GREENWALD: CHRISTIE’S REJECTION OF STIMULUS FUNDS WOULD LEAVE NEW JERSEY STUDENTS BEHIND(Mount Laurel) – Assembly Budget Chair Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) and Freeholder Chris Brown (D-Burlington) today joined dozens of students from state and county colleges and universities to hammer Conservative Right Wing Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for his refusal to accept billions of dollars in federal funding for education and job training.Greenwald and Brown called Christie’s approach “fiscally reckless” and said he is using party politics to deny students and small businesses billions in education aid from President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). “Christie’s purely political refusal to accept federal education funding would be a major blow to New Jersey students who are already counting on this assistance to continue their education,” said Greenwald (D-Cherry Hill). “Again, Christie is playing follow the leader with staunch Right Wing Conservatives who are out-of-step with the needs of New Jersey’s working families. When it comes to the role quality education plays in creating jobs to keep New Jerseyans working – Christie doesn’t have a clue.” Christie has repeatedly said he would reject $5 billion in federal stimulus funds from the President’s ARRA. He even appeared on Fox News telling Sean Hannity that Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal and Mark Sanford’s refusal to accept federal aid funding “makes sense.” Greenwald teamed up with Brown and New Jersey students to shed light on the ugly truth that in siding with fellow right wing conservatives, Christie would snub $7.5 million in aid for New Jersey’s Community Colleges. Brown called Christie’s rejection of economic recovery funds “predictable” given his record of shooting down critical funding for New Jersey’s community colleges. “For Christie, playing politics at the expense of New Jersey students and our economy is nothing new,” said Greenwald. “Community colleges keep New Jersey’s economic engine running – they support education and job training programs that boost workers’ skills and help small businesses to grow and create jobs. Yet, as a newly elected Freeholder Christie voted against funding for the County College of Morris -- now, he wants to shortchange county colleges, New Jersey students and community businesses across the state.”Just weeks after getting sworn in as a Freeholder, Christie voted against funding for the County College of Morris.“Less than one month into his one and only term as an elected official Christie unsuccessfully voted against a funding increase for the County College of Morris,” said Brown. “Christie’s desire to turn down desperately needed education aid for no other reason than his own political gain comes at the expense of young people, continuing-education students, businesses across the state and working families. It would have devastating consequences on New Jersey’s economy.” Austin D’Arpino, a student at Burlington Community College said that Christie’s refusal to accept President Obama’s ARRA funds would hurt his chances to get ahead in today’s economy. “Christie’s rejection of critical funding based solely on his politics is sickening,” said Austin D’Arpino, a Sophomore at Burlington Community College. “He wants to deny New Jersey’s community colleges millions in aid which would have devastating impacts on New Jersey’s workforce training programs and job creation across the state. Christie would like to impose Bush-like policies on New Jerseyans by refusing federal funding and instead increasing taxes on working families. We cannot allow him to block federal funding for community colleges which are a tool for students like me who are working to try and succeed in today’s economy.” # # #