SHOW YOUR LOVE TO THE GOV!
Governor Corzine has had to make some tough choices in the past few weeks.
· He proposed the most significant pension contribution in a decade—over one billion
dollars— and has led the fight for responsible pension funding to protect our retirement.
· While politicians have been taking stabs at public employee benefits, Governor Corzine fully funded the premium on our post-retirement medical benefits in his proposed FY 07 budget.
· He had the courage to propose a one penny increase in the sales tax to help pull New Jersey out of its fiscal nightmare.
· He shut down the state to avoid giving into another gimmick filled budget.
NOW…. We need to show the Gov our love.
Send him an e-mail letting him know that you support everything he is doing to clean up the mess in Trenton. Here’s how:
1. Point your web browser to: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html
2. Next to “E-mail Topic” select “Topic Not Listed/Other” from the drop down menu and click “Continue.”
3. Enter the information requested. Under “affiliation” next to “group” type “NJEA.” It is important to for the Governor’s office to understand the level of support he is receiving from public school employees.
4. Type “Sales Tax” in the subject line of your message.
5. Type your message. Here are a few ideas that you can cut and paste into your message—or write your own!
· Thanks for having the courage to do the right thing. NJ can no longer continue building budgets on insufficient revenues.
· While no one likes to see taxes increase, raising the sales tax makes perfect sense in our current situation. I support your efforts whole heartedly.
· Please continue to stand strong for a responsible state budget. Thank you for all you are doing to pull New Jersey out of its fiscal crisis.
· Thanks for ending budget gimmickry and working so hard to clean up the mess in Trenton. You have my support!
· Public school employees appreciate your support for our pensions,
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
State Budget - Corzine Firm!
Governor Corzine addressed a joint session of the legislature this morning regarding the state’s failure to develop a budget for FY’07. The Governor used his constitutional authority to order the legislators to Trenton for an unprecedented 4th of July session to break the budget logjam. While the Governor can order the legislature to meet, he can not force them to take action. His Executive Order # 18 requires the legislature to come to Trenton every day until a budget is struck.
Almost 50 NJEA members and staff were in the gallery to hear Governor Corzine deliver a serious and sober message in which he offered support for a compromise proposal originally initiated by Senate President Codey. The proposal would devote half of the revenue derived from a new sales tax increase to property tax relief and devote the other half to address the state’s budget shortfall.
After the speech both houses and both parties caucused. The Senate left after an hour while the Assembly caucus continued for four hours.
At 4:45 pm Speaker Roberts held a press conference and declared the sales tax “dead in the Assembly.” He said that the Assembly Budget Committee members would be working all night and urged Governor Corzine to consider alternative cuts and revenue sources. NJEA was pleased to hear Speaker Roberts indicate that there was not support in his caucus for a proposal to extend the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) tax. The TDI proposal would have negatively impacted our members by imposing a payroll tax that they currently do not pay.
As of this writing we believe that all parties to this debate continue to support the significant pension contribution for which we have been lobbying.
NJEA expects both houses to meet on a continuing basis. However, due to continuing uncertainty regarding the activities of the legislature, we are not asking members or staff to come to Trenton on Wednesday, July 5th. NJEA is working with other labor, environmental, consumer and civil rights groups on a Fairness Alliance press conference for Thursday, July 6th. Consequently, we may be asking members and staff to come to Trenton on that day. Please stand by for more information regarding a potential lobby day on Thursday, July 6th.
Members should continue to contact their legislators and urge them to end this crisis and provide New Jerseyans with a responsible state budget now.
When you contact our members please express our appreciation to those who spent part of their 4th of July holiday in Trenton with us as well as to those who took the time to contact their lawmakers during this continuing crisis. Their efforts are making a difference.
NJEA staff are in the State House monitoring events on an hourly basis.
Almost 50 NJEA members and staff were in the gallery to hear Governor Corzine deliver a serious and sober message in which he offered support for a compromise proposal originally initiated by Senate President Codey. The proposal would devote half of the revenue derived from a new sales tax increase to property tax relief and devote the other half to address the state’s budget shortfall.
