Since its beginnings in 1853, NJEA has initiated or supported all major steps toward better schools for New Jersey’s children and better working conditions for school employees. NJEA has initiated or supported legislation to give public employees the right to bargain, increase state aid to schools, have paid sick leave, and have family leave. Although not every law is perfect, NJEA works to ensure the best possible outcome for students, schools, and school employees What actions does NJEA take to promote its legislative agenda? NJEA Government Relations staff closely monitors bills and regulations that affect students, schools, or school employees. The staff lobbyists actively lobby elected and appointed officials. Lobbyists prepare testimony and position papers, meet with legislators and State Board of Education members, and work closely with the NJEA Government Relations and Congressional Contact committees to keep them informed and have them organize members to take action through LATs. When member lobbying is required on a bill or regulation, NJEA asks members of the GR and CCC committees to take action and spread the word to its county LAT. Members of the county LAT, working with their LAT reps and ARs, then ask their local association members to take action. Use your right to vote! Voter registration and vote by mail All NJEA members who are eligible to vote should register to vote. Voting for our endorsed candidates 42 – AR Handbook is one way for NJEA members to exercise their political power and help ensure the Association has a voice in the policymaking process. Anyone who does not wish to go to the polls to vote can vote by mail. This is especially important when elections fall during a school vacation and for college students who are out of town. More information about voter registration and vote by mail, including forms, can be obtained by calling the NJEA Government Relations Division at 609-599-4561, or by visiting njelections.org. Election Dates Please check the NJEA Political Action Guide for Election dates for the current year. What is NJEA PAC? NJEA PAC is NJEA’s Political Action Committee. NJEA PAC is the nonpartisan voice of NJEA members when it comes to endorsing candidates for political office. The NJEA PAC Operating Committee, made up of the NJEA officers, county presidents, and members of NJEA’s Executive, Government Relations, and Congressional Contact committees, as well as representatives from the retiree and student associations, ultimately makes endorsement decisions. For all state elections, the decision to endorse candidates is made by NJEA members. In legislative races, screening committees that represent a lawmaker’s district interview candidates about issues important to public education and public school employees. A screening committee made up of members of NJEA PAC screens candidates for statewide races; every county is invited to have observers present. These screening committees recommend candidates for endorsement. Their decisions have to be approved by the entire PAC Operating Committee. For all federal elections, the same interview process is followed. However, NJEA PAC is not a federal PAC, and uses this process to make endorsement recommendations to NEA’s PAC, the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education. NJEA PAC supports endorsed candidates in several ways. NJEA PAC makes direct contributions to candidates’ campaigns, publicizes the endorsement to NJEA members, promotes candidates in publications, and organizes members to work directly for a candidate. NJEA PAC will also provide funds for local and county associations that decide to endorse candidates at the local and county level. For more information, please contact the NJEA Government Relations Division. Supporting NJEA PAC It is important that members support NJEA PAC. This can be done by contributing, following the recommendations of NJEA PAC, and working on behalf of endorsed candidates. It is especially important that members contribute to NJEA PAC. NJEA PAC funds come solely from voluntary contributions from members. As an AR, you should work with your LAT representatives to conduct a PAC fundraising drive.
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