\”The comments attributed to BCEA President Coppola are beyond inappropriate. Praying for the death of the duly elected Governor of New Jersey is not a joke, either in public or in private,\” O’Toole stated. \”The leadership of the NJEA had the opportunity to address this situation yesterday, but failed to do so. I am disappointed that the NJEA has adequately failed to address this situation.

\”Obviously, in this situation serious corrective action must be taken,\” Russo continued. \”If someone in the private sector or a student in one of New Jersey’s schools had made a similarly egregious comment they would have been fired or expelled respectively. I would hope in the future that officials in the public sector would be held to the same high standards. Failing that Mr. Coppola must resign immediately.\”

\”There is no place for that kind of language in public debate or education,\” Rumana, R-Passaic and Bergen, said of the memo. \”Governor Christie has said he is willing to take the slings and arrows that come with making the tough decisions for New Jersey, but this is going too far. \”If a student wished death upon an administrator or teacher, that student would be disciplined severely. I would expect the same standard to be applied to the professionals with whom we are entrusting our children’s lives.\”

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEARING

PROMPTS ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE TO REARRANGE SCHEDULE

(TRENTON) – Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald on Tuesday announced the Assembly budget panel has rearranged its schedule amid overwhelming response to Monday’s public hearing on Gov. Chris Christie’s budget plan.

LIVE BLUEBIRD NESTBOX CAMERA RETURNS TO GAME COMMISSION WEBSITE

HARRISBURG – In an effort to garner appreciation for wildlife, especially the state’s bluebird population, the Pennsylvania Game Commission launched this year’s webcasting of a live video feed from a bluebird nestbox on the grounds of its Harrisburg Headquarters. To view the live feed, visit the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on the \”Bluebird Live-Feed\” icon under the opening photo in the center of the homepage.

\”The best way to get Pennsylvanians – in fact most Americans – excited about wildlife is to show them what makes wildlife so irreplaceable and priceless,\” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. \”We decided to set-up and use this live webcast to help us educate the public about the importance of wildlife, how to make backyards friendlier to wildlife and also provide a way for folks to simply get closer to bluebirds. Last year, it was a huge hit, and we expect that the broadcasting of this year’s activities again will be well received.