NG4A Launches Initiative to Change Neptune’s Government

Neptune Government For All (NG4A) is a newly formed, non-partisan group of Neptune citizens interested in changing the Township’s current system of government. They have started a petition drive to place a referendum on this November’s ballot which would allow the voters of Neptune to directly elect their Mayor for a four year term. This format would also create a ward system of representation.

“It’s unfortunate that in a town the size of Neptune, voters do not have the right to directly vote on who the Mayor should be,” said Dru Reynolds, of Ocean Grove, one of the organizers of the group. “Quite frankly, it’s un-democratic that only a few people end up picking the Mayor, which is what happens now. It’s even worse that our Mayor serves for only one year when we have so many problems like taxes and crime to deal with in town.”

NG4A has been meeting over the last year, researching the idea of changing the Township Charter, with the assistance of New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center. The group decided that a Mayor – Council form of government would best serve Neptune.

That format allows the voters to elect the Mayor, who would serve for four years, and develop a continuity of programs and initiatives which is not possible under the current system. A mayor in this style of government would become more accountable to the voters and have a greater impact on providing a more stable economic base for the Township while being able to address such issues as crime and spending.

According to Charlie DeMaria of the Villas section of Neptune, “the idea of changing the style of Neptune’s government has actually been discussed by several small groups over the last 10 years or so, without any action being taken. Now is the time because of the need for bold, long-term visions & leadership for the township.”

Mr. Demaria continued, “Besides the fact that right now the voters don’t actually elect the mayor, halfway through the Mayor’s one-year term the honeymoon is over and the Mayor becomes a lame duck. We believe that a 4-year term provides more productivity and the opportunity for the voters to have more of a say in the direction the Township is heading.”

West Neptune resident Jennifer Eldridge brought up another issue. “In the last four years, we have not been able to get a definitive response from any of our elected officials about preserving – or even recognizing – the historic elements that are located in the western most sections of Neptune Township.” “Maybe,” Eldridge continued, “if voters have the power to elect a Mayor directly, as opposed to the position being filled by political strategy, the residents will finally see an end to this deliberate grid-lock and obstructionism.”  

In addition to changing the Township’s charter in order to provide for a directly elected Mayor, this change of government style would provide for more direct representation of the various neighborhoods across the township. Six council members would be directly elected by the voters of six newly created wards representing various neighborhoods in town. Three other council members would be elected at large by all of the voters in Neptune. This type of representation exemplifies democracy. Each local ward would have a member sitting on the council who would be able to focus on their neighborhood’s issues, instead of citizens only getting 5 minutes at the microphone to address any particular issue.

In order to get this referendum on the ballot this November, volunteers will be fanning out across Neptune over the next few weeks in order to gather the required signatures. Once on the ballot, the NG4A will continue publicizing the benefits of this change of government via the media, direct mail and local educational forums in order to fully inform the residents of Neptune.

“Right now, we are working on getting the question on this November’s ballot,” Reynolds said, “and we need your help to get the job done. This effort represents a great opportunity to move Neptune forward and provide better representation for all of our residents. Your help will make this happen.”

For further information, to sign the petition or to volunteer to help this important effort, please visit www.ng4a.net or call 732-456-2199. You may also send an email to the group via [email protected]

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Bayshore Tea Party Group To Back Rich For Freeholder, Robinson For Assembly

 (RED BANK, July 1) –  With statewide elections in six months, the Bayshore Tea Party Group (BTPG) is actively evaluating candidates for county and state level office. BTPG will continue to evaluate candidates, and at this time announces its support for the following candidates:

• Gary Rich, Republican, for Freeholder in Monmouth County
• Shane Robinson, Republican, for Assembly in District 19

“The people spoke loud and clear last November,” said Barbara Gonzalez, founder of BTPG. “And we continue the effort in New Jersey to elect representatives who share with us the values that made this nation the greatest in the world.”

“There is no question that New Jersey’s tax structure is broken, our unemployment rate-now 9.4%–is absurdly high, our state economy is hurting, and New Jersey government at all levels is too big and too intrusive,” added Robert Gordon, BTPG President. “New Jersey people are suffering. We are dedicated to electing people who will stop the down-spiral, and put New Jersey back to work and back to prosperity.”  

