Potosnak: Lance Should Have Voted for Education Bill

Democratic Congressional candidate Ed Potosnak spoke before a small crowd of teachers and officials Wednesday to express his support for Congress's recently passed Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act — and his surprise that his opponent, 7th-District Republican Congressman Leonard Lance, voted against it.

"This year, education came under attack with some of the biggest cuts in funding," said Potosnak, who's aiming to serve the Congressional district that includes part of Bridgewater. "We are weathering the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and the best way to help is to provide education to our children."

Potosnak, speaking across the street from Auten Road Intermediate School in Hillsborough, said that the best way to make sure America gets back its edge is by providing students with the best education possible.

"Where once America ranked at the top in math and science, now we are in the bottom third of all technological nations," he said. "I am committed to making sure we come back on top."

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which had already been passed by the Senate Aug. 5. The bill is designed to save and create 319,000 jobs, including 161,000 teacher jobs.

In total, the bill contains a total of $10 billion in funding to save teacher jobs, as well as $16.1 billion in health assistance to states.

President Barack Obama signed the bill Tuesday.

In New Jersey alone, Potosnak said, this could mean an additional $268 million for schools and the protection of nearly 4,000 teacher jobs.

"Thankfully, Congress stepped up to counter [the decrease in the quality of the schools]," he said. "And I promise to continue to get the job done."

Hillsborough Township Committee Democratic nominee Paul Drake introduced Potosnak by saying that the candidate for Congress will be looking for ways to help the children in his district.

"We value education because we know we are molding our future leaders," Drake said. "We recognize that Mr. Potosnak is on the right side of the issue, and he will be on the right side when he represents our district."

Potosnak criticized his opponent, saying that Lance sided with national Republicans, rather than looking out for the best interests of his constituents in voting against the bill.

"We have to tell Mr. Lance that students are not special interest," he said. "He sided once again with the Republicans. When we really needed him, he cast his vote [against the teachers]."

Potosnak said his opponent's votes on other bills are evidence he works to look out for his own job, rather than his constituents.

"When Mr. Lance is given the opportunity to side with the families of his district, he sides against them and with the national party," he said after the press conference. "It is a consistent pattern in which he is looking out for his job, rather than at keeping jobs. My commitment is to put the needs of the district first."

Potosnak reiterated after the conference that he would like to engage Lance in a public debate so voters can see where they each stand on individual issues.

"I think it is important for a lively discussion so voters can see how different our policies are," he said. "I know voters will be eager to see that when Mr. Lance is given the opportunity, he sides against the district and with the national party."

Potosnak—who taught teachers how to teach chemistry for eight years at Bridgewater-Raritan High School—said he spent some of his career working with professionals on using methods other than the usual blackboard and chalk techniques. He said he focused on using technology out of the classroom to fuel learning.

But without the funds, Potosnak said, these kinds of methods are useless.

"I emphasized that we have a digitally native student population," he said. "Unless we have teachers who understand it, they will be in a different world."

At the time he taught from 1999 to 2007, Potosnak said, a great deal of the funding came from local businesses in Bridgewater.

"All of this technology was from industries in Bridgewater giving grants," he said. "They were willing to step up. But I'm not sure schools should be a charity."

And with the budget cuts he has seen from Gov. Chris Christie's decisions in the past six months, Potosnak said, he does not believe there is enough support for the teachers in the state.

"The rhetoric I've heard from Gov. Christie is demeaning," he said. "What this new bill [from Congress] does is show teachers how important their jobs are."

Several teachers are hoping it makes a difference, including former Edison school teacher Jeff Smith, who was laid off after one year on the job.

"I don't like what the Republicans are doing to the state," said Smith, who student taught at Bridgewater-Raritan High School in 2005 and attended the press conference to support Potosnak. "It is hard to see how much the students are affected."

Mitesh Ghia—also a teacher in Edison, who was already tenured and did not get laid off—said he just wants to see the students have the opportunities to grow and learn.

"Supporting education is one of the most important things to have," he said. "We need children to be able to be astute."

Potosnak formally kicked off his campaign to unseat Lance at the Organigaya Café in North Plainfield in July, and spoke about his support of small businesses and education.

His support for the education bill, Potosnak said at the press conference Wednesday, is about a commitment to education and increasing the available resources of the country, something he does not feel Lance is as focused on doing.

"Lance's vote [against the education bill] was a lack of commitment," said Potosnak, who currently owns a small home repair business. "I am committed to putting the economy back on track."