COUTINHO & NEW JERSEY COLLEGE STUDENTS BLAST CHRISTIE FOR REFUSING MILLIONS IN STUDENT AID

    (EWING) – Assemblyman Albert Coutinho today teamed up with more than 25 college and university students from across New Jersey to slam Chris Christie’s higher education policy which includes refusing $74 M in federal student aid at a press conference held at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.  
     Coutinho and the students said they held the rally minutes before Christie’s closed forum on higher education to publicly blast Christie for his failure to make higher education a priority.  They called Christie’s plan to refuse millions in student assistance “reckless “ and said it was more of Christie’s partisan politics at play because the funding is part of President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
    “While most New Jerseyans are struggling to make ends meet Christie would refuse $74 million in education aid that would help countless New Jerseyans attain higher education degrees,” said Coutinho (D-Essex), member of the Assembly committees on Budget and Higher Education.  “The job market is increasingly becoming more competitive and Christie’s policies would be devastating to New Jersey’s young people and continuing students.   Christie’s partisan politics are unconscionable and would cost New Jersey students millions in aid.”
    In May, Christie praised right-wing governors like Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford for turning down federal stimulus money, saying their refusal "makes sense.  If they're going to put strings on that money that are going to tie your hands and make you expand programs and not be able to have the freedom of choice that people elected you for, then you shouldn’t take the money.” [Hannity Show, Fox News, 5/18/09]
     Earlier this month, the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services' reported that New Jersey would lose $5 billion in federal economic recovery money if the state refused to accept funds with conditions set forth by the federal government, a position held by Christie. A rejection of these funds would include over $74 million in higher education funding.
    “By turning down $74 million of education funding Christie is sending a clear message that he is turning his back on New Jersey students and working families,” said Brian Block, College of New Jersey student.
     Coutinho said there is a stark contrast between Governor Jon S. Corzine and Conservative Right Wing Candidate Christie’s education policies and that for New Jersey voters it should be like “day and night.”  
    “Governor Corzine has been a tireless champion of higher education -- making college affordable, building stronger connections between higher education and grade school, protecting the health and safety of students and preparing them to compete in the 21st century,” said Coutinho.  “This has meant that while facing one of the toughest budgets in state history the Governor remained committed to protecting education because it is one of New Jersey’s core values.  New Jersey cannot afford Christie’s dangerous policies that threaten to take away our state’s competitive edge and force working families to bear the brunt of this economic crisis while Christie throws away millions in education funding.”
    Coutinho highlighted Corzine’s education record which includes increased funding for Tuition Aid Grants (TAG) for higher education.  A commitment of nearly $800 million for TAG assistance to ensure access to higher education for New Jersey’s low and middle income students since 2006.  An estimated 54,000 students have benefitted from these grants during 2008-2009 which is almost an additional 5,000 more students since 2006.  Coutinho also said that Governor has not just supported NJ STARS but expanded the scholarship program from 930 participants in 2004 to nearly 6,400 during 2008-2009.  His accomplishments also include increasing Education Opportunity Fund (EOF) Supplemental Grants by nearly $600,000 and capping tuition hikes at three percent.  
    “Now Christie is even pandering to New Jersey students, making more hollow promises that he just can’t keep,” said Coutinho.  “Sure Christie says he wants more spending on higher education, but he’s also calling for $3 billion in other new state spending at the same time as his proposed $4 billion in reckless tax cuts.  He admits he’s never been good at math but it doesn’t take a degree in economics to realize his plan just doesn’t add up and will shortchange students and working families.”
    “New Jersey students want to send a clear message to Christie – we are paying attention and we will remember in November,” said NJ Student Democrats President Allen Gannett.      “Christie would like to Bushwhack students and the middle class – we are too smart for that.  His policies and priorities do not represent me or New Jersey.  I urge other students to fight back to protect education because it is a value that matters to most every New Jerseyan except Christie.”