***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** Weekly Budget Message: Watson Coleman on Preserving Pre-K Through 12 Education

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

WEEKLY BUDGET MESSAGE:  WATSON COLEMAN ON PRESERVING PRE-K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION

(TRENTON) - Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today issued a multimedia package highlighting the efforts made in Governor Jon S. Corzine's proposed budget to preserve funding for the state's world-class pre-K through 12th grade education system.

Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) issued the package as the Assembly Budget Committee took testimony from the state Department of Education.

The multimedia package - the fourth in a series of weekly discussions on the proposed budget - consists of a video press release on education funding in the budget, audio of same, and a transcript of the Majority Leader's statement.

The video can be accessed directly via our Web site - www.assemblydems.com - or by clicking here.

The audio file has been included in the e-mail as an attachment.

A transcript of Majority Leader Watson Coleman's statement is appended below:

"Each year, the Legislature and Governor create a budget based on a clear set of priorities.

"This year is no different, even as the global economic recession forces us to narrow our focus to the most essential programs and services.

"Despite the blow of the global economic recession, the budget plan we are considering is committed to protecting core New Jersey values, like our world class public education system.

"We understand that our future depends on the foundation we lay for our children, which is why more than 11.4 billion dollars - or over one third of this year's proposed budget - is slated for pre-K through 12th grade education.

"In fact, despite continued economic uncertainty across the globe, this budget would increase the amount of direct school aid going into our classrooms by 304.3 million dollars.

"That's money that would directly benefit the 1.4 million children enrolled in our public schools.

"And it's money that would expand our public pre-school program, giving 50,000 children a great head start on their future.

"We would be spending more on teaching children in New Jersey while still reducing the budget nearly 3.5 billion dollars.

"We would be spending more on education at a time when 21 other states are cutting funding to K through 12 education.

"And we would be spending more on education against the backdrop of the global economic crisis because we know it is the right thing to do.

"This budget proposal represents our commitment to nurturing our children and best prepares New Jersey to capitalize when the national economy rebounds.

"As the budget discussions continue, New Jersey residents should know legislative Democrats will work closely with Governor Corzine to produce a fiscally prudent budget that protects values such as education that are so important to all of us."

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