Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     1-12-10 Moving on...'Budget plan a wrinkle for districts'
     1-11-10 Transition News
     1-5-10 GSCS: Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
     1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict
     12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)
     12-23-09 Gannett article provides details on Gov. Corzine's proposal to use additional surplus in place of state aid
     12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated
     10-20-09 REMINDER: Commissioner Davy to be at 10-28 GSCS meeting in Atlantic City
     9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
     7-22-09 'State gives extra aid for schools an extraordinary boost'
     6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25
     6-16-09 News from Trenton on State Budget in Senate and Assembly Budget Committees yesterday
     APPROPRIATIONS ACT FY2009-1020 as introduced
     A4100-S2010 Appropriations Act 'Scoresheet' and Language Changes released
     6-10-09 Education Week on Abbott Decision
     6-9-09 COMMENTARY on Supreme Court Abbott school funding decisio
     5-27-09 GSCS 18th ANNUAL MEETING - All INVITED GUESTS HAVE CONFIRMED, INCLUDING GOVERNOR CORZINE
     5-19-09 Treasurer David Rousseau announces additional round of cuts to Gov's proposed State Budget FY2009-2010
     4-5-09 The Record, Sunday April 5, Front Page Opinion
     3-29-09 Record Editorial on Judge Doyne recommendations
     3-16-09 EMAILNET
     3-11-09 CORZINE BUDGET ADDRESS: STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS A LITTLE MORE NOT LESS - FEDERAL TITLE 1 & IDEA INCREASES YET TO BE COUNTED - STATE SCHOOL AID FIGURES ON DEPT OF ED WEBSITE 1:30 TODAY - RELATED ARTICLES, MORE...
     3-10-09 GOVERNOR TO DELIVER STATE BUDGET MESSAGE TODAY - SCHOOL AID FIGURES TO BE RELEASED BY THURSDAY LATEST
     2-24-09 State Budget & Stimulus News of Note
     2-19-09 Federal stimulus - information re: Education funding in 'State Fiscal Stabilization' part of the package
     1-16-09 Today's news notes state budget waiting on Obama stimulus package
     1-11-09 'Corzine State of State speech to put economy front & center'
     12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'
     12-29-08 NJ to new leaders - Fund our schools
     12-23-08 Governor faces hard choices in the New Year
     12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts
     11-18-08 Ledger Online & 11-19 Star Ledger headline news
     11-18-08 Supreme Court decides in favor of Abbott districts re new school funding law
     11-5-08 Gov. Corzine U.S. Treasury Secretary?
     11-5-08 Governor Corzine candidate for Secretary of U.S. Treasury per Ledger report
     Conversation with the Commissioner in Atlantic City
     Education Commissioner Lucille Davy at GSCS Open Mtg 10-29 in A.C.
     9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act
     8-29-08 'Newly hired teachers benefit from Corzine delay'
     12-3-07 As details become clearer on the new funding plan, GSCS will report on its emerging position
     11-20-07 RELEASE OF NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA LIKELY TO BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
     11-16-07 Governor Corzine's remarks on school funding to League of Municipalities
     11-8-07 Governor & Legislative leadership agree to take up - and pass - funding formula in Lame Duck
     10-23 Media reports & Trenton responses to date re GSCS Press Conf
     9-29-07 The New York Times - Patience with Corzine Wears Thin
     10-10-07 Key Questions for Legislative Candidates
     10-12-07 Coach Corzine's tactic to win the game? Punt
     In the news - Corzine on school aid formula & good news for urban schools
     9-13-07Corzine adds school aid to the lame-duck agenda
     8-10-07 'Standing 'O' greets Corzine as he hosts town hall mtg'
     8-1-07 'Paterson isn't ready to gain control' & 7-29 'The Numbers still don't add up'
     4-4-07 News articles, editorial & Op-Ed on bill signings for A1 and A4
     3-25-07 New York Times on NJ Comparative Spending Guide, more on Gov putting off signing A1, Tax Caps & Rebate bill
     3-22-07 THINGS CHANGE...Governor Corzine delays A1 becoming law
     3-21-07 The Tax Cap-Credit bill, A1, can become law by Friday without Governor's signature
     3-1-07 Emerging Devil showing up in the details
     2-23-07 News Articles re Gov's Budget Proposal
     2-22-07 GSCS EMAILNET re Gov's Budget Message
     2-22-07 Governor Corzine's Budget Message today
     2-16 to 2-19 New Articles of Note
     2-14-07 GSCS letter to Gov Corzine & Commr of Education Davy - Request for State Aid FY0708
     2-12-07 State School Aid - needed to offset property taxes now
     2-9-07 GSCS EMAILNET MEMBER FYI on Trenton legislation Action
     2-8-07 News artiles-editorial re Gov's annoucnement that there will not be a new school funding formula for FY0708
     2-7-07 School funding, school audits - need for new formula underscored
     2-6-07 Trenton Update - S19 Super Supt passes Senate; Tax Cap bill stalled; No funding formula in FY0708
     2-1-07 Turnpike for sale, Gov - need funding formula, more
     1-30-07 'Is Property Tax Plan Legal?'
     1-30-07 Tax Caps bill, A1, passes Assembly late last night
     1-25-07 GSCS: No School Aid = No Real Tax Relief...again
     1-24-07 Quinnipiac Poll & School Construction woes for Corzine
     1-21-07 Gannett article on 'property tax credit, annual cap vote due'
     Trenton Update Jan 9-Jan 15, Gov's State of the State, more
     1-8-07 Articles & Editorial talk about 'missing pieces' of tax reform proposal and note consequences
