Rights vs. politics

While this column is specifically about whether NJ Gov. Chris Christie can override constitutionally mandated school funding by ignoring it, it applies to the larger strategies of Republicans everywhere, summed up nicely here:

Justice Barry Albin came closest to touching on the core issue, but he didn’t flat out say it: Schools are not like other public expenditures. They have a constitutional lien on the Treasury by virtue of . Just like bond holders have to be paid, so the schools have to be funded. It’s not discretionary. Not a matter of politics.

What he did say was this: “Can the appropriations clause”—which grants the Legislature the sole power to raise revenues—”be used to extinguish a Constitutional right?” He used the example of denying poor defendants the right to counsel because the state says it can’t afford to pay. That example has been decided. The answer is no.

Go read all of it, especially if you live in New Jersey.