Takeaway: Call Gov. Phil Murphy’s office at 609-292-6000 and ask him to veto legislation rammed through the legislature to gut OPRA (S2930/A4045).
Dear colleague,
The bill to gut the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA)—rammed through the legislature in less than a week last month—is on Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk: it’s his decision now whether to sign or veto it. We’re asking you to call the governor’s office at 609-292-6000 to tell him that union members want him to veto the Keeping Secrets Bill (S2930/A4045) to help protect democracy in New Jersey.
The anti-OPRA legislation would undermine a law that is essential for maintaining accountability in our public institutions, including Rutgers. According to polls, 81 percent of New Jersey voters oppose it. We twice beat back the rush to gut OPRA by mobilizing with our union partners, the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, and other organizations for a strong show of opposition. Both times the bill was withdrawn, legislative leaders promised that amendments would address our concerns. But the version that passed the legislature didn’t have the changes we need—in fact, it’s worse than the original in some ways!
Gov. Murphy has not said what he will do, but he has made critical comments about S2930/A4045 recently. Please call him at 609-292-6000 and tell him you hope he’ll veto the Keeping Secrets Bill soon! Below are some suggested talking points for your call.
In solidarity,
Rutgers AAUP-AFT, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, and AAUP-BHSNJ
Rutgers AAUP-AFT Facebook page: https://facebook.com/RUaaup/
Follow us on Twitter @ruaaup and Instagram @rutgersaaup
Freedom School YouTubeChannel: https://rutgersaaup.org/YouTube
Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rutgersptlfc
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @ruaaup_ptl
Visit our website: https://rutgers-ptlfc.org/
AAUP-BHSNJ website: https://aaupbhsnj.org/
AAUP-BHSNJ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RUaaupbhsnj
Suggested Talking Points for Your Call to Gov. Murphy
- I’m calling to ask the governor to veto a bill that would weaken important aspects of the New Jersey Open Public Records Act. Four out of five New Jersey voters say they want you to veto it, too!
- Our unions at Rutgers have relied on OPRA to hold the university administration accountable to our members, our students, and our communities. We’ve had to sue Rutgers to get access to records we were entitled to; this bill would make that difficult, if not impossible.
- We were twice promised amendments that would address the concerns of people who actually use OPRA. But the version that the legislature passed is as bad or worse than the original!
- Our public institutions need more openness and transparency, not less. This bill confirms all the worst images of corruption and secrecy in New Jersey politics. Please veto it and help us protect a cornerstone of our democracy, at a time when democratic principles are under attack around the country.