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Essex County Politics · April 30, 2021 2:53 AM
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JOHN MOONEY, EDUCATION WRITER | APRIL 30, 2021
NJ Spotlight News
April 28, 2021: President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
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For all of New Jersey’s gains in building a nationally recognized preschool program over the past two decades, the reality is it is still serving only about a third of eligible children, if that.
Now President Joe Biden has expanded the possibilities, in announcing in his address to Congress this week his American Families Plan, which would invest an additional $200 billion in federal funds to bring universal preschool to every state.
Early childhood advocates in New Jersey welcomed the announcement, saying the funds and focus could make a significant difference. One recent estimate from the National Institute for Early Education Research said a truly universal program for all 3- and 4-year olds would cost an additional $1.7 billion.
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Posted by
Essex County Politics · April 30, 2021 2:50 AM
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Posted by
Essex County Politics · April 29, 2021 3:09 AM
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By NATASHA KORECKI and CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO
04/28/2021
Politico
President Joe Biden's speech was, in its most direct form, an attempt to sell a host of agenda items.
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President Joe Biden wants to soak the rich to give to the middle class and poor. And he ain't afraid to say so.
In his first address before a joint session of Congress, the president embraced a tax-and-spend mantra to frame his next big legislative fight, walking right up to a third rail that has terrified Democrats for decades and forced his predecessors to triangulate and retreat to safer middle ground.
“I’m not out to punish anyone. But I will not add to the tax burden of the middle class of this country,” Biden said Wednesday, urging billionaires and millionaires to “pay their fair share.” “When you hear someone say that they don’t want to raise taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent and on corporate America, ask them: Whose taxes are you going to raise instead, and whose are you going to cut?”
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Posted by
Essex County Politics · April 28, 2021 3:39 AM
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LILO H. STAINTON, HEALTH CARE WRITER | APRIL 28, 2021
NJ Spotlight News
Sign at COVID-19 vaccination site
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The number of COVID-19 vaccines administered every day in New Jersey has declined sharply over recent weeks, but state officials said they have a plan to counter the drop and still reach their goal of immunizing 4.7 million people by July.
That plan — parts of which will be rolled out later this week — is likely to include additional public service announcements, more partnerships with churches and other community organizations. Some elements may also feature a fresh focus on specific populations, like students and staff on college campuses, according to state officials. The state Department of Health is also taking steps to ensure people who opted for the common two-shot vaccines get both of the doses needed for maximum protection, they said.
When discussing the recent drop in daily immunizations, Gov. Phil Murphy downplayed the impact of vaccine hesitancy — something officials had feared would be more apparent — instead attributing the decline to warm weather, positive trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and a possible sense of invincibility among those who haven’t been sick.
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