Christie’s Fight to Remove School Funds Overruled by New Jersey High Court

Source: Bloomberg

By David Voreacos and Terrence Dopp

May 24 (Bloomberg) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court ordered Governor Chris Christie to restore an estimated $500 million in public school funding cuts that he sought to balance the state’s budget.

The five-judge panel voted 3-2 today that the cuts violated a 2008 funding formula to support the state’s poorest school districts. Two justices excused themselves from the decision.

Christie, a Republican, has said reductions were necessary to balance the budget and the court should let him resolve the question with the Democratic-controlled legislature. He warned of “unthinkable” cuts in other state programs if the court ruled against him.

The Education Law Center, a Newark-based advocate for the poorest districts, asked the Supreme Court to order the funding restored. Christie, 48, threatened to defy the court if it ordered higher spending.

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Read more: http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aWbuf9uPP82U&pos=9

really failed him this time.

just full of a lot of bubbles of hot air!

He looks like he eats a lot of donuts, doesn't he?

" ... Christie, 48, threatened to defy the court ...."

Go ahead! Try it. Let's see what the courts have to say about that.

... are going to end up CUTTING them right out of office!

so this result is very questionable. Highly desirable yes, but I don't count on anything these days with the Kochs, Scott, Armey & their ilk willing to spend tens of millions to right wing social engineer our country.

And the $200 million he gave to that ridiculous mistake in the Meadowlands, Xanadu, and he only needs to find another $39 million to comply with the Court.

I'll bet if he raised taxes 3¢ he'd have more than enough.

Cutting is not gonna do the trick... that should be obvious to everyone. (Everyone who really cares and is not using the budget as a political tool)

Rob the needy

He warned of “unthinkable” reductions in other state programs if the court ruled against him..The governor is pushing to change teacher tenure, link pay to performance and make it easier to fire educators deemed ineffective.

This is what all these totalitarian governors are doing.

I guess it is when it hits a Republican governor, who deserved it.


It's not so great when the ACLU does it for Los Angeles' kids, though.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9298053#9298310

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=587633&mesg_id=587633

A-hole

The key passage in the N.J. state Constitution reads: "The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years."

The NJ Supreme Court has, in a series of cases over the years, held that if the Legislature doesn't appropriate enough money for public schools, then it's violating this clause of the Constitution.

Which has no doubt led to some fairly subjective opinions.

That's why the U.S. Supreme Court hands down 5 to 4 decisions on what is or is not "cruel and unusual punishment" or "due process of law".

The choices are:
(1) A constitution that's extremely precise, objective, and specific, and is therefore hundreds of pages long and must be amended just about every year;
(2) A constitution that's treated as a set of suggestions to the elected officials, with no consequence if the legislature or executive decides to do something different; or
(3) A constitution that's the basis for judicial review of the actions of the other branches of government.

None of these choices is perfect. The federal government and (as far as I know) every state has chosen the third alternative as the least bad.

:woohoo:

THOSE DARNED Activist LIBRUL JUDGES!!!