Sunlight Blog
After Reporting on an Undisclosed $3 Million Contribution to Spiller’s Super PAC, We Now Learn that NJEA’s Total Contribution Is $8 Million – ALL from Teachers’ Regular Dues
Posted On07/01/2024 byWe wanted to follow up on Sunlight’s new report, which revealed that NJEA leadership — including NJEA President Spiller — contributed $3 million to Spiller’s personal Super PAC, Protecting Our Democracy in 2022. Notably, this contribution was not reported to New Jersey’s campaign finance watchdog and thus was unknown to the public, including the teachers…Read More
Politico’s Reporting Adds Credibility to Indications of a Gubernatorial Run by NJEA President Sean Spiller. How Many Millions of Teachers’ Dues Will the NJEA Spend Supporting Him?
Posted On06/13/2024 byPolitico’s Matt Friedman has been doing some strong reporting over the past few days. First, he covered the reports of NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson using “Pension Justice” to drum up teachers’ support for a gubernatorial run by NJEA President Sean Spiller. Friedman’s attention and context add credibility to the tips both Sunlight and NJEdReport got…Read More
Is the NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Pushing Teachers to Support a Run for Governor by NJEA President Spiller?
Posted On06/07/2024 byLooks like the NJEA is all-in for President Sean Spiller’s personal political career. We’ve heard multiple reports that NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson is out in the field pushing teachers to support Spiller for governor. The NJEA is currently conducting a campaign to get members to become “Pension Justice Advocates,” and reportedly the hook for teachers…Read More
More Reports of Increased Student Misbehavior Disrupting Schools. Why Is the NJEA Silent?
Posted On05/30/2024 byMore reports of the post-pandemic increase in student misbehavior and violence in New Jersey schools — this time at the Jersey Shore. This long-standing problem has disrupted schools and even threatened teachers. Yet the state’s largest teachers union, the NJEA, is silent on this issue, which directly and negatively impacts teachers. The NJEA knows how…Read More
Now We Know: NJEA Leadership Is Using $2 Million of Teachers’ Regular Dues to Fund President Spiller’s Personal Political Career — Without Their Consent
Posted On05/20/2024 byNow we know how much NJEA leadership is contributing to NJEA President Sean Spiller’s personal Super PAC, Protecting Our Democracy. As shown below in a filing with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, NJEA leadership funneled $2 million to Protecting Our Democracy on January 26, 2024. Sunlight has long surmised that the NJEA was using its…Read More
Montclair Settles the Whistleblower Lawsuit, Which Will Cost the Town Millions, But What About Mayor Sean Spiller’s Criminal Liability?
Posted On05/15/2024 byThe Montclair Local reported that the Montclair has settled the whistleblower lawsuit against Mayor Sean Spiller and the town. Because the town’s lawyers stonewalled and prolonged the legal process, the lawsuit went on for over 18 months, resulting in $1,000,000 in legal fees for the plaintiff’s lawyers, all of which will be borne by Montclair…Read More
High Taxes and Cost of Living Erase NJ Teachers’ Wage Premium Over Other States
Posted On05/10/2024 byThe National Education Association (NEA) — the national parent organization of the NJEA — claims that teachers in states with collective bargaining like New Jersey have substantially higher salaries than states that do not permit collective bargaining. But the NEA’s ranking doesn’t reflect the real world of taxes and cost of living, which is the…Read More
NJEA Leadership Is Silent While President Sean Spiller Uses Teachers’ Regular Dues to Fund His Personal Political Career — Without Their Consent
Posted On05/07/2024 byNJEA President Sean Spiller is all about democracy when it comes to his ads promoting his personal political career. As New Jersey Globe reports, Spiller’s personal Super PAC, Protecting Our Democracy, has launched a $500,000 media campaign “touting the virtues of democracy,” with Spiller front and center. But Spiller’s concept of democracy apparently does not…Read More
Despite Gov. Murphy’s Happy Talk, Another Study Ranks NJ Dead Last for Fiscal Health
Posted On04/23/2024 byAnother report comparing the fiscal health of the 50 states, another last place finish for New Jersey. Gov. Murphy likes to talk about his fiscal responsibility but the numbers say otherwise. A recent Cato Institute study looked at the audited 2022 financial reports ranked the 50 states by their Unrestricted Net Position (UNP). UNP is…Read More
The Star-Ledger Steps Up with a Powerful Editorial on NJEA President/Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller’s Deepening Legal Troubles
Posted On04/15/2024 byOnce again, kudos to the Star-Ledger editorial board for their hard-hitting editorial regarding NJEA President/Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller’s apparent retaliation against Sarah Avery, a Montclair citizen/activist who has been critical of Spiller. Despite his legal troubles getting deeper and deeper, Spiller continues to use his members’ highest-in-the-nation dues to back his personal political ambitions. The…Read More