5-1-12 Department of Education Release explains policy rationals for new rate methodology, federal requirements for revision of gradnuation rates      4-11,12-12 p.m - Governor's Press Release re Priority, Focus and Rewards Schools Final list...PolitickerNJ and NJ Spotlight articles      3-30-13 Education in the News - Dept of Education-State Budget, Autism Rates in NJ      3-20-12 Education Issues in the News      GSCS State Budget FY 2012-2013 Testimony      2-29-12 NJTV on NJ School Funding...and, Reporters' Roundtable back on the aire      2-26-12 State budget, School Elections, and Federal Grant funds for local reform initiatives      2-24-12 Headlines from around NJ - from Google (hit on nj education-nj budget)      2-23-12 Education in the News - Education reform noted in state budget message; Facebook grant to Newark teachers      STATE AID DISTRICT LIST - PROPOSED for FY 2012-2013      Education Funding Report on School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) issued 2-23-12      Text of Gov. Christie's State Budget Message, given Feb. 21, 2012      2-22-12 School Aid in State Budget Message - Is There a Devil in the Details      2-21-12 State Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2012-2013      1-24-12 Supreme Court Justices Nominated by Governor Christie      1-17-12 Breaking News - Governor delivers State of the State Message, Signs 'November Vote' bill, A4394      List of PRIORITY, FOCUS and REWARDS SCHOOLS per DOE Application on ESEA (NCLB) Waiver      Education Transformation Task Force Initial Report...45 recommendations for starters      9-12-11 Governor's Press Notice & Fact Sheet re: Education Transformation Task Force Report      7-14-11 State GUIDANCE re: Using Additional State Aid as Property Tax Relief in this FY'12 Budget year.PDF      7-14-11 DOE Guidance on Local Options for using Additional State School Aid in FY'12 State Budget.PDF      FY'12 State School Aid District-by-District Listing, per Appropriations Act, released 110711      7-12-11 pm District by District Listing of State Aid for FY'12 - Guidelines to be released later this week (xls)      6-1-11 Supreme Court Justice nominee, Anne Paterson, passed muster with Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday by 11-1 margin      4-26-11 School Elections, Randi Weingarten in NJ, Special Educ Aid, Shared Services bill      4-25-11 Charter Schools in Suburbia: More Argument than Agreement      4-24-11 Major Education Issues in the News      4-21-11 Supreme Court hears school funding argument      4-14-11 Governor Releases Legislation to Address Education Reform Package      4-13-11 Governor's Proposed Legislation on Education Reform April 2011      4-5-11 Education Issues in the News      4-8-11 Education Issues in the News      4-7-11 Gov. Christie - 'Addressing New Jersey's Most Pressing Education Challenges'      4-7-11 Early news coverage & press releases - Governor's Brooking Inst. presentation on his education reform agenda      4-3-11Press of Atlantic City - Pending Supreme Court ruling could boost aid to New Jersey schools      4-2-11 The Record - Charter school in Hackensack among 58 bids      4-1-11 N.J. gets 58 charter school applications      3-30-11 Acting Commr Cerf talks to School Administrators about Gov's Education Reform agenda      3-26-11 New Jersey’s school-funding battle could use a dose of reality      Link to Special Master Judge Doyne's Recommendations on School Funding law to the Supreme Court 3-22-11      3-22-11 Special Master's Report to the Supreme Court: State did not meet its school funding obligation      GSCS 3-7-11Testimony on State Budget as Proposed by the Governor for FY'12 before the Senate Budget Committee      3-4-11 'Teacher Evaluation Task Force Files Its Report'      3-6-11 Poll: Tenure reform being positively received by the public      Link to Teacher Evaluation Task Force Report      GSCS Take on Governor's Budget Message      Gov's Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Today, 2pm      Tenure Reform - Video patch to Commissioner Cerf's presentation on 2-16-10      2-16-11 Commissioner Cerf to introduce education reform plans...School construction...Speaker Oliver on vouchers      2-16-11 Commissioner Cerf talks to educators on Tenure, Merit Pay , related reforms agenda      9-23-10 Breaking News - Star Ledger ‘Facebook CEO Zuckerberg to donate $100M to Newark schools on Oprah Winfrey Show’      1-7-11 Opinion: The Record - Doblin: ‘Students are collateral damage in Christie’s war’      2-7-11Grassroots at Work in the Suburbs      1-13-11 Supreme Court Appoints Special Master for remand Hearing      1-20-11 GSCS Testimony before Senator Buono's Education Aid Impact hearing in Edison      12-16-10 p,m. BREAKINGS NEWS: Christopher Cerf to be named NJ Education Commissioner      GSCS Board of Trustees endorsed ACTION LETTER to Trenton asking for caution on Charter School expansion      12-12-10 'Rash of upcoming superintendent retirements raises questions on Gov. Christie's pay cap'      12-8-10 Education & Related Issues in the News - Tenure Reform, Sup't Salary Caps Reactions, Property Valuations Inflated      12-7-10 Education Issues continue in the news      12-6-10 njspotlight.com 'Christie to Name New Education Commissioner by Year End'      12-5-10 New York Times 'A Bleak Budget Outlook for Public Broadcasters'      12-5-10 Sunday News - Education-related Issues      GSCS Education Forum Stayed Focused on Quality Education      11-19-10 In the News - First Hearing held on Superintendent Salary Caps at Kean University      11-15-10 GSCS meeting with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver      11-18-10 Superintendent Salary Caps to be publicly discussed tonight at Kean University      Governor's Toolkit Summary - Updated November 2010      10-8-10 Education Issue in the News      9-29-10 Christie Education Reform proposals in The News      9-15-10 'Governor Christie outlines cuts to N.J. workers' pension, benefits'      9-1-10 Education in the News      8-31-10 Latest development: Schunder's margin notes reveal application error      8-27-10 later morning - breaking news: Statehouse Bureau ‘Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler’      8-27-10 Star Ledger ‘U.S. officials refute Christie on attempt to fix Race to the Top application during presentation’      8-25-10 Race to the Top articles - the 'day after' news analysis      8-24-10 Race to the Top Award Recipients named      8-23-10 S2208 (Sarlo-Allen prime sponsors) passes 36-0 (4 members 'not voting') in the Senate on 8-23-10      8-18-10 Property Tax Cap v. Prior Negotiated Agreements a Big Problem for Schools and Communities      8-16-10 Senate Education hears 'for discussion only' comments re expanding charter school authorization process; Commissioner Schundler relays education priorities to the Committee      7-22-10 'Summer school falls victim to budget cuts in many suburban towns'      7-21-10 List of bills in Governor's 'Toolkit'      Governor's Toolkit bills listing      7-16-10 GSCS Information & Comments - S29 Property Tax Cap Law and Proposal to Reduce Superintendent salaries ....      7-15 & 16 -10 'Caps - PLURAL!' in the news      7-12-10 Assembly passes S29 - the 2% cap bill - 73 to 4, with 3 not voting      GSCS re:PropertyTax Cap bill - Exemption needed for Special Education enrollment costs      7-8-10 Tax Caps, Education in the News      GSCS:Tax Cap Exemption needed for Special Education Costs      7-3-10 Governor Christie and Legislative leaders reached agreement today on a 2% property tax cap with 4 major exemptions      7-1 and 2- 10 Governor Christie convened the Legislature to address property tax reform      6-29-10 GSCS - The question remains: ? Whither property Tax Reform      GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: State Budget poised to pass late Monday...Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo      GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo      6-11-10 In the News: State Budget moving ahead on schedule      6-10-10 Op-Ed in Trenton Times Sunday June 6 2010      Recently proposed legislation S2043 brings back Last Best Offer (LBO) for school boards in negotiations      6-8-10 Education issues in the news today - including 'hold' on pension reform, round two      6-8-10 (posted) Education & Related Issues in the News      6-4-10 Education News      6-3-10 RTTT controversy remains top news - articles and editorials, column      6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE': It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed      6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE' :It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed.      GSCS 'QUICK' THOUGHT - Will the Administration's reform legislation being introduced just this month- May - have a fair chance for productive debate and analysis      5-11-10 njspotlight.com focuses on NJ's plans for and reactions to education reform      ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS CITED FOR ROUND 2 - RACE TO THE TOP GRANT      5-8 & 9-10 Education Reform Proposals Annoucned      5-9-10 'Gov Christie to propose permanent caps on salary raises for public workers'      5-3-10 Newsflash! Governor Christie makes NJ Supreme Court appointment      Office on Legislative Services Analysis of Department of Educaiton - State Budget for FY'11      4-23-10 Education issues remain headline news      4-22-10 School Elections - in the News Today      Hear about Governor Christie's noontime press conference tonight      4-21-10 News on School Election Results      4-21-10 Assoc. Press 'NJ voters reject majority of school budgets'      4-18-10 Sunday Op-eds on school budget vote: Jim O'Neill & Gov Christie      4-19-10 Lt. Gov. Guadagno's Red Tape Review Group initial Report released      4-13-10 Commissioner Schundler before Senate Budget Committee - early reports....progress on budget election issue      4-12-10 'Gov. urges voters to reject school districts' budgets without wage freezes for teachers'      4-6-10 'Gov. Chris Chrisite extends dealdine