After the speech both houses and both parties caucused. The Senate left after an hour while the Assembly caucus continued for four hours.
At 4:45 pm Speaker Roberts held a press conference and declared the sales tax “dead in the Assembly.” He said that the Assembly Budget Committee members would be working all night and urged Governor Corzine to consider alternative cuts and revenue sources. NJEA was pleased to hear Speaker Roberts indicate that there was not support in his caucus for a proposal to extend the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) tax. The TDI proposal would have negatively impacted our members by imposing a payroll tax that they currently do not pay.
As of this writing we believe that all parties to this debate continue to support the significant pension contribution for which we have been lobbying.
NJEA expects both houses to meet on a continuing basis. However, due to continuing uncertainty regarding the activities of the legislature, we are not asking members or staff to come to Trenton on Wednesday, July 5th. NJEA is working with other labor, environmental, consumer and civil rights groups on a Fairness Alliance press conference for Thursday, July 6th. Consequently, we may be asking members and staff to come to Trenton on that day. Please stand by for more information regarding a potential lobby day on Thursday, July 6th.
Members should continue to contact their legislators and urge them to end this crisis and provide New Jerseyans with a responsible state budget now.
When you contact our members please express our appreciation to those who spent part of their 4th of July holiday in Trenton with us as well as to those who took the time to contact their lawmakers during this continuing crisis. Their efforts are making a difference.
NJEA staff are in the State House monitoring events on an hourly basis.
Monday, July 03, 2006
State Budget Update
As you know, the Governor and the Legislature have not come to resolution on the FY ‘07 state budget. NJEA lobbyists are in the State House today monitoring the situation. Members of the Assembly Budget Committee are also in the State House meeting informally behind closed doors. From information we are receiving, the Assembly Democratic leadership and Governor Corzine are still far apart on this issue. Governor Corzine, Senate President Codey, and Speaker Roberts are slated to meet later today. Hopefully, that meeting will produce a resolution which can be voted on Monday, July 3rd or Tuesday, July 4th. Because of the uncertainty of the situation, at this time we are not asking members to come to Trenton during this holiday period. If, however, there is no resolution by Wednesday, July 5th, we may call upon you to come to Trenton. Please call NJEA Government Relations between 9:30 am and 10:00 am on Wednesday morning, July 5th, to learn whether you are needed in Trenton that day and to receive an update.
In the meantime, it would be helpful if you could contact the following three legislators:
Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts
Phone: 856-742-7600
Fax: 856-742-1831
Email: asmroberts@njleg.org
Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman
Phone: 609-292-0500
Fax: 609-633-2179
Email: aswwatsoncoleman@njleg.org
Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Lou Greenwald
Phone: 856-435-1247
Fax: 856-435-3849
Email: asmgreenwald@njleg.org
Call, fax, or email them with the message that it is time to craft a responsible budget for the citizens of New Jersey. The time to resolve this issue is now!
Remember, this situation could change quickly. We will try to keep you informed as more information becomes available. Thanks for any assistance you can provide
In the meantime, it would be helpful if you could contact the following three legislators:
Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts
Phone: 856-742-7600
Fax: 856-742-1831
Email: asmroberts@njleg.org
Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman
Phone: 609-292-0500
Fax: 609-633-2179
Email: aswwatsoncoleman@njleg.org
Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Lou Greenwald
Phone: 856-435-1247
Fax: 856-435-3849
Email: asmgreenwald@njleg.org
Call, fax, or email them with the message that it is time to craft a responsible budget for the citizens of New Jersey. The time to resolve this issue is now!
Remember, this situation could change quickly. We will try to keep you informed as more information becomes available. Thanks for any assistance you can provide
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
State Budget News
During the next several days, the Governor and the Legislature will be working on a new budget for 2006-2007. NJEA is hopeful that those deliberations will result in a state budget before July 1, 2006. If that is not the case, we may ask you to contact some of your members to lobby legislators over the July 4th weekend.
We have made arrangements for our office to be “ready to assist” any emergency lobbying effort that might become necessary.
We ask that you do the following:
1. Check your email regularly. This will be the most efficient way to contact you.
2. Watch the news over the next few days with an eye on the NJ Statehouse. The news
seems to change by the minute.
