WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY

WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2007                                           CONTACT: (908) 267-1613

Morris Plains, NJ — Webber for Assembly issued the following statement and letter urging release and passage of the bills for the Urban Schools Scholarship Act:

“For more than a year now, I have publicly supported passage of this important legislation, which will empower children and their parents.  During that time, Larry Casha has remained silent on this subject.  Today, I call on Larry to join me in this effort for fair school funding and basic common sense,� stated Jay Webber.

The text of Jay Webber’s letter is below.

April 25, 2007

Acting Governor & Senate President Richard J. Codey

449 Mount Pleasant Ave.

West Orange, NJ 07052

                           

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr.

I write in support of the Urban Schools Scholarship Act (S1332, A257) and urge you to release these bills and permit the full Legislature to take votes on passage of this important legislation.

This legislation would establish a pilot program that would allow nonprofit foundations to issue up to 20,000 scholarships for students to attend out-of-district public or private schools in selected cities.  The foundations would be supported by corporate donors, which would receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits.

In both houses of the Legislature, these bills have strong bipartisan sponsorship and support.  Leaders like the Reverend Reginald Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council, and Archbishop John Myers also have indicated their support.  Hundreds of parents, children, and other advocates rallied in Trenton asking for action from the Legislature.

It is unsurprising that such a broad coalition supports this reform public policy.  Opening educational hope to parents and children trapped in struggling Abbott districts is a compassionate and farsighted idea that is long overdue.  Families across the State can benefit from the choice, competition, and freedom represented by this legislation.  Parents and children in cities can find improved educational opportunities, and families in the suburbs deserve relief from subsidizing urban school systems and from unfair school funding for their own children.

Pennsylvania’s similar program already has provided scholarships to 25,000 students.  New Jersey’s children deserve the same chance for quality educations at the right price to taxpayers.  Please release these bills and allow the full Legislature to vote on their passage.

Sincerely,

Jay Webber

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