Yep, the System is Rigged Alright
Posted OnJune 4, 2019 byThe NJEA-funded dark money group, New Direction New Jersey (NDNJ), is back at it. In a new digital ad that’s part of its $1 million ad campaign, the group states: “There’s no other way to put it – the system is rigged,” as reported by New Jersey Globe. NDNJ is right: the system is rigged. And…Read More
Gov. Murphy Makes Clear that He Routinely Consults the NJEA on Policy
Posted OnJune 3, 2019 byThe governor is remarkably unconcerned about his unusually close relationship with the state’s most powerful special interest. He appears in TV ads paid for by the NJEA that call for one of the NJEA’s main policy goals. He vetoes a bill that would expose the NJEA’s secret funding of political groups that support its own…Read More
Another NJEA-funded Ad Starring Gov. Murphy
Posted OnMay 31, 2019 byApparently, Gov. Murphy sees nothing wrong with appearing in ads funded by a special interest advocating the policies that the special interest wants. He did it last week using the very same language that the special interest uses. Now he’s doing it again. The NJEA strongly backed Gov. Murphy in the governor’s race. A high-ranking…Read More
Star-Ledger’s Moran Calls for Override of Murphy’s Veto But Leaves Out Important Facts
Posted OnMay 30, 2019 byThe Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran calls for the legislature to override Gov. Murphy’s veto of a bill requiring disclosure of “dark money” donors for political ads. Moran makes many good points but neglects to point out the FACT that in the case at hand – where Murphy appears in the TV ads of New Direction New…Read More
Sen. Singleton Politely Points Out the Dark Side of Dark Money
Posted OnMay 29, 2019 bySen. Singleton, who is sponsoring legislation to require disclosure of dark money donors, penned an op-ed in the Star-Ledger calling for passage of Senate Bill 1500. Remember the Sunlight Policy Center uncovered that the dark money group New Direction New Jersey (NDNJ) is getting at least $2.5 million from the NJEA to run pro-Murphy ads…Read More
New Jersey Globe Leaves Out an Important Detail: NDNJ is Funded by NJEA
Posted OnMay 28, 2019 byThe Globe’s David Wildstein reveals that the dark money group New Direction New Jersey (NDNJ) is running TV ads with footage bought from Murphy’s election campaign, which is good reporting. What’s missing is that NDNJ is FUNDED BY THE NJEA. It needs to become a regular part of our collective conversation that New Jersey’s most…Read More
New Direction NJ Serves the Interests of a Politically Connected Special Interest
Posted OnMay 23, 2019 byAn Insider NJ story today quotes Philip Swibinski, spokesman for New Direction NJ, in defense of NDNJ’s $1 million TV ad campaign in support of a millionaire’s tax: “While some in Trenton cling to a failed status quo, this movement looks to a future focused on fairness for all of New Jersey’s families rather than…Read More
A strong warning on New Jersey’s vulnerability to the next recession
Posted OnMay 22, 2019 byThe Star-Ledger reports that the rating agency Moody’s singled out New Jersey as one of the two states unprepared for a recession. With its progressive tax code and its pension funds invested heavily in the stock market, both state revenues and pension assets would be hit hard. In a particularly alarming warning, Moody’s predicts that…Read More
Sen. Sweeney Raises Two Key Points About the NJEA’s Dark Money
Posted OnMay 21, 2019 byThe senator makes two key points: 1) this secret funding raises questions about just how much influence the NJEA has over the governor; and 2) the NJEA’s membership may not know what the NJEA is doing with their dues. The full quote from Sen. Sweeney: “I’m bothered the governor is so connected to a point…Read More
The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran condemns public union shout-down tactics
Posted OnMay 20, 2019 byAt a Rutgers town hall on his “Path to Progress” pension and health benefit reform plan, senate president Sweeney got shouted down by CWA members in the audience. New Jersey has a serious pension and benefits crisis. For too long, reform efforts have been stymied by a vested interests that don’t want reform. For too…Read More