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New Jersey about to pass health care & pension legislation
In this June 16, 2011 file photo, thousands participate in a rally to protest a Senate Budget Committee hearing on employee benefits at the State House Annex in Trenton, N.J. The struggle to legislate higher pension and health benefits contributions for 500,000 public workers in New Jersey is shaking up the political status quo: Organized labor is attacking its traditional Democratic allies and pro-union Democrats are pitted against colleagues who plan to vote to limit collective bargaining. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)
TRENTON (AP) — A divisive bill that resets public employee benefits so they're more in line with the private sector was expected to clear its final legislative hurdle in New Jersey on Thursday.
The bill, requiring 500,000 public workers to pay sharply more for pension and health benefits, was headed to the Assembly after having already cleared the Senate. Gov. Chris Christie is likely to sign the bill quickly once it reaches his desk.
The measure was fast-tracked through the Legislature after the Republican governor struck a deal with Democrats who control the Legislature and GOP legislative leaders. The measure has driven a wedge through the state Democratic Party. It fostered feelings of betrayal among organized labor and resentment among beleaguered taxpayers who believe public worker benefits are too rich.
Public employee unions began setting up before dawn for their third rally in eight days. A permit for up to 25,000 protesters was issued but fewer than 1,000 showed up for the last demonstration Monday.
Union leadership and many Democrats remain opposed to the legislation, in part because the accord imposes health insurance changes on public workers through legislation rather than through collective bargaining.
"Everyone had to compromise to come together ... (Thursday) is a big day to watch that get done," Christie told constituents at a town hall meeting in Fair Lawn.
"New Jersey has been using grains of sand to address this problem, but it's going to take boulders put in place to address this," Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver told The Associated Press. "It's unpleasant, it doesn't have broad bipartisan support. The members of my party do not support this."
The bill requires teachers, police, firefighters and other public employees to pay a portion of their health care premiums based on income. An employee earning $60,000 who now pays $900 toward health insurance would see their yearly costs rise to $2,056 for single coverage or $3,230 for a family plan, after a four-year phase-in.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
The bill, requiring 500,000 public workers to pay sharply more for pension and health benefits, was headed to the Assembly after having already cleared the Senate. Gov. Chris Christie is likely to sign the bill quickly once it reaches his desk.
The measure was fast-tracked through the Legislature after the Republican governor struck a deal with Democrats who control the Legislature and GOP legislative leaders. The measure has driven a wedge through the state Democratic Party. It fostered feelings of betrayal among organized labor and resentment among beleaguered taxpayers who believe public worker benefits are too rich.
Public employee unions began setting up before dawn for their third rally in eight days. A permit for up to 25,000 protesters was issued but fewer than 1,000 showed up for the last demonstration Monday.
Union leadership and many Democrats remain opposed to the legislation, in part because the accord imposes health insurance changes on public workers through legislation rather than through collective bargaining.
"Everyone had to compromise to come together ... (Thursday) is a big day to watch that get done," Christie told constituents at a town hall meeting in Fair Lawn.
"New Jersey has been using grains of sand to address this problem, but it's going to take boulders put in place to address this," Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver told The Associated Press. "It's unpleasant, it doesn't have broad bipartisan support. The members of my party do not support this."
The bill requires teachers, police, firefighters and other public employees to pay a portion of their health care premiums based on income. An employee earning $60,000 who now pays $900 toward health insurance would see their yearly costs rise to $2,056 for single coverage or $3,230 for a family plan, after a four-year phase-in.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
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