     1-7-06 GSCS & HARD CAPS & IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE STILL MISSING
     GSCS RESOLUTION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2007
     1-5-07 Small-town officials protest consolidation
     1-2-07 GSCS New Year's Resolution
     12-19-06 Feedback - articles on school funding hearings yesterday
     12-18-06 Sunday editorials - take of Property Tax session
     12-15-06 EMAILNET Bills Held!
     12-11-06 Trenton is in disarray - read news clip
     12-8 & 12-9 News clips on Trenton machinations...
     11-19-06 Sunday Press Articles & Commentaries
     11-16-06 Governor Corzine's speech on Property Tax Address to League of Municipalities
     11-10-06 NJ education chief vows urban support
     11-11-06 EMAILNET Special Session Legislative Committees report Nov. 14 or 15
     11-9-06 Public hearing on school consolidation tonight, 7 pm, at Freehold Borough Chambers, 51 Main St
     11-9-06 Public hearing on school consolidation tonight, 7 pm, in Freehold
     11-6-06 The need for special education funding to stay as a 'categorical' aid based on each students disability is real
     11-4-06 Senate President & Assembly Speaker 'no new taxes'
     10-25-06 Details on Corzine Administration's new funding formula starting to emerge
     10-5-06 EMAILNET
     10-5-06 Conversation on school funding, consolidation continues
     School Construction: Third Report to Governor by Interagency Working Group
     9-15-06 Star Ledger & AP - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     9-15-06 Star Ledger - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     August 2006 on - GSCS NOTEBOARD ON SPECIAL SESSION Committee meetings
     7-29-06 School Funding formula draws mixed reactions
     7-28-06 Gov to legislature: make history, cut taxes
     7-27-06 Trenton begins its move to address property taxes
     7-16-06 Lead economists address NJ's economy downswing
     7-12-06 Column on State Budget legislator items
     7-14-06 EMAILNET
     7-12-06 It's Official - Governor appoints Lucille Davy as Education Commissioner
     7-11-06 Talk of Special Session on Property Tax Reform
     7-9&10-06 State Budget news articles -wrap up & news analyses
     7-9-06 Sunday New York Times
     7-8-06 FY07 Budget approved - 19.5 in spec ed grants stays in
     7-7-06 EMAILNET - AGREEMENT ON STATE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized
     7-7-06 AGREEMENT ON STAE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized
     7-3-06 Roberts, Codey & Corzine still not on same page
     6-30-06 State Budget news - as the dissonance must be resolved
     6-29-06 Mirroring the elements, State Budget looking like a 'natural disaster'
     6-15-06 Star Ledger, Gannet articles- Abbott advocates demand school reform at educ. dept
     6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips
     6-6-06 Legislative Leaders announce initial plans for property tax reform
     5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton
     5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton
     Gubernatorial Candidates' Education Plans announced September 05
     Governor Corzine takes steps towards major policy initiatives.
     4-8-07 Corzine Administration files brief with Supreme Court re Abbott funding
     4-7-07 The Record
     3-29-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07 Hearings Update
     3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm today
     3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07
     3-23-06 Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes
     3-16-06 Gannett Press: Corzine wants to raise taxes, slash $2B
     Governor's Budget message 1 pm 3-21-06
     3-15-06 News articles on FY07
     3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.
     3-9-06 Governor speaks to S1701 at town meeting
     3-7-06 More articles on the Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members fo to Trenton
     3-7-06 Articles on Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members off to Trenton
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding' notes the Governor's role is critical in making positive change occur
     Gubernatorial, Assembly District by District, County and Municipal voting breakdowns-results & formats for November 8 elections
     2-2-06 GSCS HEADS UP re probable delay of Governor's Budget Message
     Governor Corzine's Transition Team Reports
     1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today
     1-19-06 News Articles Trenton Times, The Record, Star Ledger
     1-18-06 Star Ledger
     Governor Corzine- Inaugural Address
     1-15-06 The Record 2 Sunday Articles anticipating top issues confronting the Corzine administration
     1-11-06 Star Ledger - Corzine Casts Wide Net for Cabinet
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding'
     12-5-05 Governor-elect Corzine selects policy advisory groups
     11-20-05 Sunday Star Ledger 'Corzine's risky promise to taxpayers
     11-11-05 Trenton Times Corzine puts property taxes at the top of his agenda
     11-9-05 The Record - Governor Elect can't claim a mandate
     November 9 The Trenton Times - Corzine Triumphs
     9-9-05 Trenton Times,Corzine Education Agenda
12-11-06 Trenton is in disarray - read news clip
From Gov Corzine yet again changing his tack re how legislature should deal with pension & benefit reform to teacher & unions 'extreme' rally today statehouse, law-making logic is at risk...Let's hope reactive, poorly processed, fastracked legislation such as A4/S42 (not even a cost analysis/fiscal note attached to the bills) don't get passed in the fray.