Gonzalez added, “Gary Rich and Shane Robinson share our constitutional, limited-government values. They clearly can help fix the problems we are facing. BTPG is happy to help them get to Freehold and Trenton, to help bring back the liberty and prosperity our residents deserve.”

The Bayshore Tea Party Group is part of the nationwide, grassroots Tea Party movement. Our mission is simple: (1) Limited Government; (2) Fiscal Responsibility, and (3) Free Markets. Find out more at our web site: www.bayshoreteaparty.org . Follow us on Twitter: @Bayshore_TParty.

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Governor Christie Keeps Commitment to New Jerseyans with Balanced Budget, Increased Education Spending and Job Creating Tax Cuts

Trenton, NJ – For the second year in a row, Governor Chris Christie has enacted a constitutionally balanced budget that reduces spending, does not raise taxes and protects critical priorities like education and health care. The revised budget is grounded in reality and is the polar opposite of a reckless Democratic spending plan the Governor was forced to line-item veto by nearly $1 billion in order to meet the state’s constitutional obligation to deliver a balanced budget for the next fiscal year. At the same time, the budget builds on the hard-won progress made over the last year to right New Jersey’s fiscal course over the long term, and also protects key priorities and encourages job growth. The Governor maintained his commitment to education by increasing funding by $850 million over last year’s budget. In total, this means every dollar of cuts made last year has been restored and increased by an additional $30 million.

Additionally, the Governor took action rejecting job-killing tax increases and signed into law additional targeted tax cuts for small business and job creators.

“It is my solemn pact with the residents and taxpayers of New Jersey to never allow a return to the kind of reckless, autopilot spending that devastated our state’s economic health in years past and which was embodied in the budget I repaired, a relic of days when there was no concern for the state’s fiscal reality,” Governor Chris Christie said. “Let me be clear – New Jersey is only going to spend the money we have. We are not going to revert back to business as usual and undo all the progress that has been made to improve New Jersey’s long-term fiscal health. The actions I have taken today reinforce a commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars, safeguarding critical priorities like education, and rejecting tax increases that impede economic expansion and job creation.

“This budget is not only constitutionally balanced, but represents my commitment to education. This year’s budget managed to increase funding by $850 million and does so in a fiscally prudent budget. New Jersey continues to spend more money per pupil than any other state and now is the time to complement the dollars spent with real education reform. Now is the time to turn our focus and energy to tackling the next big thing for our state – education reform,” concluded Governor Christie.

The Governor’s remedies, a combination of the line-item veto on the appropriations bill and the absolute veto, ensure the state will go into the next fiscal year with a constitutionally balanced budget, puts New Jersey on stronger fiscal footing and funds key commitments:

· Governor Christie’s adjusted budget spends $29.7 billion, $900 million less than the Democratic budget and maintains a healthy and necessary surplus;

· Increases state aid to school districts by $850 million over last year. This commitment to education includes the Governor’s initial $250 million increase for all school districts, meeting the Supreme Court’s mandate by providing an additional $450 million to the Abbott districts, and an additional $150 million for non-Abbott districts;

· Doubles the Homestead Benefit to provide property tax relief for New Jersey families;

· Increases and secures funding for New Jersey hospitals by $20 million;

· Provides full funding for healthcare to low-income earners and the uninsured through Federally Qualified Health Centers;

· Provides $180 million in targeted tax cuts and incentives to grow the economy and create jobs;

· Fulfills New Jersey’s commitment to make the state’s pension fund payment;

· Doesn’t raise taxes on individuals and job creators at a time when New Jerseyans are already subject to one of the highest state income tax rates in the nation and New York is reducing its tax burden; and

· Preserves critical spending for senior and disabled prescription aid.

In addition to returning a responsible and balanced budget to the Legislature, Governor Christie took other action today to stop job-killing tax increases and create a competitive climate for economic growth. Governor Christie vetoed Assembly Bill 4202, a Democratic proposal that would raise taxes on individuals and businesses at a time when New Jerseyans are already subject to one of the highest state income tax rates in the nation. The proposed income tax hike would directly hurt small business and exacerbate the volatility of New Jersey’s revenue base, considering that 71 percent of the taxpayers who pay the top tax rate under this legislation report income from business activity, and nearly 42 percent of the revenue subject to this tax increase represents business income.

