Welcome to the Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey. Thank you for visiting our site.
For decades, the most powerful political force in the state – the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) – has rigged the system and used our tax dollars to dominate New Jersey politics. Our high taxes and cost of living, our poor fiscal condition, our underperforming economy, and our pension and benefit crisis are the results. We aim to shine a light on this malign status quo.
The modern NJEA is a political machine that is more concerned with political power than the interests of the teachers they are supposed to represent. NJEA leadership has covertly used teachers’ dues as a piggy bank for their own priorities, not teachers’. Teachers need to know the truth so they can make the best decisions for themselves. We aim to shine a light on the truth.
As Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said: “Sunlight is the best of disinfectants.” For the future of our state and the next generations of New Jerseyans, it’s time to shine a light on these facts and change the status quo.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any thoughts or questions. Thanks again for your interest.
Mike Lilley, President and Founder
October 15, 2025
Informing New Jersey citizens of the facts behind our special-interest-dominated political system and the negative consequences for our state
The NJEA is an opaque organization that conceals much of its political activities. It has secretive internal processes and a large network of dark-money allies that helps mask its activities and keep New Jersey citizens and its own members in the dark. Sunlight’s goal is to provide resources, materials, and facts that expose this reality. We aim to shine a light our main problem: a rigged political system that is dominated by a NJEA political machine that is more concerned with political power than the interests of its members. Many of the problems that threaten the future of our state – our high taxes and cost of living, our poor fiscal condition, our pension and benefit crisis, and our underperforming economy – flow from this. Our goal is to arm citizens and teachers with the facts.
Publish studies, briefing papers, and other educational materials to inform New Jersey citizens about the nature and underlying causes of our special-interest-dominated status quo.
Provide research to inform teachers of the facts and empower them to make the best decisions for themselves.
Provide research to help policymakers and the media gain a better understanding of these issues.
Work with allies to broaden and amplify Sunlight’s efforts.