NJ Education Commissioner Asked To Be Fired So He Could Receive Unemployment Benefits

[ProSense]

NJ Education Commissioner Asked To Be Fired So He Could Receive Unemployment Benefits

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) today fired the state’s Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, after the state lost a $400 million Race To The Top grant due to an error made in the application process. Now, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports that Schundler specifically asked to be fired, instead of voluntarily resigning, so that he would be able to receive unemployment benefits:

Ousted state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler today said he asked Gov. Chris Christie to be fired from the work he considered his “life’s dream,” rather than resign, so he could receive unemployment benefits to pay his bills. “I asked if they would mind writing a termination letter, instead of a resignation letter, because I do have a mortgage to pay, and I do have a daughter who’s just started college,” he said in an interview this morning. “And I, frankly, will need the unemployment insurance benefits until I find another job. … And they said fine. They said sure.” <...>

Schundler’s financial disclosure form, released Thursday by the State Ethics Commission, show he and his wife had less than $5,000 in the bank.

Schundler’s case is particularly important because the Republican Party and conservative movement he belongs to have recently made the unemployed a frequent political punching bag. For months the party has fought every vote to extend unemployment benefits, despite double-digit unemployment rates across the country.

And to add insult to injury, major Republicans have derided the character of the recipients of unemployment benefits. NY GOP gubernatorial primary candidate Carl Paladino has suggested sending people receiving unemployment benefits to prison dorms, Nixon administration official and conservative pundit Ben Stein has complained that the unemployed are “unpleasant people…who do not know how to do a day’s work,” Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) suggested the jobless are “sitting back and waiting” instead of looking for work, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has claimed “welfare” is making the persistently unemployed lazy.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. In most states you can't get UI if you're fired for cause.

You get UI benefits only if you're laid off, which this guy wasn't. So he's stupid either way.

[FBaggins]

3. True... but in NJ, "fired for poor performance" can still qualify

if he can claim that the termination was without warning.

There's a chance that he could do so after resigning as well... so there may not be a point. But firing him seems appropriate given the circumstances.

[seattleblue]

5. That only applies when the employer contests the unemployment claim.

I doubt the state would object to the claim in this case.

[Beacool]

6. I live in NJ and he's correct.

Unless his employer contests it, he can receive unemployment benefits. Ditto in NY.

;-)

[ProSense]

7. I could not care less about Schundler’s financial situation

The stunning GOP hypocrisy is another story.

Mr. Schundler confirmed that he was asked to resign from his $141,000 job, but "I said it would be much better if they terminated me because I can't afford" to go without unemployment benefits while job hunting. "I have to cover bills," he said.

link

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Schundler's going to have to call into an automated telephone service

biweekly and aver that he's been looking for employment in order to get his next check.

[NJCher]

4. doesn't even have two month's payments

The average mortgage payment in NJ is a little over 1900. Add around 600 for utilities and around 1500 for taxes and Mr. Schundler does indeed need his unemployment.


Cher

[SKKY]

9. 600 a month for utilities in New Jersey????

:wow:

[Jennicut]

10. NJ is notoriously expensive to live in. I live in the only slightly less expensive Connecticut.

The tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) has never been an easily affordable area to live in.

[SKKY]

11. I guess not. Well, check off NY, NJ, and CT as places to relocate...

...to when I retire from active duty.

[Blue_Tires]

8. ttt

[totodeinhere]

12. This is unfortunate. It will play right into right wing talking points. n/t