Friday, July 1, 2011

Schaer Praises Democratic Budget for Restoring Funding for Services for Blind Children

(Trenton) - Assembly Budget Committee Vice-Chair Gary S. Schaer today praised the democratic budget for including the restoration of $1.5 million that the Christie administration has eliminated for services for blind and visually-impaired children.

"With the inclusion of this funding, our budget becomes more humane.

"Throughout lengthy budget hearings, we heard detailed and heartfelt testimony from children and their parents about the impact of this program and its success in helping visually-impaired children get ahead in life.

"Yet despite these success stories, the Governor proposed cutting $1.5 million from the program and eliminating 20 teachers. Throughout the budget process, the administration was unable to explain how these cuts would impact services for blind and visually-impaired children.

"Now we don't have to wait to find out how our students would have been adversely affected. Under this compassionate, democratic budget, this critical program will be preserved," said Schaer (D-Bergen/Essex/Passaic).

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