- We're now joined by State Senator Michael Testa, the 1st Legislative District Senator, and thanks for joining us.

- Thank you for having me again, Steve.

Appreciate it.

- You got it.

Senator, we had a conversation recently where we talked about a whole range of issues, and you said you had a real concern about governor, we're taping this in the middle of April, the budget legally, constitutionally, has to be established by the last day of June or there's no money to spend, apparently.

I do remember that as a former state legislator, a long time ago, the government shuts down.

Question: What is the biggest concern you have about the governor's proposed state budget?

- Honestly, it's the size of the budget itself.

We're at over $53 billion now proposed.

That's 50% larger than Governor Murphy's first budget.

And we have to keep in mind that Governor Christie's last budget was $36 billion.

We're now at $53 billion.

That's larger than most countries, most developed countries across the globe.

We, at some point, the State of New Jersey is going to have to tighten its belt on some of the superfluous spending that we engage in.

- And the federal funding and COVID-related challenges don't influence your thinking on this at all, in terms of this increase in the budget?

- No, in fact, look, I was the lead attorney in suing the governor regarding the proposed $9.8 billion borrowing that turned into $4.3 billion of borrowing that we deemed was unnecessary, because unfortunately, the state's treasurer, their projections were totally off as to what revenues would be realized by the State of New Jersey.

And that's a real problem.

And right now we're operating at a $10 billion surplus as well, so, which- - I'm sorry for interrupting, Senator.

Do you have one cut, one piece of fat in the budget that you'd say, "You know what, let's not spend that"?

- I mean, one specific piece that I could use is the $12 million French Museum in Jersey City.

I'm just perplexed by that, when, you know, certain schools in my district are begging for, you know, $500,000, and it's really affecting their ability to operate and offer extracurricular activities.

But somehow we have enough money in the budget for a $12 million French Museum in Jersey City?

And I certainly have nothing against the French.

They're a wonderful culture.

(Steve laughs) But I just don't understand the need for that at this point in time, when we should really be making sure our children, especially, as they're coming, still coming out of that COVID-19 cloud, with learning loss and socialization loss, we should be making sure that our schools are at least fully-funded to the best of our ability.

- Quick follow-up on this, Senator.

In the previous conversation we had, you talked about real concerns you had about sex education programming.

You mentioned an interview, excuse me, we actually did an interview with your colleague, Senator Holly Schepisi, in which she talked about some of that curriculum as well.

Please look at our website, find the interview with Senator Schepisi.

But I want to be clear, (clears throat) you have said publicly and you told our producers you are not in favor of banning any books.

- I am not in favor of book-banning.

That's, I find that to be wholly un-American.

Maybe it's because, you know, I read too many books as a youngster, and I remember the book "Fahrenheit 451", which was all about, you know, burning of books.

And I think some of the books that have controversies on you know, on both sides of the aisle.

Look, there are some some great books, you know, "Tom Sawyer", you think of, and there are certainly some, you know, horrific language contained in those books.

That's part of our American history.

It's a dark part of our American history, where words were used much more often than they should have been, or if at all.

But that is part of our history.

And those books should not be banned by any stretch of the imagination, when they are appropriate and age-appropriate.

- Quick follow-up on this.

Curriculum having to do with race and race relations.

Biggest concern you have about it as it relates to public school education?

Because I believe you have expressed some concerns.

- I have expressed concerns about critical race theory.

I don't think that that is, you know, valid science.

I don't believe that, you know, it's helping race relations in any way.

Look, where I went to public school in Vineland, you know, which is a very diverse town, I went to junior high school and high school at a public high school, Vineland Senior High School is where I graduated from in 1994.

You know, we knew as a population how to get along.

I wasn't feeling guilty because of my background.

And you know, I also think critical race theory doesn't take into account even people like myself.

You know, my mother is a first-generation Polish Jew whose parents survived the Holocaust.

My grandfather, who ultimately became the mayor of the city of Vineland, didn't speak English until first grade, you know.

- You came from Italy?

- Well, his family did.

He was actually born here, but they didn't speak English in his house, (chuckles) you know, because they spoke Italian.

And you know, I don't think that critical race theory really takes that into account, and I just have a real issue with that.

I think there are many better ways to get along, between all of the races.

Look, Cumberland County, where I'm from, is one of the most diverse counties in the State of New Jersey.

And I can tell you that we get along very well here, across populations.

And I think that critical race theory is there to make children, you know, feel guilty for being one race, and feeling like they've been behind an eight-ball or starting behind the starting line if they are another race.

And I don't think that's fair.

- Real quickly, and I'll get off this, Senator, but there's a whole range of folks who believe that not teaching in this fashion denies a critically important and negative part of our American history, as it relates to how African Americans have been treated.

You say what to that?

- I think that we should teach actual history as to what has happened.

And there has been an awful lot of history that we should highlight that is a black eye on American history.

There is no doubt about it that we have a lot of warts as Americans.

Our American history is riddled with them.

But, guess what?

We have to be able to recognize those horrific mistakes, which certainly existed, my family's, you know coming here by a century or more.

And I think we have to recognize those mistakes and do better, that's what we have to do.

But we shouldn't be demonizing anybody.

- Real quick on this.

We have a series called, "Reimagine Childcare", looks at the need for affordable, accessible, quality childcare.

Many believe that it's a partisan issue.

Many others believe it has nothing to do with partisanship.

We've had many of your colleagues come on and talk about this, including Senator Schepisi, who you mentioned.

Your view of the importance of the government playing a key role in helping to provide affordable, accessible quality childcare is?

- Look, I mean, especially when you deal with single mothers, they need to be able to have access to child care, otherwise they are going to be jailed, you know, by their home life and taking care of a very small child.

There is no doubt about that.

So I think of the multitude of single mothers that exist in my district.

They need access to healthcare so that they can better themselves via employment, and better themselves via further education to be able to obtain better employment, which will only better their lifestyle and give their child, or children, a better chance and a start in life.

- I cannot thank you enough, and we look forward to having you back on to have not just a civil conversation, but an important and substantive one as well.

Thank you, Senator Michael Testa from the 1st Legislative District.

Thank you, Senator.

- Thank you for having me, I really appreciate it.

- You got it.

Stay with us, we'll be right back.

- [Narrator] Think Tank with Steve Adubato has been a production of the Caucus Educational Corporation.

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