Beck: Republicans Have Offered Common-Sense Budget Solutions to Corzine for Months

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12) issued the following statement in response to the State of the State message delivered today by Governor Jon Corzine:

“Over the past few months, Republicans have presented a number of common-sense solutions that could quickly be enacted to prevent New Jersey’s massive budget deficit from growing even further.

“For months, Republicans in the Legislature have offered to work with Governor Corzine to fix our broken budget. Each and every offer made by Republicans to work with the Governor was summarily dismissed.

“Just yesterday, for example, I sent a letter to Governor Corzine requesting he delay the implementation of the mandatory pre-school program. At a time when state aid to K-12 programs is being cut, it does not make sense to launch a new program for 3- and 4-year olds. We cannot afford to pay for another large government program.

“While Governor Corzine remains unwilling to review Republican budget saving proposals, he should at least consider obvious savings that the State Auditor has identified, such as the elimination of state cars that the Auditor concluded are routinely misused.”