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.