Paid “Release Time:” Another Way in which NJ Taxpayers Are Being Fleeced by the NJEA

The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by John Riches and Justin Meyers describing their lawsuit to stop Jersey City from using taxpayer dollars to fund teachers working full-time for the teachers union (called “release time”).  This is just another abuse of taxpayers by powerful government unions.  You can bet that the NJEA is providing legal representation for the defense because the NJEA wants to keep the tax dollars flowing.  If taxpayers are funding these full-time employees, that’s more money that the union can use for other purposes – like lobbying and political organizing.  In addition, NJ citizens must understand that any NJEA legal representation is also being funded by taxpayer dollars.

Once again, if taxpayers knew what was going on, they would be outraged.  Once again, taxpayer dollars are being used against taxpayers’ own interests.  Once again, the system is being rigged in favor of powerful government unions who use taxpayer funding to lobby for still higher taxes and block reform efforts (like this lawsuit).  

Thanks to the Goldwater Institute (Mr. Riches employer) for funding this important challenge to the fleecing of NJ taxpayers.  At least someone is standing up for average NJ taxpayers and against NJ’s special-interest-dominated status quo.