Cyberlobbee News: Lacking Details

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) sends out periodic e-mails to its members about lobbying issues in its electronic newsletter, Cyberlobbee News. I do not understand purposefully misspelling lobby from an education association. It is not illegal to use members’ dues to send this newsletter which is nothing more than political action. I know this for I had a state lawyer render a decision last summer on the matter when Cyberlobbee News began. Today, NJEA members received the following in the newsletter:

Politicians mention there’s some tension about your pension! Recently, some elected officials have referred to teachers’ and school employees’ benefits as an “entitlement” that is busting the state budget.

“Entitlement?” Who are they kidding? To call our pension an entitlement is an affront to active and retired educators and education support professionals who have dedicated their lives to kids and the public schools.

Whether elected officials used the term entitlement or not, I do not know. I suspect that this is accurate. I have no reason to doubt NJEA on this.

What is perplexing, however, is the lack of detail in the charge. If true, is it not easy enough to link or quote the offending speech? Which elected officials said this? If Acting Governor Codey or Senator Corzine said this, it would be received much differently than if a city council member of Pt. Pleasant had. The lack of information casts the message as suspect to me. I am not willing to become riled until I know more.

Shouldn’t an education association set a better example? Teachers would not accept such a statement in any persuasive writing piece from their students. Why should their representatives skate by with such shoddy work? I expect better.

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