The Governor signed into law today two additional pro-growth tax cuts that were part of his budget proposal that will eliminate the cap on the corporation business tax research credit and decrease the minimum corporation business tax on S-corps by 25 percent. Previously, on April 28, Governor Christie signed two tax cuts that he had initially proposed, the single-sales tax factor and net-loss carry forward. In addition, as initially proposed by Governor Christie, the Transition Energy Facility Assessment will phase out over the next three years, reducing energy costs for New Jersey families and businesses. In total, these pro-growth measures provide $180 million in targeted tax relief for New Jersey businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Governor also vetoed Assembly bill A-4204 in a fiscally responsible move that allows the State to continue to provide the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) at a level that the State’s taxpayers can sustain. While a difficult decision, providing the State EITC at 25 percent of the federal EITC is not affordable and not sustainable, which is why the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law last year legislation to make the State EITC equal to 20 percent of the federal EITC. He also absolutely vetoed the Democrat’s supplemental spending bill, A-4203, which was unconstitutional because it provided educational spending outside of the budget appropriations act.

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New Jersey Leads the Way with Landmark Bipartisan Pension and Health Benefits Reform

Governor Christie Secures Final Legislative Passage for Bold, Bipartisan Reforms to Restore Fiscal Sanity to an Out of Control System and Provide Over $120 Billion in Taxpayer Savings

Trenton, NJ – Demonstrating once again that New Jersey is leading the way with bipartisan solutions for the toughest challenges facing states today, Governor Christie secured final legislative passage tonight for landmark pension and health benefit reform. The reforms passed this evening in the Assembly after receiving passage in the Senate on Monday. The fundamental reforms, passed with bipartisan support from Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, will shake up New Jersey’s out-of-date, antiquated and increasingly expensive pension and health benefit systems. These historic reforms bring to an end years of broken promises and fiscal mismanagement by securing the long-term solvency of the pension and benefit systems, while at the same time achieving critical savings for state and local governments. Pension reform alone will provide savings to New Jersey taxpayers of over $120 billion over the next 30 years, and an additional $3.1 billion over the next 10 years from health benefits reform.

“Together, we’re showing New Jersey is serious about providing long-term fiscal stability for our children and grandchildren. We are putting the people first and daring to touch the third rail of politics in order to bring reform to an unsustainable system,” Governor Chris Christie said. “I want to thank Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Oliver for putting aside politics, committing themselves to reform and remaining unwilling to settle for anything less than the real, viable solutions New Jerseyans have been demanding.”

The reform legislation both secures the long-term solvency of the pension system by achieving a projected funding ratio of 88% within the next thirty years while providing over $120 billion in savings for New Jersey taxpayers. Similarly, the reforms to the health benefit system will save New Jersey taxpayers $3.1 billion over the next 10 years alone while offering greater choice and affordability. The combined savings from these reforms directly translates to real property tax relief for New Jersey families and budget relief for local governments.

Governor Christie continued, “We are once again showing the people of New Jersey that our state is leading the way on the biggest challenges before us and remains unafraid to do what is hard, but necessary. Instead of just talking about reform, New Jersey has come together in a bipartisan way, put our heads down and actually gotten the work done. We are fixing our pension and health benefit systems in order to save them and in the process bringing fiscal sanity to our state.”

In September 2010, Governor Christie first laid out a series of ambitious reform proposals to deal with an immediate combined unfunded liability for the pension and benefit system of $121 billion. Recognized as key cost-drivers for government at the state and local levels, the Governor once again made clear in his 2011 State of the State that modernizing the pension and benefit system in New Jersey was one of the big things to be achieved this year.

Governor Christie will sign the landmark reforms into law on Monday, June 27.

The Pension Reform Plan: Protecting Retirees and Providing New Jerseyans Over $120 Billion in Taxpayer Savings By 2041

The reforms will ensure long-term solvency, while slowing the rapid growth of government costs, spending and taxes that have overwhelmed taxpayers.

With reform, future retirees are protected and New Jerseyans provided with over $120 billion in taxpayer savings through 2041.

