Trenton Rally Josh Pruzansky, Singer And More

[Applause] sir yeah I have a Lou I have a louder voice to Big out this committee substitute direct director provision of Taxation to establish a 5year pilot program to provide tax credits to corporations which contribute funding to not come on up here come on anyone who can't anyone who can hear come up and please stop to not disrup these children are behaving themselves very well to the adults please not disrupt the reading it does not undermine the public schools instead it enhances education opportunity for lowincome students we believe our students are more important than preserving failing schools the black ministers Council urges this committee to pass S1 1872 and send it to the full senate for its approval thank you and I want to thank uh senator lesnak for working so hard on this I want to thank him for his important sponsorship and holding this hearing today I also want to thank one of the key supporters in Bob singer who is an important advocate for this piece of legislation and who is on on some very important committees talking about uh more opportunity in the education system the premise of this bill is simple this bill when passed when it becomes law will ensure more opportunity for students it will ensure more choice for parents and it will ensure more hope for all of New Jersey I want to thank you all for being here today I want to thank the committee for considering this bill I look forward to having strong bipartisan support today because this is about making sure the future is brighter for all of us thank [Applause] you thank you I hope everyone could hear me I'm the closest one to this microphone so far to The Honorable members of the economic growth committee I'm Josh pansy of a goodth Israel of New Jersey and we support the passage of S1 1872 otherwise known as the opportunity scholarship Act thank you I I stand here together today with about 800 residents of lakwood children and adults who have come to show their support for this act as well and we also show our and thank all the members of this committee from Senator lesnak and Senator Kane and Senator singer and Senator cillos and Senator vital and whoever else is here this legislation will allow students from low and moderate income households to remain registered in the many day schools in yibas that our community has in three of the districts that are eligible for the opportunity scholarships education is the Cornerstone of our faith and has been an integral part of any Jewish Community for the past 3,000 years when times were good and people could afford it the tuitions were paid and the fundraising events were quite successful Unfortunately today many families find themselves either financially strapped or out of work due to the poor economy combined with living in the state with the highest taxes in the nation many of our families simply cannot afford to pay their tuition payments this has caused many schools to Teeter on the brink of closing due to lack of funds we have to find a way to alleviate this pressure and at the same time allow the children to remain in schools best suited for their educational needs to that end the opportunity scholarship act will be a great source of financial Comfort to those families eligible to receive them this will allow their children also eligible to receive an adequate and efficient education and a thorough education it applies to every student in the state not just to those in public schools but every student is entitled to a faar and efficient and thorough education and will allow these children to continue receiving a day school education without the financial pressure and will allow the schools to remain open what would happen ladies and gentlemen of the committee since I am talking to you if these schools would close simple the children would either attend a public school or a charter school which would cost significantly more than the cost of a corporate tax scholarship at a time when the state is slashing funds to public education it would seem ludicrous to do nothing to help these students and spend triple the amount to absorb them into the public charter system it is time to ignore the same tired arguments put forth by a special interest group only concerned with the salaries and benefits of its members after all they are receiving $700 per member and that is their right to protect their members but rather it is more is more important to do what is best for the children of this state I ask that the members of this committee vote Yes on S1 1872 thank [Applause] you my name a coalition of over 20,000 children in the private school network in the city of L with New Jersey in the township of Lakewood New Jersey I just want to State this bill is not a Jewish issue it's not a Catholic issue it's not a minority issue it's an issue of doing the right thing for our future as a nation our future as a nation depends on the quality of our children's education Lakewood which I represent is a unique District it's a district that consists of about 26,000 school children in our case about 5,000 are public school children about 21 1,000 our private school children I urge the members of this Committee in considering the uniqueness of such a district when writing up the particulars of the bill to take into consideration that there are districts such as ours which has six schools all of them considered failing schools that has such a large private school network and so many private school students to take that into consideration when writing up the bill and realizing that there are certain districts that have those unique issues Jersy uh I'm not going my whole testimony the committee has it I would just say this for Jews throughout the centuries as Jonathan sax that said education is our greatest value our heroes are our teachers and school and education side are our schools and we we ask you here today to make every school throughout New Jersey the best it can be and let every child get the education they deserve whether or not they're in a public or a private school and whether or not they're Jewish or not this it's not a Jewish issue this an issue for everyone and we ask that what what you do unto others do do unto yourself if you want education for your own child make sure everyone here in this St got the best education they can have thank you my suspicion is it will be very [Applause] successful so this is an important moment of time thank you for being here and Mr chairman as you requested I move the [Music] bill Senator lesnak I would be remissed before I second the bill that I didn't mention how wonderful you've been on this issue this this Trek started two years ago and unfortunately was derailed for a period of time last session but as always and I know you so well matter of fact you're even at my wedding that that you would not be derailed by it he's so bad they they would not be derailed by it and came and came forward and put together the bill again this session the important aspect of this to all of us is we are we are fighting for the education of all our children of the state of New Jersey we are fighting for the opportunity for all the children of the state of New Jersey in my hometown of Lakewood New Jersey we have 21,000 children in school the largest school district in Ocean and mamad County of that 21,000 children 17 thousand of them go to private school our school district that 5,300 public school districts all six schools are failing we desperately need this legislation all children are entitled to make the right choice and let me just share one quick note that is always always bothers me private school children are not rich parents struggle to send their kids to school education is key to all children and we want to see that education for all the children of New Jersey and just keep in mind of one thing every time a private school fails it cost the public schools more money not less money so I am proud to Second this bill Senator lesnak thank you so much forat pleasee please we want choice we choice we want choice we want choice we want [Music] choice