Q&A Friday

Dear Assemblyman Panter -

Please say NO to the proposal for self-serve gas in New Jersey!

Laura
Fair Haven


In the last two weeks, my office received a great many inquiries about the proposal to allow New Jersey residents to pump their own gas. Governor Corzine had floated the idea of doing a limited study of self-service gas for New Jersey. Just so everyone knows, the Governor has since tabled that idea, and it will not be considered for implementation in New Jersey at this time.

I am in favor of many measures that are intended to lower gas prices, but there is some question as to whether self-serve gas would have that effect on pricing or would just remove the full service many New Jersey residents enjoy. But at this point, that's a debate for another time!


Dear Assemblyman Panter,

My daughter is a student at Rutgers, and I hear that this year's state budget will cause an increase in tuition at state colleges. Is that the case, and if so, what is the outlook for families like mine?

Rose
Freehold


This issue is particularly important to my family, since my sister is a student at Rutgers, and since I pay her tuition! The proposed budget, which is currently under review and revision in the Assembly and Senate, does indeed include some cuts in higher education aid, and most, if not all, state colleges and universities have said this would lead to unfortunate increases in tuition for their students.

Governor Corzine has said that if he finds extra funding for the budget, the higher education aid will be the first item to be restored. I am hopeful that the Governor and/or the Assembly and Senate budget committees will identify those savings.

Tuition costs are already very high for most families, and further increases could conceivably prevent some of New Jersey's brightest students from obtaining the education they deserve. This would be a tragedy for those students, and for our state.