Corzine issues veto warning in reform feud

Lawmakers told to act on pensions, but governor to make the final call

Monday, December 11, 2006

BY DEBORAH HOWLETT

Star-Ledger Staff

Setting up a showdown over property tax reform at the Statehouse today, a frustrated Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday fired off a letter to legislative leaders challenging them to send him whatever pension reform measures they can pass, and then he will sort it out with his veto pen.

"I encourage you to the lead the Legislature forward," Corzine wrote to Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden). "Make your best judgment and move forward, but do not allow this issue to slow or impede our shared and overarching objectives."

Codey and Roberts told The Star-Ledger editorial board on Friday they fear the entire property tax reform effort is in jeopardy because of Corzine's meddling with a bill on pension reform.

In the letter to Codey and Roberts, Corzine said he "respectfully disagreed" with that assessment.

"I believe there is absolute consensus that we must act on these measures," Corzine said. "At the same time, we must acknowledge that pension abuse reforms bring little impact to an overall financial package. ... (But) these reforms most certainly do provide necessary credibility to our efforts."

Responding to Corzine's letter, Codey last night suggested no one was being well-served by the indirect communications with the governor.

"There needs to be a time out. This is turning into St. Paul and the Corinthians," Codey said of the letter, the second Corzine issued this week. "We need to return to the table as reasonable people and work out our differences."

Roberts did not return a voice mail message seeking comment.

Corzine contends the bargaining table is the only appropriate venue to decide changes in how unionized public employees are compensated. Last week, he asked lawmakers to address only the reforms that affect elected and appointed officials, who aren't covered by the collective bargaining agreement.

Democratic lawmakers acquiesced to Corzine, but Codey and Roberts said they now feel duped after they heeded the governor's challenge to be "bold" in proposing tough new reforms, even in the face of opposition from organized labor.

That has made it tough to persuade lawmakers to keep backing many of the other pending measures, such as plans to impose new oversight and limits on local school boards, Codey and Roberts said. Those plans are critical elements of the Legislature's ongoing efforts to pare down local government costs and control soaring property tax bills.

The sparring between Corzine and lawmakers is reminiscent of the battle six months ago over increasing the sales tax to balance the state's $31 billion budget. That fight resulted in Corzine shutting down state government for more than a week.

The Legislature is scheduled today to take up the first nine bills stemming from the 98 recommendations that four joint legislative committees made after a four-month special session on property tax reforms.

Meanwhile, the union representing public school teachers has organized a rally for today in Trenton to protest several of the tax reform measures. So many teachers have taken the day off, several school districts were forced to cancel classes.

Corzine said if lawmakers are adamant about passing all 24 of the pension reforms, then they should pass all of the reforms for which Codey and Roberts can muster enough votes, and he will go through the bills line by line with his veto pen.

"I encourage you to lead the Legislature forward with the originally proposed bill or, alternatively, one that you judge will build the broadest consensus among your colleagues," Corzine wrote.

