After learning about Snooki’s compensation for her appearance at Rutgers, Republican Assemblyman John DiMaio of New Jersey was inspired to write a new bill that will cap the spending of state money for speakers at New Jersey public universities at $10,000. DiMaio said that it is “ludicrous and wasteful” to use state funds as payment for speakers such as Polizzi. Though Polizzi’s funds may technically be considered state funds, the money used was actually from RUPA (Rutgers University Programming Association), which charged a mandatory fee on every student’s tuition bill. The funds went towards a variety of free student activities throughout the school year, with Snooki’s event, which was categorized as a “comedy act,” not an academic event, being just one of many. As far as the bill actually being passed? New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that he wouldn’t “waste” his time on it, but would “consider it when it comes to [his] desk.”