Increasing the Funding Ratio of the Pension System to 88%. These reforms protect the pension system for retirees, increasing the funded ratio of the combined state and local systems from the current 62% to more than 88% over the next thirty years. By 2041, this will reduce total pension underfunding to $37 billion. Without these critical reforms, the unfunded liability across the pension systems would have skyrocketed to $183 billion, resulting in a massive impact on state and local budgets.

Providing New Jerseyans Over $120 Billion in Taxpayer Savings by 2041. This comprehensive set of reforms means critical savings for state and local governments and real property tax relief for New Jerseyans.

· $79 Billion in State Contribution Savings: Over the next 30 years, the state pension contribution will be $148 billion, a projected savings of nearly $80 billion. Without reform, the state is projected to contribute $227 billion over the same period.

· $43 Billion in Local Government Contribution Savings: Over the next 30 years, local government pension contributions will be $70 billion, a projected savings of nearly $43 billion. Without reform, local governments are projected to contribute $113 billion over the same period.

Changes for All New Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) and Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) Employees:

· Updating the Formula for Retirement Eligibility:

Establishing the normal and early retirement age at 65 years.
Adjusting the early retirement penalty to 3 percent for each year.
Increasing eligibility for early retirement to 30 years of service.

Changes for All New Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) Employees:

· Updating the Formula for “Special Retirement” Eligibility:

o Changes eligibility for special retirement from 65% with 25 years of service to 65% with 30 years and 60% with 25 years.

Changes for All Active Employees (Judicial Retirement System (JRS), PERS, TPAF, PFRS and SPRS):

· Employee Contribution Rate:

Current Reform Legislation

PERS/TPAF 5.5% 6.5% (+1 additional point phased-in over 7 years to a 7.5% total)

PFRS 8.5% 10.0%

SPRS 7.5% 9.0%

JRS 3.0% 12.0% (increase phased-in over 7 years)

Changes for All Current and Future Retirees:

· Eliminating Automatic Annual Payment Increases: Eliminates all statutory Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs).

A New Paradigm for Pension Plan Design:

· The legislation creates a new Plan Design Committee for each pension plan. The Committees will have new authority to change important plan design features — such as retirement ages, employee contribution levels, and future cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) — within a financially prudent framework that mandates an ongoing, stable level of funding for each system.

· A “Target Fund Ratio” (TFR) will define the boards’ ability to make plan design changes. The TFR is a target ratio of a fund’s actuarial value of assets (AVA) to that fund’s actuarially determined liabilities. In general, only funds that are at or above the TFR will have flexibility to make plan design changes.

o A “Target Fund Ratio” (TFR) of 75% is established as of the legislation’s effective date, increasing to 80% over seven years.

o Only funds meeting or exceeding TFR will be eligible to make plan design changes. Funds below TFR may not make changes.

o Funds above the TFR but below 80% (during the seven-year phase-in period) may make only those changes that do not reduce their funded ratio upon implementation or below the TFR at any time within the succeeding thirty years.

o Plans above 80% may not make changes that bring their funded ratio below 80% upon implementation or at any time within the succeeding thirty years.

· In general, pension funds are considered to be adequately funded if their AVA funded ratio is at or above 80% (the federal standard for “at-risk” funds).

o At the end of fiscal 2010, the State’s plans’ combined AVA funded level was just 56 percent.

· The State Investment Council will expand from 13 to 16 members and include more direct public employee stakeholder input.

Changes to Reflect More Realistic and Financially Sound Principles:

· Amortization methodology is changed from a percentage of pay schedule (which defers the retirement of any unfunded liability) to a level dollar amount each year in order to retire part of the system’s unfunded liability each year and earlier than the previous methodology.

· Amortization methodology is changed from a 30 year open period (which retires less of the unfunded liability each year and results in a lower funded ratio) to a maximum open period of 20 years (phased-in over 19 years).

The Health Benefit Reform Plan: Transforming the System to Create Choice and Lower Costs for New Jersey Taxpayers

The reforms will modernize the State employee health benefits plans by bringing the system more in line with the private sector and federal government. Today, New Jersey’s unfunded other post-employment Benefits (OPEB) liability for providing health benefits is $71.4 billion. These reforms will substantially lower health benefits costs for local governments, including those at the county, school and municipal levels, representing another major step forward in providing real, long-term property tax relief. New Jersey spends $4.4 billion annually on public employees and retiree health care costs, with the cost of health benefits making up 9% of the State’s budget today.

