(PHOTOS in extended article) Members of the Igud met today with Governor Jon Corzine to seek his support for School Vouchers. Despite passionate appeals from the 35 Igud members present, the Governor stuck to his position opposing School Choice and School Vouchers. His opponent, gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie previously met with the Igud and forcefully committed support for school vouchers. Christie has publicly pronounced school vouchers as the centerpiece of his educational reform campaign. Governor Corzine stated at today’s meetingthat he would not even support the more limited corporate scholarship legislation, in its current form.
As currently proposed, in a pilot program for eight New Jersey cities including Lakewood, an elementary school student will receive a $6,000 voucher, and a high school student $9,000. What this means for Lakewood’s 20,000 students is at least One Hundred and Twenty Million $120,000,000) annually, or $6,000 per student times 20,000 students. More, if high school students are counted.
The Vaad, primarily for considerations of Hakoras Hatov, is backing Corzine. The Igud will meet at 10PM tonite to decide which candidate to support for Governor. Most recent polls are showing Christie leading Corzine by 3 to 4 points.
Surprisingly, the Governor said at the meeting today he would not only oppose vouchers, he would also oppose the currently proposed scholarship legislation for private school students. Specifically, he said that he will not sign Senate Bill S1607, which is co-sponsored by Lakewood’s State Senator Robert Singer. This Bill seeks to establish a five-year pilot program to provide tax credits to corporations which contribute funding to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships to help low-income children residing in Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Paterson, and Trenton pay tuition at out-of-district public schools or in-district or out-of-district nonpublic schools located in the State. Under the pilot program a tax credit will be equal to 100% of the contribution a corporation makes to a qualified scholarship organization.
In fairness to Governor Corzine, it must be noted that the democratically-controlled New Jersey legislature is not in favor of Vouchers. Even if elected, Christie will need a shift in the balance of power in the legislature to get voucher legislation passed. Detractors of the voucher plan cite the high costs. Proponents, such as Senator Ray Lesniak who sponsored S1607, point to the fact that public school education in New Jersey now costs over $14,000 per child. Savings realized from children shifting from public to private education, will more than offset the cost of vouchers. (TLS) (Mobile users click here for photos).
Maybe the whole Lakewood should stick together and send ALL our kids to public school They will have to do something about it as there is no way the Lakewood school will be able to handle the volume
WHERE WAS THIS MEETING HELD?
it looks like bais rivka rochel conference room. Rabbi Kanareks school!
Sell the Kehilla’s kids and their parents down the river for Hakoras HaTov?
Cheder Vaad giving-up $120 Million per year, for what???
Parents, on November 3 vote YOUR interest, no one else’s!!!!!!!!!!!
Send them all a message.
I like Anonymous’s idea!
This is just a pr exercise. The people or person who runs the igud has already decided what is in their best interest even though Corzine has made a mockery of our needs. Self interest always trumps the public interest. The support Corzine signs were printed long before this meeting at which Corzine spit our hard working parents in the face.
The meeting was held today at 12:30 untill1;00 at beis rivka rochel.
I was at that meeting & he did not say “that he will not sign Senate Bill S1607”, what he did say is, it needs some changes and that it needs to be tweaked & then he will sign it, just like he has done in the past, whenever he said he will do, and came through 100%
ATT TLS! Why are the pictures not on the front page?
do you hear this corruption? for Hakaras hatov they endorse a guy who will tax us to death, i dont believe for a second it has anything to do with hakaras hatov its all the same code word garbage which we had enough of already you wash my hands and i’ll wash your its gotta stop vote christie
The mosdos need more people to pay tuition so they can make payroll on time. Vote Christie
we need the chasidim to help us they know how to do it in monroe, new square boro park. they have all the kids programs set up like a charm
If you want to vote for Christie because of the vouchers, forget about it. There’s way too much that has to first happen in the house & senate before it makes it up to his desk – and we don’t have any receptive ears in either of those branches of government that can get this done.
That aside, if you vote for the Republican based on the moral issues – then i could understand where you’re coming from.
Not only vouchers does he promise us. Christie also will end dual office holding in NJ. Finally next year in 2010 we can change the legislature so he can actually make into law all he says he will do. It is 1 year vs. 4. You choose. I for one pick Christie.
yungerman4christie,
I couldn’t care less about dual office holding. It is totally not important to me or my friends. If anything, I feel that our Mayor, for example, is only more valuable to our town because he can help us at the State level as well. If he gets a couple more dollars for it.. doesn’t bother me. Do you even know how many dual-office holders there are in NJ? Hardly any.
