GREENWALD: GOP RHETORIC A DAY LATE AND $383 MILLION SHORTTRENTON) - Assembly Budget Chairman Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden) released the following statement today on Assembly approval of legislation he's sponsoring (A-3981) to help save the state $383 million amid the global economic recession:"For a group that says it doesn't have the ability to put together a budget plan, the Republicans sure seem to have more than enough time on their hands to work on their political posturing, write press releases and think up creative new ways to misrepresent legislation and scare residents."Our Republican colleagues have once again shown themselves more willing to simply cry 'Wolf!' than suggest alternatives to save $383 million in the next five weeks."We simply are allowing public school districts to borrow, if necessary, to cover the amount of their payment and the state would pay any interest and additional costs. When we offered this safety net at the close of the 2003 fiscal year, few districts even took advantage."No school district will lose money. No school district will incur costs. No school will be closed. And, most importantly, no property taxpayer will be hung out to dry."This is a sensible and necessary step to ensure New Jersey's budget ends the year in its constitutionally-mandated balance and to protect an endearing value, the education of our children, in the midst of a broad economic decline. The Republicans' mass vote against this step should not go unnoticed."The fiscal year ends in 39 days. The time for hollow bumper-sticker rhetoric is over."