The reforms will result in $3.1 billion savings for taxpayers over the next 10 years alone, while increasing choice for employees and ensuring affordability.

Cost Sharing Reforms for Active Employees:

All public employees will pay a statutorily-established percent of premium (“premium share”), instead of a percentage of salary, for all State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP)/School Employee Health Benefits Plan (SEHBP) and non-SHBP/SEHBP participating plans.

The employee’s share will phase in over four years.

The premium share requirement will not affect employees until their current contract expires.

Premium shares will vary by salary level and coverage, but may not be less than 1.5% of salary (the current standard).

Current employees (excepting those with 20 or more years of service as of the effective date) will pay a premium share in retirement based on the date they reach 25 years of service. If they reach 25 years after the effective date, the employee will pay the premium share in effect based on the date s/he reaches 25 years (i.e., if the employee reaches 25 years in year two of the four year phase-in, then the employee, in retirement, will pay the premium share in effect in year two of the phase-in.)

Changes for Current Retirees:

There will be no change with respect to premium cost sharing for current retirees.

Changes for Local and Education Employees Outside SHBP/SEHBP:

If the employer is not participating in the SHBP/SEHBP, then the employer and employee could agree to a different premium share and out-of-pocket cost arrangement that results in the same level of savings as the statutory premium share formula and plan design changes in the SHBP/SEHBP.

Savings would have to be certified by Division of Local Government Services and Division of Pensions and Benefits and the local Financial Officer in each local entity.

All local employers are required to offer a Section 125 “cafeteria plan” to employees.

Health Plan Design Reforms

Joint Employer and Employee Plan Design Committees:

For both SHBP and SEHBP, a state-level joint employee-employer Plan Design Committee is established. The employer and employees are equally represented.

Committee Role in Plan Design:

The Committees are responsible for providing plans with at least three levels of coverage, featuring varying levels out-of-pocket costs. The Committees have sole discretion to set the amounts for maximums, co-pays, deductibles, and other such participant costs for each plan.

The Committees must also provide for a high deductible health plan.

All current statutory requirements with respect to plan design will be repealed.

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Better Education for Kids Launches Radio Ad To Promote Education Reform

New Brunswick (June 22, 2011) – Better Education for Kids (B4K), a 501(c)(4) organization, launched a new statewide radio ad this morning.

The ad, which begins the second campaign launched by the organization this month, calls for bipartisan common sense changes to New Jersey’s public education system.

“We need a new way forward in New Jersey. It’s time to end politics as usual and give parents, students and concerned citizens a real voice in this debate. Every child deserves to receive a first-rate education and an opportunity to succeed in the 21st century. We need to act now and make New Jersey’s public school system a national model for student achievement. It’s time to end special interest domination of our public education system and put our children’s interests first,” said Derrell Bradford, Executive Director of Better Education for Kids.

B4K believes student achievement should be the first priority of the New Jersey school system. Every student should have the opportunity to learn from a great teacher and every school should have a great principal. We need to elevate the teaching profession so that great teachers and principals are rewarded with merit pay and tenure becomes a significant professional milestone!

The ad can be heard on: www.b4njkids.org

Better Education for Kids (B4K) is an independent non-profit organization established to

promote education reform in New Jersey.

B4K is a 501(c)(4) organization under the Internal Revenue Code and is not affiliated with

any political group or committee.

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Shadow Lake Cleanup Clears Budget Committee

Funding Measure Now Heads to Full Senate

Middletown—Senator Joe Kyrillos, co-prime sponsor of legislation establishing New Jersey’s landmark Environmental Infrastructure Trust (EIT), is pleased to announce that special financing for the cleanup of Middletown’s Shadow Lake has cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today:

“It has been a very long fight for the residents of this community,” said Kyrillos. “I am thrilled that the financing for this project is finally nearing approval. The Environmental Infrastructure Trust was established for just this purpose- to restore contaminated natural treasures and improve the environmental quality of our communities.”

If approved by the Legislature, the bill appropriates $2.7 million in low interest financing for the Township of Middletown to dredge the Shadow Lake in order to remove contaminated sediments at the bottom of the lake. The dredge spoils will be transported to a properly licensed facility off site.

