Assemblywoman Lampitt Statement on Christie Budget Address

“We’ve heard quite a bit from Gov. Christie about his commitment to higher education, yet today he pulled the rug out from under higher ed.

“Gov. Christie’s budget contains not just cuts to institutions of higher education, but global cuts to programs – like tuition aid grants and the Educational Opportunity Fund – that hit all sectors, putting the financial burden directly on middle class families and removing the prospect of a college education for thousands of New Jersey students.

“These cuts also show that the governor does not see our institutions of higher education as the vital economic engines they are. These cuts will likely force staffing cuts across the board and will limit our colleges and universities’ ability to attract and produce the top-notch professionals businesses in the state and across the region have come to expect.

"Gov. Christie needs to rethink this plan and do what he promised and invest in higher education."