Christie Plan: Lower Taxes for Wealthy, Cut Schools by 5 Percent Schools Matter

Schools Matter

Christie Plan: Lower Taxes for Wealthy, Cut Schools by 5 Percent

by Jim Horn

Governor Christie's animosity toward unions in general and the New Jersey teachers' union in particular have effectively moved New Jersey into a manufactured crisis. If Christie would leave the surtax in place on taxpayers making over $400,000 per year, then there would be no need to cut state schools by 5%, or $800+ million, across the board. From yesterday's Star Ledger:

Now, finally, New Jersey will have the debate it has avoided for too long because Gov. Chris Christie is showing us what New Jersey would really look like with smaller state government.

State tax increases would be held in check, a huge relief.

But there is a trade-off. Classrooms would be more crowded, working families would lose health care, college tuitions would increase, and cops and firefighters would be laid off. Our staggering