"If, in your judgment the originally proposed pension reform plan gets us closer to long-lasting reform, I will respectfully and objectively evaluate the merits of that legislation when it reaches my desk."

Corzine has the power of a "conditional veto," that is he can veto parts of a specific piece of legislation rather than the entire bill. The Legislature must then concur with the changes in order for the bill to be enacted into law.

Deborah Howlett covers politics. She may be reached at (609) 989-0273 or dhowlett@starledger.com.

 

NEW YORK TIMES December 11, 2006

War of Words in New Jersey on Tax Relief

By DAVID W. CHEN

Gov. Jon S. Corzine yesterday challenged New Jersey’s top two legislators to change the state’s pension and health benefits system, four days after telling them they should not be taking up the issue.

The Legislature has been considering the changes as one of many ways to reduce the state’s high property taxes. But last week, Mr. Corzine released a letter requesting that Richard J. Codey, the Senate president, and Joseph J. Roberts Jr., the Assembly speaker, postpone action on issues like changing how pensions are calculated. Mr. Corzine wrote that he would prefer to deal with such changes directly with unions during contract negotiations..

Legislators reacted angrily. In an article published on Saturday, Mr. Codey and Mr. Roberts, both Democrats like the governor, told the editorial board of The Star-Ledger of Newark that they worried that tax reform would be hindered by Mr. Corzine’s request.

So last night, in a letter to Mr. Codey and Mr. Roberts, Mr. Corzine said he was concerned about their comments.

“If you continue to hold these views, I encourage you to lead the Legislature forward with the originally proposed pension reform bill, or alternatively, one that you judge will build the broadest consensus among your colleagues,” he wrote.

“If in your judgment the originally proposed pension reform plan gets us closer to long-lasting reform, I will respectfully and objectively evaluate the merits of that legislation when it reaches my desk,” Mr. Corzine added. “Make your best judgment and move forward, but do not allow this issue to slow or impede our shared and overarching objectives.”

Earlier this year, the governor tangled with Mr. Roberts over Mr. Corzine’s proposal to raise the sales tax by one percentage point to help plug a $4 billion budget deficit. Mr. Roberts could not be reached for comment last night. But in an interview, Mr. Codey said: “There needs to be a time-out on letters. It’s turning into St. Paul and the Corinthians. What needs to happen is for reasonable people to get back to the table and work out their differences with the goal of obtaining property tax relief for the people of the state of New Jersey.”


Unions expect thousands at Statehouse

Educators hope to teach legislators a lesson on protecting benefits

Monday, December 11, 2006

BY ROBERT SCHWANEBERG

Star-Ledger Staff

As lawmakers convene today to consider measures intended to rein in New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation property taxes, they will get an earful from the state's most powerful lobbying force: the New Jersey Education Association teachers union.

In concert with other public employee unions, the NJEA hopes to bring tens of thousands of workers to a Trenton rally on a day when the Legislature is in session and schools ought to be. Staffing shortages have forced some districts to cancel classes for the day.

"We're hoping to send a message," said Lynn Maher, a spokeswoman for the NJEA. "The message is: We are not the problem. School employees, public employees, did not cause the property tax problem."

Both the Senate and Assembly are scheduled to vote today on a modest package of reform bills in tended to control or lower property taxes. Democratic leaders had already jettisoned more controversial proposals when, last Thursday, they acceded to Gov. Jon Corzine's request to take out any provisions affecting unionized workers and leave any such changes to ongoing contract negotiations.

Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) contends the reform package has been so watered down that today's show of force by the unions is "kind of a moot point."

"Nothing's going to be done that's going to affect their pensions or anything else," O'Toole said.

Maher said the threat to unionized workers' pension and health care benefits has simply "been moved from the legislative table to the bargaining table. So the need for the rally is as great as ever."

In addition to the NJEA, unions scheduled to take part in the rally include the Communications Workers of America, the state AFL-CIO, the International Association of Firefighters and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

"We're expecting thousands and thousands of people, and that's just school employees," Maher said. "We do know we have at least 100 buses and each one holds 50 people." She said the NJEA was scrambling to line up additional parking lots to accom modate the many teachers ex pected to travel to the Statehouse by car.

Even so, Maher said the rally will not eclipse a massive demonstration held in June 1994 to protest then-Gov. Christie Whitman's plans to end state subsidies of pub lic employee pensions. That rally, held on a Sunday, drew 36,000 by the NJEA's own estimate and more than 25,000, according to State Police.

