Governor Corzine's plan to let school districts borrow from the state to make up for lost state aid is just another gimmick designed to get around the intent of the Constitution and the will of people as expressed in last year's vote bannding borrowing without voter approval.

SMITH BILL TO AUTHORIZE OPEN SPACE BONDING APPROVED IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Senator Bob Smith, which would give voters in November the option to approve up to $600 million in open space borrowing was approved by the Environment panel today by a vote of 4-1.

“Open space preservation is absolutely vital to preserving the quality of life in New Jersey,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “As the most densely populated state in the nation, there is more pressure to build on every open area in the State than anywhere else in the country. While I believe we need a healthy, consistent and sustained effort to preserve open space through dedicated funding, this bill will make sure that pristine open space isn’t gobbled up by suburban sprawl before we can finally come to agreement on just what that dedicated funding should look like.”

Leadership from Governor Corzine, not Wall Street financing schemes, are what's needed to solve our state's transportation funding problem, said Senator Anthony Bucco.

Corzine Set to Give Abbot Districts $2.9 Billion for Full Cost of Projects

Senator Robert Singer (R-30) issued the following statement in response to Governor Corzine's approval of legislation today that will borrow another $3.9 billion for school construction projects, including $2.9 billion for projects in Abbott districts: