Governor Christie And The NJEA Duke It Out In Public War Of Words (AUDIO)
Listen to David Matthau's conversation with Barbara Keshishian
As Governor Christie proposed cutting 819 million dollars in State aid for education in his budget address, he blasted the New Jersey Education Association for using intimidation tactics and public bullying to smear officials who questioned them…and he asked "Just how arrogant has the union gotten?"
During the speech, NJEA President Barbara Keshishian looked shell-shocked.
Afterwards, she said "we're looking forward to sitting down and meeting with him on the issues that are important…he has made every attempt to attack us on many of our issues, and he continues to do that…but his statements saying that all of our benefits are free- that's totally inaccurate - and he needs to get his facts straight."
She said "about 70 percent of our local districts have in their contracts where our members do contribute - either as a percentage of the premium itself, or as co-pays…we probably wouldn't expect too many compliments from this Governor, but to say that we're the bullies, I think he could probably corner the market on that."
When Keshishian was asked about the effects of the aid cuts to education she said "they are going to have a devastating effect - because remember, the cuts that are in the projected budget are on top of the 45 million dollars he has already taken…there will be fewer teachers to teach the courses, which will consequently end up in larger class sizes…and cuts in programs …we're at the top of the nation in terms of many different categories- and why would you want to take a system that is working- we're about the only system that is working in the entire state…why would you want to take something that is so good, that is so productive, that produces so many good things, and ruin it by cutting the funding?"
She also said she is disappointed in the Governor's rhetoric- and she is hoping there will be a time when the animosity is lessoned."
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