"It was a huge success in terms on numbers, but the Legislature wasn't in session," Maher said. She said she hopes today's demonstra tion will have a greater impact on lawmakers.

So many teachers have taken a personal day to attend that schools in Morristown and Morris Township, South Amboy, Cinnaminson and Gloucester City, as well as the Burlington County Institute of Technology, have canceled classes.

"Citizens have a right to rally and petition their government. However, I think it's very unfortunate that school districts have to close," said Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon). "Not only the children involved but the parents of the children involved rightly expect schools to be open the days they are scheduled to be open."

Maher said "all but a handful" of the state's 597 operating school districts remain open today and the few that chose to close will make up the school day later in the year.

"Students will not miss a day of school," Maher said.

Bills scheduled for floor votes today include measures creating a state comptroller, giving county superintendents veto power over local school budgets and forming a commission to recommend consolidation of local governments and school districts. Late last week, however, Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) said he may be unable to muster the votes needed to pass some of those bills.

Robert Schwaneberg covers state government. He may be reached at rschwaneberg@starledger.com or (609) 989-0324. Staff writer Dunstan McNichol contributed to this report.

 

March on Trenton may lead teachers down a risky road

Monday, December 11, 2006

Once, not long ago, teachers were scorned for their surrender to security, their willingness to exchange the chance for high salaries and advancement in the marketplace for good benefits, guaranteed pension and time off with their own children.

What slugs!

Now, teachers are scorned for that same obsession with security, but, my, how the world outside the classroom has changed. Teachers are still not making the best salaries -- unless you believe a median annual income of less than $60,000 annually for college-educated employees is big bucks -- but they still do have great benefits and guaranteed pensions. And lots of time with their own children -- and grandchildren.

Benefits like those are slipping out of the grasp of many private employees who worked all their lives and, while never becoming the entrepreneurial giants they hoped to be, believed they at least would have secure and dignified retirements.

Retirements now threatened by the very insecurity of the private marketplace they once embraced, while smirking at those who sought the security of public employment.

Retirements also now imperiled, in painfully exquisite irony, by a nearly confiscatory system of property taxes used by New Jersey government to fund the freedom from anxiety enjoyed by public sector employees.

What's worse is that teachers and other public employees not only enjoy these comforts, literally at the expense of the private sector, but they also have access to organizations that can make their employers cower and cave.

"Back off!" urged Joyce Powell, the head of the state's largest teachers' union, in rallying members of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) to abandon their classrooms today to march on Trenton in defense of pensions and other benefits.

"Join NJEA and other public employee unions in the fight to protect members' pensions and medical benefits," Powell urged in her message to union members.

The call was so successful that some districts are closing for lack of teachers, a holiday in honor of the slugs' political clout. A clout lacking in the private sector, especially among white-collar, college-educated workers not represented by unions.

The people who pay both the property taxes and, increasingly, are losing health and retirement benefits. And, often, their very jobs.

I am not ready to call teacher union members selfish for wanting to do what private sector employees would do if they could -- protect pensions and medical benefits with whatever tools are available.

Selfish, no. Dangerously short-sighted, yes.

Lynn Maher, the NJEA's communications director, insists all employees, public and private, should have the right to health care and a secure retirement.

"That we are allowing private sector employees to lose the pensions they had every right to expect is a national tragedy," she says. "But that doesn't mean we in the public sector should not have health care and pension benefits. Do we want to be involved in a race to the bottom?"

She is right, but only in a broad, abstract way. Sympathy for the precarious plight of overtaxed, financially insecure private employees doesn't pay bills.

And it doesn't provide solutions for problems hurting workers -- exportation of jobs to cheap labor countries, runaway inflation in medical costs, the failure of the federal government to address the health insurance crisis. All the tears in the safety net.

A prominent labor attorney who represents both public and private unions says the refusal of public unions to appreciate the economic disasters facing their brethren in private employment "is seriously dividing" an already fractious labor movement.

"The reaction against public unions -- and Democrats -- could be serious and last a long time," says the lawyer, who doesn't want to be identified because of his dual roles.

The NJEA might have a successful rally today and demonstrate to politicians the union's power to pull off what amounts to a partial statewide teachers' strike. It might even block any current effort to reform pension and benefits.

But blocking reform now won't win any friends when the public funding crisis, as it certainly must, gets far worse in the future -- and those making the decisions are even less impressed with anyone's obsession with security.

Bob Braun's columns appear Monday and Thursday. He may be reached at rbraun@starledger.com or (973) 392-4281.