This year New Jersey’s public employees, specifically teachers, received some terrifying news regarding the status of their pensions. That news, that the pension fund would be insolvent in 2027, was a wakeup call for many of us. When we heard this news, our union leadership encouraged us to sign up as pension activists. We were told to use social media and to contact our legislators. Twitter was abuzz with #fundnjpension and we now have tens of thousands of pension activists.
This activism is great, but the fact still remains that the budget presented by the Democrats was line item vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie and our pension payment was, once again, underfunded. The status quo remains and we are one year closer to the fund becoming insolvent. The only way to prevent the governor’s line item veto is to have a veto-proof majority within the state Assembly and Senate.
This November the entire New Jersey Assembly is up for election and we need to be heard. We need to support candidates who support our position on funding the pension. One such candidate is Jim Keady.
Jim is a lifelong resident of the 30th District and he has vowed to support the teachers of this state by funding the pension. Furthermore, he is a former teacher at St. Rose and has many family members, including his mother and father, who have worked as teachers in New Jersey’s great public schools. Many of you may know Jim Keady as the “sit down and shut up” guy that Gov. Christie made famous. I can assure you he is much more than a five-word phrase. He is an honest man who has a proven record of standing up for what is just.
His documentary, “Behind the Swoosh,” details how he traveled to Indonesia to prove that Nike’s workers in Indonesia were being underpaid and mistreated. Jim has also proven, here at home, that he is willing to fight for those who were devastated by superstorm Sandy. He is still involved with getting people back into their homes and routinely advises people on how to navigate the state’s Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation program.
In addition, Jim has attended New Jersey Education Association rallies in Livingston and Asbury Park. At each event, Jim spoke and demanded that the governor live up to his obligation of fully funding the pension. Finally, Jim Keady is the best candidate in the 30th District and he needs our support. Please consider volunteering for his campaign or making a contribution, but most importantly, make sure you pull the lever for Jim Keady on Nov. 3.
Casey Barilka
Howell