Teachers union claims they're worried about the children, but this proves they're not....

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Governor Christie (Republican) has cut aid to school districts by an amount that could be offset for the most part by a wage freeze for all school employees and a 1.5% contribution to their own healthcare. The teachers union is having none of it, however. They're saying NO to both proposals, knowing full well that the only other alternative is to lay off teachers. And all the while, they're claiming the Governor hates children. I think it's the teachers union that actually hates children. Selfish SOB's. I am glad our Governor is standing up to them. If Christie is successful in reining in this abusive union, I'd love to see this model replicated nationwide.

TRENTON — Every local school employee in New Jersey from superintendents to cafeteria workers would have to take a pay freeze in order to save nearly enough money to stave off catastrophic budget cuts, state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said Wednesday.

Schundler said a pay freeze affecting all employees, as well as a requirement that they all pay at least 1.5 percent of their salary toward health benefits, would save the state's taxpayers a total of $765 million.

...

Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday challenged teachers statewide to take the pay freeze to offset the impact on local school districts of his $820 million reduction in state aid proposed in the budget that takes effect in July.

...

The teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, has resisted the call.

...

That still leaves room for many teachers to get so-called step or longevity bonuses typical in local contracts, Schundler said.

"The issue is what the union will volunteer,'' Schundler said. "You can get almost all you need from the one give-up and still have individuals making more money.''

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100324/STATE/100324056/All+school+employees+would+need+to+take+pay+freeze+to+meet+aid+reduction+total

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

They want to program the children to be good little tree hugging bisexual socialist feminazis and eunuchs, along as they get to live the life of Reilly? Pfffft!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

They want to program the children to be good little tree hugging bisexual socialist feminazis and eunuchs, along as they get to live the life of Reilly? Pfffft!

to the teachers union, the children do not come first. they don't even come second.

[SMR 368]

Governor Christie (Republican) has cut aid to school districts by an amount that could be offset for the most part by a wage freeze for all school employees and a 1.5% contribution to their own healthcare. The teachers union is having none of it, however. They're saying NO to both proposals, knowing full well that the only other alternative is to lay off teachers. And all the while, they're claiming the Governor hates children. I think it's the teachers union that actually hates children. Selfish SOB's. I am glad our Governor is standing up to them. If Christie is successful in reining in this abusive union, I'd love to see this model replicated nationwide.

Raise your hand if you work in the private sector and have had a raise in the last year. Raise your hand if you don't have to make a contribution to your healthcare. Not many hands out there.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Raise your hand if you work in the private sector and have had a raise in the last year. Raise your hand if you don't have to make a contribution to your healthcare. Not many hands out there.

I've never not gotten a raise. But yeah, I contribute wayyyyy more than 1.5% to my healthcare.

Public education obviously is dependent on tax revenues. During periods of high unemployment and lower wages, it is simply common sense for public employees to accept the fact that they're not going to make as much. I work for the insurance industry and when we have a bad year with CAT losses, we don't get bonuses and very small raises. We accept it, we don't whine.

Edited March 25, 2010 by w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Teachers Unions are amongst the worst of the worst.

When I lived in Minnesota it was horrible.

The leftists in that state do everything they can to screw over the taxpayers and to help the unions.

For instance, the state can hold out for not giving the unions their demands, HOWEVER if the union won't cave by Date X on the calander year, then the state/local governments MUST give the unions the benefits they demand because we can't have the teachers striking during the school year....

Unions literally hold the government hostage from time to time because of the way the law is written. It's complete bullshit.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Teachers Unions are amongst the worst of the worst.

When I lived in Minnesota it was horrible.

The leftists in that state do everything they can to screw over the taxpayers and to help the unions.

For instance, the state can hold out for not giving the unions their demands, HOWEVER if the union won't cave by Date X on the calander year, then the state/local governments MUST give the unions the benefits they demand because we can't have the teachers striking during the school year....

Unions literally hold the government hostage from time to time because of the way the law is written. It's complete bullshit.

Agreed on all points.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

All the teachers out here drive these...with gold coins spewing out of the exhaust pipe as they cruise down the neighborhood, laughing all the way to the bank.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

All the teachers out here drive these...with gold coins spewing out of the exhaust pipe as they cruise down the neighborhood, laughing all the way to the bank.

Silly strawman. No one said teachers make bank. What's being said here is that when you work in a profession that depends on tax revenues, you should expect for your own income to get impacted when your revenue source dries up. Fact of life. What's also being said, is that during bad economic times, sacrifice must be shared and not merely limited to private sector workers.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Silly strawman. No one said teachers make bank. What's being said here is that when you work in a profession that depends on tax revenues, you should expect for your own income to get impacted when your revenue source dries up. Fact of life. What's also being said, is that during bad economic times, sacrifice must be shared and not merely limited to private sector workers.

