BUONO RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR’S DERIDING COLLEGE SAVINGS, HIGHER EDUCATION BILLS AS "PILE OF CRAP"

Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) released the following statement in response to Governor Chris Christie’s latest "YouTube" town hall moment during which he called bills passed at the end of the legislative session a "pile of crap":

“Governor Christie talks about the need for a competitive business environment and job creation in New Jersey, but included in the so-called ‘pile of crap’ passed by the Legislature, the Governor vetoed my bill that would have facilitated partnerships between businesses and institutions of higher education. We need to better prepare our students for jobs in emerging markets instead of ridiculing efforts to do so.  We should be creating opportunities for jobs that are actually in demand, instead of dismissing credible initiatives in the interest of scoring political points.  While crass put downs may make for viral YouTube moments, in the end they reveal a callous disregard for the economic plight facing New Jersey families.

“For families struggling to save for their children's college education, the Legislature passed my bill that would establish a tax-deductible savings plan, another initiative our Governor has deemed worthless. That says a lot about what he thinks of the future of New Jersey.

“It’s easy to act like a tough guy down in Trenton and put on a show when the spotlight’s on, but when the curtain closes, the middle class is still struggling to make ends meet.”