Furthermore, if two different sets of voters want a specific capable individual to represent them in two separate venues, I don’t believe it’s fair to legislate that right away from them.
This is such an insignificant issue. It’s just that on a psychological level, it resonates well with some voters – who view all politicians as corrupt and want to do all they can to undermine the level of power they can hold. Additionally, some of the politicians, though they won’t admit to it in the open, are more motivated because of their jealousy then any other factor.
Bottom line, if you analyze it – and don’t just listen to what they tell on a superficial level – you will also agree that this is NOT a serious factor to consider when voting.
I just don’t get it. Why vote for Corzine when he’s turning down such key issues for frum families. How idiotic can we be. Have a meeting with him, he turns down the voucher issue then go and endorse him anyway. At least Christie is saying he’s for vouchers. There is a chance he might try to push it through. With Corzine he’s saying absolutely not.
yungerman4christie,
I couldn’t care less about dual office holding. It is totally not important to me or my friends. If anything, I feel that our Mayor, for example, is only more valuable to our town because he can help us at the State level as well. If he gets a couple more dollars for it.. doesn’t bother me. Do you even know how many dual-office holders there are in NJ? Hardly any.
Furthermore, if two different sets of voters want a specific capable individual to represent them in two separate venues, I don’t believe it’s fair to legislate that right away from them.
This is such an insignificant issue. It’s just that on a psychological level, it resonates well with some voters – who view all politicians as corrupt and want to do all they can to undermine the level of power they can hold. Additionally, there are polo’s motivated because it makes them appear as if they’re above corruption – an obviously valuable asset in that position. (and some of the politicians, though they won’t admit to it in the open, are more motivated due to their jealousy then any other factor.)
Bottom line, if you analyze it – and don’t just listen to what they tell on a superficial level – you will also agree that this is NOT a serious factor to consider when voting.
Dual office holdings are already illegal in NJ thanks to Corzine. Those who had currently been dual office holders at the time of the passage of the law were grandfathered in, and did not have to resign one of their posts. Cristie wants to make the law universal, and not show preference to prior holders. Bob Singer can choose to remain Mayor or he can remain a Senator, but not both. It is not right to the other towns he represents. Surely everyone can understand that! The reason Corzine made this exception is because a major majority of dual office holders in this state are Democrats, and Corzine was afraid that if the seats would become vacant, a Republican might win. As I’ve said before, if there is a majority of Republicans in the legislature, we’ll get our school vouchers, and Route 9 will be widened too, don’t worry about that!! Don’t believe the hype of the Vaad. Their endorsement for Corzine was already printed in the Yated before they met with him yesterday. Vouchers would have just been the cherry on top that they wished they could have. Be smart. Vote Christie. If I was wrong, why would all the heads of the mosdos in town be backing him? Change is coming, and with Christie’s plan to lower taxes it will be in our pockets, and not the State’s!! Vote Christie!!
yungerman4christie,
Again. I addressed your specific point that we should vote for Christie because he wants to extend the dual office law, recently enacted, to cover more individuals. I believe that you’re making a way bigger issue out of this than is warranted, for the reasons I enumerated earlier. If that’s all you got to convince us to vote Christie, you’re in no luck.
As far as vouchers, his promise cannot be deemed as deliverable either. For that matter, I can also promise you lots of things.
Please try to come up with something of substance..
Oh I am sorry! I just read what you wrote, and I found out you are right! Christie will lower taxes and Corzine will raise them! That is all I need! My vote will be for Christie too!
A vote for Corzine is a belated vote for Obama! Don’t do it!!
yungerman4christie,
We are still waiting for you to reply with a compelling reason to vote for christie..
Apparently, you are at a loss and have to resort to childish tactics such as falsely posting in my name that I agree with you.. You need to grow up, and If you don’t have what to say, then just admit it.
People make mistakes. Nobody will look bad at you as long as you’re honest..
yungerman4christie,
We are still waiting for you to respond with a compelling reason to vote for christie..
Apparently, you are at a loss and have to resort to childish tactics such as falsely posting in my name @ 2:35 that I agree with you.. You need to grow up, and If you don’t have what to say, then just admit it.
People make mistakes. Nobody will look bad at you as long as you’re honest..