From the teacher's union:

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian said that New Jersey teachers and school employees have “had enough.”

“We expect to disagree over the importance of funding public education,” Keshishian said, “but we have had enough of this governor’s bullying and misinformation. He’s carrying out a political vendetta against NJEA, and he’s hurting the students of this state by attacking their teachers and other school employees.

“He can twist the facts and demonize all he wants, but the fact remains: he’s cutting an additional billion dollars out of education while giving a billion dollar tax break to people earning over $400,000 a year,” Keshishian said. “On top of the $475 million he already cut this year, that’s $1.5 billion in education cuts … and counting.

“The governor again deceived the public about our members’ pensions and benefits, because he doesn’t want anyone focusing on his failure to contribute even a penny into the state’s pension fund.

“He speaks about a ‘broken union pension system,’ and claims there are two classes of citizens in New Jersey: ‘those who enjoy rich public benefits and those who pay for them.’ But the state has paid nothing – absolutely nothing – into our pension funds in 11 of the past 15 years, while teachers have put in more than $6 billion of their own money.

“And now he claims he wants to emulate the 1980 Massachusetts property tax initiative known as Proposition 2 ½.

“What he doesn’t tell our parents, students, and taxpayers is that for three years, Massachusetts public schools were ravaged by Proposition 2 ½. Class sizes hit 40, 50, and more in many districts. Students’ educations were disrupted and damaged.

“Only after the state stepped in with much more state aid to school districts did Massachusetts public schools recover, but that took three years.

“New Jersey ranks 45^th in the nation in state support for its local public schools. What is the governor’s solution to that problem, which is the root cause of our high property taxes?

“Chris Christie wants to cut BOTH local school spending AND state education spending. How are public schools supposed to avoid large class sizes, loss of programs, and deep cuts in everything they need to function?

“Last fall, he accused NJEA of lying to its members when we told them that he wanted to cut their salaries, pensions, benefits, and school spending. Now, he’s done just that.

“Chris Christie claims he respects our members, but his actions suggest otherwise. Today’s budget address was a new low, even for a governor who clearly disrespects all public employees.

“It’s time for him to realize the campaign is over, and to show some leadership that respects all New Jerseyans.”

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Good post.

The tax cut for the wealthy is needed. Who do you think pays the most in property taxes? Who do you think the Wall Street downturn has impacted the most? Not people like you or me. Drive up to Short Hills, you'll see it. For sale/For rent signs everywhere. Then drive down the middle class burb I live in and it's thriving. I know it's fashionable to hate on the the rich, but they do have a role to play in the economic ecosystem and when they need the extra assistance they should get it too.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Good post.

The tax cut for the wealthy is needed. Who do you think pays the most in property taxes? Who do you think the Wall Street downturn has impacted the most? Not people like you or me. Drive up to Short Hills, you'll see it. For sale/For rent signs everywhere. Then drive down the middle class burb I live in and it's thriving. I know it's fashionable to hate on the the rich, but they do have a role to play in the economic ecosystem and when they need the extra assistance they should get it too.

Did someone just say the wealthy are needed and that eventhough it may not seem that way, they go through hard time too? Whooaa...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Good post.

The tax cut for the wealthy is needed. Who do you think pays the most in property taxes? Who do you think the Wall Street downturn has impacted the most? Not people like you or me. Drive up to Short Hills, you'll see it. For sale/For rent signs everywhere. Then drive down the middle class burb I live in and it's thriving. I know it's fashionable to hate on the the rich, but they do have a role to play in the economic ecosystem and when they need the extra assistance they should get it too.

I know if I were making over $400,000, I'd be feeling pinched too, but thankfully I'm just a peon with aspirations of getting into the field of public education, so no worries here.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Did someone just say the wealthy are needed and that eventhough it may not seem that way, they go through hard time too? Whooaa...

I live in the shadow of Wall Street. I supported, and continue to be supportive of, the Wall Street bailouts too. Local trumps all.

I know if I were making over $400,000, I'd be feeling pinched too, but thankfully I'm just a peon with aspirations of getting into the field of public education, so no worries here.

Put the strawmen away, Steven.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I live in the shadow of Wall Street. I supported, and continue to be supportive of, the Wall Street bailouts too. Local trumps all.

I don't believe in the bailouts of the airlines, auto industry, wall street, etc..

In a good economy things must fail and they must die for the next big thing to grab hold and for others to have a chance at success. Sure, the pain of the failure will be felt, but it also breeds opportunity and at the same time keeps a worn bubble from bursting much worse the next time. You can keep patching it all you want, but eventually you won't be able to stop the inevitible downfall.