Union tries to brush aside tax liens, but only creates more questions
Last week, Education Action Group issued a statement on three liens placed on the New Jersey Education Association by the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid taxes. According to our research, documents obtained from two separate county clerk’s offices indicated two liens had been paid; one had not.
The Record published a story Friday, saying the $56,730 lien was deemed an “error” by a school official. But the excuse raises many more questions than it answers.
For example:
*Did the union engage in tax fraud by using a school district’s tax ID number?
*Why would the local union not just use the NJEA employer identification number (which is sometimes referred to as the tax ID number)?
*Was the school district aware the union was using its employer identification number?
*Why was the lien filed against the NJEA and not the school district?
*Furthermore, what is the union’s explanation for the other two liens that it was eventually forced to pay? It takes many months for unpaid tax bills to become full-blown IRS liens. Why didn’t the union pay its taxes on time?
*Is the NJEA unable to pay its taxes, or just unwilling?
The Record’s story also raises questions about the New Jersey media.
*Why isn’t the media asking any of these questions?
*Why does it take a watchdog group based in Michigan to ask the tough questions?
The media seem willing to swallow the union’s lame excuse for the $56,730 lien, but doesn’t think to ask why the other liens were necessary in the first place.
There are more questions that should be asked, and perhaps an interesting story — if the local media dare to investigate. We’re based in Michigan and can see from here that the union’s story doesn’t add up.
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