the cut back then and am even more certain that it was
the wrong decision now. As I explained to my friends yesterday, while
I appreciate the need for increased spending to help our schools, the fact
is that the federal government cannot afford this based on the fact that
it has already spent this money on a ill-advised tax cut. |
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