for teacher salary concessions'      4-2-10 'On Titanic, NJEA isn't King of the World'      Administration's presentation on education school aid in its 'Budget in Brief' published with Governor Christie's Budget Message      4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction      3-29-10 The Record and Asbury Park Press - Editorials      3-26-10 GSCS: Effective & Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical      3-23-10 GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11      3-23-10 ' N.J. Gov. Chris Christie signs pension, benefits changes for state employees'      3-21-10 Sunday News from Around the State - School Communities, School Budgets and State Budget Issues      3-17-10 Budget News - Gov. Chris Christie proposes sacrifices      3-16-10 Link to Budget in Brief publication      3-15-10mid-day: 'Gov. Christie plans to cut NJ school aid by $800M'      3-14-10 'Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in N.J. budget'      3-15-10 'N.J. taxpayers owe pension fund $45.8 billion' The Record      3-11-10 'GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter caps'      3-9-10 'NJ leaders face tough choices on budget'      3-5-10 HomeTowne Video taping + interviews of GSCS Summit@Summit      3-5-10 GSCS Summit@Summit with Bret Schundler to be lead topic on Hall Institute's weekly 2:30 pm podcast today      3-4-10 'School aid cuts unavoidable during NJ budget crisis'      3-3-10 'Public Education in N.J.: Acting NJ Comm of Educ Bret Schundler says 'Opportunity'      Flyer: March 2 Education Summit Keynote Speaker - Education Commissioner Bret Schundler - Confirmed      2-25-10 Gov. Christie's Red Tape Review Comm., chaired by Lt. Gov. Guadagno, to hold public hearings In March      2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'      2-22-10 Trenton Active Today      2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'      Flyer for March 2 Education 'Summit@Summit'      2-16-10 'Christie Adopts Corzine Cuts, Then Some'      2-14-10 'FAQ's on NJ's state of fiscal emergency declaration by Gov. Christie'      2-12-10 Assembly Budget hearing posted for this Wednesday, Feb. 17      FY2010 Budget Solutions - PRESS PACKET      State Aid Memo (2-11-10) 2 pgs      2-12-10 News Coverage: Governor Christie's message on actions to address current fiscal year state budget deficits      2-11-10 Gov Christie address to Joint Session of the Legislature on state budget and current year aid reduction remains scheduled for today      2-10-10 'Schools are likely targets for NJ budget cuts'      2-9-10 News article posted this morning notes potential for large loss of current year school aid      2-8-10 Northjersey.com editorial 'Tightenting our Belts'      2-8-10'Gov Christie, lawmakers proporse sweeping pension, health care changes for public employees'      2-2-10 GSCS BOARD TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER BRET SCHUNDLER TODAY      1-28-10 School Surplus plan to supplant State Aid in this year gaining probability      Governor Christie's Education Team Transition Report      Governor Christie Education Transition Team Report , released 1-22-10      1-21-10'N.J.'s Christie won't rule out layoffs, furloughs to close unexpected $1.2B deficit'      1-20-10 Editorials, Commentary on New Governor in Trenton      1-19-10 Chris Christie - Inauguration Day      1-18-10 Advance news on 'Christie as new Governor'      1-14-10 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment'      1-14-10 'To lead schools, Christie picks voucher advocate'      1-13-10 More articles, plus Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler      1-13-10 Christie Press Conference reports      1-13-10 Christie's New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference      1-13-10 New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference      1-12-10 Moving on...'Budget plan a wrinkle for districts'      1-11-10 Transition News      1-7-10 'N.J. Gov-elect Christie blast Democrats for lame-duck actions'      12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)      12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated      12-15-09 GSCS is working with the Christie Transition Team      12-12 & 13-09 Education Issues in the News      12-11-09 'Gov.-elect Chris Christie's team got its signals crossed on education funding application'      12-9-09 Governor-elect Christie talks more about his thougths for education      12-5-09 'Once powerful teachers union faces tough times with Christie'      12-3 Governor-Elect Chris Christie Announces Key Appointments      12-3-09 'Gov.-elect Christie visits North Brunswick to talk with educators on district challenges'      (12-8-09) GSCS Board of Trustees representatives to meet with Christie 'Red Tape' Group      11-23-09 Governor-elect Christie names Transition Team Subcommittee members      11-13-09 Chrisite's Budget Transition Team Annouced      11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules      11-12-09 Governor-elect Christie names his 10 member transition team