“Thanks to the efforts of Senator Kyrillos the residents of the communities surrounding Shadow Lake can rest easier knowing that a project more than a decade in the making is nearing reality,” said Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore. “In addition to the Senator’s efforts in helping secure financing for this project, he has assisted the Township with the NJDEP to find a qualified site outside of Middletown for disposal of the dredge spoils.”

The legislation now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

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Christie, Legislative Leadership Come To Terms On Pensions And Health Care

Trenton, NJ – This evening, Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce released the following joint statement:

“After months of serious discussions, we are pleased to announce that we have reached agreement on legislation to reform our public pension and health benefits systems in New Jersey.

“The legislation to be considered tomorrow by the Senate Budget Committee and Monday by the Assembly Budget Committee protects taxpayers, saves the public pension system for current and future retirees, and enhances fairness and choice in our health benefits system.

“We all fully support this legislation and will work together to assure its passage by both houses of the Legislature and enactment into law no later than June 30, 2011.”

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Casagrande Gives Birth To Theodore Charles Chance

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and her husband Stephen Chance are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Theodore Charles Chance.

The baby was born early this afternoon, measuring 21 inches and weighing 8 lbs., 9 oz..

Mother and child are resting comfortably, while dad and little brother Harrison, age 2, are thrilled at the newest addition to their family.

Rivals, the football recruiting service, immediately listed little Teddy as a five star football recruit in the class of 2032. Neither Asw. Casagrande or her husband would comment on the rumor that Teddy has verbally committed to Penn State University, his parents alma mater.

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Shrewsbury Welcomes Solutions

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Kyrillos Submits “The School Children First Act” Reforming Teacher Tenure and Pay

Trenton— State Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth) has introduced legislation, S-2881, aimed at providing all children in New Jersey with an effective teacher in their classrooms. “The School Children First Act” will reform teachers’ tenure and pay structure, and bringing these important protections in line with the state constitution’s mandate of a “thorough and efficient” system of public education. The legislation is modeled after Governor Christie’s teacher tenure and salary reform proposals.

“We cannot, as a state, tolerate a public education system in which some children have access to good teachers while others do not,” said Kyrillos. “We must make the system work better for kids by rewarding excellent teachers and removing those who are not effective in the classroom. In order to meet the state constitution’s requirement of a thorough and efficient system of public schools for all children, we must put their needs above all else in every facet of our educational system. That includes how tenure and compensation are earned.”

The legislation replaces traditional teacher tenure with protections that must be earned and maintained through annual evaluations that rely heavily on classroom observation, making it easier to identify and remove ineffective teachers from the classroom.

The pay structure of the teaching field will be reformed as well. Student achievement will play a role in determining salary awards under the bill, a change from the current system which compensates teachers based on seniority.

“The new system puts students first by protecting and rewarding teachers who are effective, aiding those who need to improve but still show promise and passion, and moving those who are persistently ineffective out of the classroom,” Kyrillos stated. “All the while, this legislation protects educators from arbitrary or politically motivated termination.”

Under the bill, tenure is earned after three annual evaluations of “effective” or “highly effective”. A teacher loses and must re-earn tenure after one rating of “ineffective” or two evaluations of “partially effective”.

“Teachers who are performing well or who clearly will perform well with additional mentoring and guidance have nothing to fear from this type of reform,” said Kyrillos. “However, the new system improves on current practice by stopping the excuses for educators who are clearly incapable in the classroom or have burned out.”

Finally, the bill as drafted prioritizes students’ needs by ensuring that a school’s most effective educators are retained if staffing reductions are made. “I’ll take a great third year teacher over an ineffective veteran of the system any day of the week,” said the Senator. “When staffing decisions are made, our children should have access to the best teachers whether they’ve spent two or twenty years in the classroom.”

Kyrillos said he hopes that the debate over his bill will be based on its merits rather than fear. “Change is always difficult in government, but I hope that those who disagree with this bill do so based on fact rather than fear mongering,” he said. “A system that makes it too difficult and costly to remove teachers who are failing, that unnecessarily creates winners and losers among our state’s school children because of red tape and bureaucracy, is neither thorough nor efficient.”

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