Lance Dissents on Teacher Funding Bill, Says It's One-Shot Deal

U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon County) voted against a bill Tuesday which could provide up to $268 million in funds to New Jersey to hire new teachers, citing the funding mechanisms in the legislation.

Lance, who represents Westfield and other communities in western Union County, said the parts of the bill which would curb food stamp payments in the future and the borrowing nature of the financing. According to published reports, the bill will cut federal food stamp payments starting in 2014, a deal cut in the U.S. Senate to gain Republican support.

"Today's $26.1 billion spending measure is another fiscally irresponsible bailout bill put forth by the Democratic leadership that raises taxes, cuts food stamp benefits to New Jersey's neediest and does little by way of teacher hiring in the Seventh Congressional District," Lance said in a prepared statement in response to Patch's questions on Tuesday.

Lance, who maintains a district office in Westfield, said the one shot nature of the bill, which will be funding teacher salaries and Medicaid payments for the states, concerned him. Lance, a former state senate minority leader and expert on state finances, has long opposed what he sees as one shot financing mechanisms.

"These federal bailouts exacerbate state and local funding problems by spurring drastic budget shortfalls once the federal funds run out and enabling states to avoid the tough budgetary choices necessary to live within their financial means," he said in a statement.

Lance's comments mimic comments made by Gov. Chris Christie in talks about the state budget cuts for education in March, where he blamed on former Gov. Jon Corzine's use of federal stimulus funds in last year's state budget.

Lance's vote comes as his Democratic opponent, Ed Potosnak, announced his support of the teacher funding bill and called on Lance to support the bill. Following Lance's opposition to the bill, Potosnak announced a 11 a.m. press conference on Wednesday in Hillsborough, where he plans to discuss Lance's vote. Potosnak, a former teacher and congressional aide, will be joined by local Hillborough Democratic candidates and teachers at the event, which will be held at an elementary school.

Lance is holding a town hall meeting in Summit at Noon on Wednesday and will be in Westfield on Thursday to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. at Robert Treat Deli on small business issues.

Alan Guenther, a spokesman for the state education department, confirmed that the state will be applying for the $268 million that will be made available through the bill, which was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday. He said the state is currently awaiting final guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education on how to utilize the funds.

The legislation calls for the funds to be distributed to local school districts based on the state's school funding formula. It is not known how much Westfield could be in line for. Westfield education officials have long complained that the current state education funding formula does not help suburban school districts and has not helped Westfield in past years.

As a result of Christie's decision to slash state education aid to Westfield by $4.22 million, or 90.4-percent, the Board of Education adopted a spending plan which cut 33 positions in the school district, including teachers, guidance counselors and paraprofessionals. Many of the cuts were made via attrition.