2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
Star-Ledger "It could be a long, drawn-out war..."

Christie and unions poised to do battle over budget cuts

By Star-Ledger Staff

February 21, 2010, 7:43AM

Matt Rainey/The Star-LedgerGov. Chris Christie glances as he kisses his wife, Mary Pat, after delivering a major budget speech, laying the groundwork to make a range of cuts that will include $475 million in state aid to schools, according to people familiar with his plans. New Jersey Democrats, however, are infuriated that he had not consulted with them.

The radio ads started running last week.

"When it comes to New Jersey politicians, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Governor Christie promised a new direction, but after a few weeks he’s back to the old Trenton ways of doing business..."

The spot by the New Jersey Education Association was just the latest salvo in a rapidly escalating battle over Chris Christie’s efforts to cut the benefits and pensions of state and municipal workers.

It could be a long, drawn-out war.

A Star-Ledger analysis of campaign-finance data shows state and municipal employee labor unions have no shortage of firepower at their disposal, and no reluctance to use it. It also shows why the governor has little political reason to cater to the unions.

While it’s no surprise the unions have favored Democratic candidates, the records show just how lopsided that support has been.

The big unions funneled more than $814,400 in campaign contributions to Democrats in New Jersey last year — nearly four times the amount that went to Republicans, according to the records.

The unions’ political action committees put even more into television ads and direct mail attacking the Republican candidate for governor, Christie.

And over the past six years, they have given $5 million to Democratic candidates and election committees that still control the Legislature, compared with $1 million given to the Republicans.

With Christie now in office, they may have zero political leverage with the state’s chief executive as the pension battle heats up.

When told of the ads, the governor dismissed them, and with some attitude.

"The NJEA loves spending their teachers’ dues criticizing me," Christie said last week. "They spent $3 million of it trying to make sure I couldn’t win the election. You saw how successful that was. They’re just going to put more lies and distortions on the radio, on TV and all the rest of it."

Members of the Democratic-controlled Legislature may be far less likely to face down the unions.

With a four-bill package of pension-and-benefits changes pending in the Legislature, the Assembly Democrats, all recently re-elected with the help of union money, have not rushed to introduce the pension bills and meet stakeholders.

In the Senate, at least, Christie enjoys enough bipartisan support to get the reforms.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) — an ironworkers union leader and the chief architect of the reform bills — said in an interview his caucus would not be swayed in its efforts to change the pension system.

"My colleagues are moving forward with these bills," he said.

Sweeney acknowledged the campaigns by the unions have an impact. "But we have to fix these things," he said.

OPEN ANTAGONISM

Most politicians and political experts agree the war between Christie and the unions is unique in Statehouse history. No previous governor ever opposed the unions so directly and with such gusto, and the unions never fought back so readily.

Previous efforts to confront the unions and tackle the state’s skyrocketing pension benefits costs have been likened to going up against an 800-pound gorilla. Alan Rosenthal at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, who studies state legislatures and politics, remembered a special legislative session four years ago, during Gov. Jon Corzine’s tenure, when lawmakers renewed their effort to do something significant on pension costs.

"Corzine pulled the rug from under them," Rosenthal said, recalling how reform efforts died after the governor, in the face of strong union pressure, failed to support the Legislature.

Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said the power of the unions remains significant despite their lack of leverage with the new governor.

"Their power depends on their ability to control the debate and convince the larger public that the governor is unfairly targeting hardworking folks and their families," he said. "They’ve done this before."

Both Rosenthal and Murray noted Christie cannot do everything by executive fiat. "He’ll need legislative action for some things — and there the unions’ sway is still evident," Murray said.

MULTIPLE APPROACHES

The four-bill package is aimed at trimming pensions and benefits, as well as banning part-time workers from participating in the pension system. The legislation also would cap sick-leave payouts and constitutionally require the state to fully fund its pension obligations each year, as well as eliminate multiple pensions.

Many of the unions are already ramping up lobbying efforts, such as the NJEA commercials, to shore up public support for their members.

"Despite the fact that Chris Christie thinks he can rule by executive order, much of his agenda will have to go through the Legislature, and Democrats will have to start acting like Democrats," said Bob Master, a spokesman for the Communications Workers of America, which represents more than 40,000 state workers and 15,000 county and municipal workers.

NJEA spokesman Steve Baker said his organization is still trying to work with the new administration, and he downplayed the idea of a war with Christie.

"We advocate for our members and for public education. We do that regardless who is there," Baker said. "We’re in the beginning stages of trying to build relationships."

He added the NJEA does not apply a party litmus test on any candidate. "We look and see who has the best record and endorse on that basis," he said.

Christie, meanwhile, has already started looking for ways to significantly curb the influence of the public labor unions. On his first day in office, he issued an executive order sharply limiting their ability to contribute to statewide political campaigns.