We hope that the legislators do their job, and go home for a very nice weekend. However, we need to remain vigilant whenever pension funding and school aid are topics of discussion in Trenton.
Thank you.
We have made arrangements for our office to be “ready to assist” any emergency lobbying effort that might become necessary.
We ask that you do the following:
1. Check your email regularly. This will be the most efficient way to contact you.
2. Watch the news over the next few days with an eye on the NJ Statehouse. The news
seems to change by the minute.
We hope that the legislators do their job, and go home for a very nice weekend. However, we need to remain vigilant whenever pension funding and school aid are topics of discussion in Trenton.
Thank you.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
PRIDE in Public Education
PRIDE packets were mailed to local presidents the week of June 12. If you haven't received your packet, use the "email me" link to the right, and we'll get another one out to you.
For those of you who are PRIDE veterans, remember, proposals are due 60 days prior to your first project. Submit your proposals while funds are available! Coming soon --- PRIDE forms will be available on the njea website, as well as this blogspot!
For those of you who are first timers -- Consider getting involved with your community and getting support for your local association and the passage of your school budget. If you'd like to participate in PRIDE but find it all a little confusing, we would be happy to assist you in organizing some creative projects. as well as with the submission of your proposals for funding. To request assistance, call the Region 3 office at 856-782-1225 or use the "email me" link to the right.
For those of you who are PRIDE veterans, remember, proposals are due 60 days prior to your first project. Submit your proposals while funds are available! Coming soon --- PRIDE forms will be available on the njea website, as well as this blogspot!
For those of you who are first timers -- Consider getting involved with your community and getting support for your local association and the passage of your school budget. If you'd like to participate in PRIDE but find it all a little confusing, we would be happy to assist you in organizing some creative projects. as well as with the submission of your proposals for funding. To request assistance, call the Region 3 office at 856-782-1225 or use the "email me" link to the right.
Press Release -- June 19 Pension Rally
The following press release was posted by NJEA's Communications Division following the Public Employee Rally on June 19. Thank you, Camden County, for pulling your weight in helping to save the $1.5 billion pension contribution that Governor Corzine promised in his budget!!!
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Over 10,000 public employees rally in Trenton for pensions
Turnout exceeds expectations as raucous rally spills into streets
Trenton – Chanting and cheering to the strains of Aretha Franklin’s “R.E.S.P.E.C.T” over ten thousand public employees – teachers, school support professionals, police officers, firefighters, nurses, state workers, retirees and others – flooded West State Street in Trenton today for a boisterous rally aimed at convincing legislators to support the $1.3 billion pension and benefits contribution contained in Governor Corzine’s proposed budget.
NJEA President Joyce Powell led off a slate of over 20 speakers, including labor leaders, rank-and-file members, several legislators from both parties and Governor Corzine. Powell noted that the current pension deficit is a bi-partisan problem. “I don’t blame one person or one party for the mess this state is in,” noted Powell. “Pension neglect was a problem when Republicans were in power, it was a problem when the parties shared power and it’s been a problem with Democrats in power. Four different governors, two Republicans and two Democrats, have presided over budgets that failed to fund our pensions.”
Powell then praised Governor Corzine for his “courageous” budget, which calls for the state’s first meaningful pension contribution in over a decade. “We finally have a Governor who is trying to be part of the solution. The Governor has proposed a good, responsible budget, a budget without gimmicks. It’s time for both parties to get behind him and make sure that budget gets passed,” exclaimed Powell, to roars of approval.
NJEA is working in coalition with other public employee groups to achieve passage of a responsible budget with adequate revenues and Governor Corzine’s full proposed pension contribution.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Public Employee Rally - June 19, 2006
Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
Where: Statehouse, Trenton, NJ
Why: To save the $1.5 billion pension contribution Governor Corzine promised
in his budget.
We need a large turnout of NJEA members to tell the legislature:
“A deal is a deal!!!”
Gather all the NJEA members you can and come to Trenton on
June 19th. This rally is in the planning stages. More information about parking, transportation and other logistics will follow soon.
Save the Date!
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