InsiderNJ reports that the NJEA is all-in for Gov. Murphy’s re-election campaign. According to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), as usual, the NJEA’s Super PAC, Garden State Forward, is the top independent spender in the election at $5 million. Garden State Forward made two $2.5 million contributions to two pro-Murphy Super PACs, Our NJ and Committee to Build the Economy.
And recall that Garden State Forward has contributed $10.5 million to New Direction New Jersey, the pro-Murphy Super PAC run by NJEA-ally Brendan Gill.
That’s a total of at least $15.5 million spent by Garden Sate Forward in support of Murphy. Garden State Forward is funded by teachers’ highest-in-the-nation regular dues, and $15.5 million equates to $124 per teacher, regardless of whether she supports Murphy nor not.
That’s some deal for teachers: they are coerced into being members of the NJEA and having $999 withheld from their paychecks every year so the NJEA can spend $15.5 million supporting Murphy. It’s automatic: they have no say in the matter.
Remember that teachers’ dues are paid with property tax dollars, so it’s ultimately taxpayer dollars that are funding the effort to get Murphy re-elected. What a rigged system!