Let’s Have An Election About Education Reform, Aid to Cities
By Art Gallagher
Senate President Steve Sweeney told The Star Ledger Editorial Board that he is groveling to get back into the good graces of the NJEA. He didn’t put it exactly that way, but that is the effect of his pronouncement that he will not allow two key components of Governor Christie’s educations reforms…merit pay and ending seniority protections from layoffs.
Governor Christie gave himself plenty of room to negotiate when he increased the budget surplus by $270 million while cutting transitional aid to the cities by $139 million. The Democrats want that money, and other monies that Christie cut back. If the cities don’t get the money they could face bankruptcy.
Christie shouldn’t give an dime back to the cities unless he gets everything he wants in education reform. If Sweeney and the Democrats don’t go along because they’re trying to get back into the good graces of the NJEA, let the voters decide.
Let’s have the coming election, in which the entire legislature is up for grabs, be a referendum on Christie’s agenda vs the NJEA agenda.
Posted: July 10th, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, NJ State Legislature | Tags: 2011 election, Chris Christie, NJEA, Steve Sweeney, urban aid | 2 Comments »