Today, February 25, 2014, Governor Chris Christie is set to propose a new state budget. In a press release yesterday, State Democrats warned the Governor that he shouldn’t expect support for a proposed tax cut.
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) also repeated that the spending plan
Donald C. Barbati
PERC Affirms Denial To Pay Automatic Salary Increments
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
In a recent decision, the Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”) overturned decades of precedent in concluding that a public employer was not required to pay automatic increments to officers upon the expiration of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement. As you can expect, the decision, County of Atlantic and PBA Local 243, FOP Lodge 34 and…
Cincinnati Pension Referendum Seeks to Eliminate Public Employee Pension System
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by Cincinnati.com, there is currently a bill up for referendum tomorrow that will eliminate the public employee pension system and replace the same with a 401(k) style plan. The current situation in Cincinnati is similar to here in New Jersey, wherein the pension system is running an extremely high, unfunded liability. …
Bergen Freeholders To Vote Wednesday On County Police Merger
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the Democratic-controlled Board of Chosen Freeholders in Bergen County is scheduled to take a final vote Wednesday on an ordinance that makes the 88-member County Police Department a division of the Sheriff’s Office.
Four Democrats and two Republicans will likely vote to approve the merger. County Executive Kathleen Donovan has …
Booker Calls To End Private Prisons; Draws Ire Of DiVincenzo
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s call to end private prisons has drawn the ire of one of his staunchest and most powerful political allies: Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. In a far reaching proposal to reform America’s prison system, Booker had harsh words for the privately owned prison industry saying it created …
Open Government Activist Sues Ewing For Refusing To Release Police Salary Info
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, an open-government activist is suing Ewing Township for allegedly violating the Open Public Records Act by refusing to disclose part of a police officer’s salary. John Paff, the chairman of the Open Government Advocacy Project of the State Libertarian Party, said that he heard from confidential sources that Ewing was …
State PBA Says Trenton Needs More Money For Officers, Not Regional Police Force
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the State Policemen’s Benevolent Association scoffed at Governor Chris Christie’s call for Mercer County to consider creating a regional police force like Camden County’s to quell violence in Trenton, saying what the city and police really need is money to hire more officers.
“The significant increase in violent …
NJ Shelling Out $5M In Back Pay To Correction Officers
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, New Jersey will soon begin shelling out millions of dollars in back pay to thousands of current and former corrections officers who participated in a training program that was approved for only a year but lasted a decade. The settlement, reached in May after years of litigation, is expected …
State PBA Wants Trenton Mayor To Resign, County To Take Over City Police
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, citing rampant crime and Mayor Tony Mack’s federal indictment on corruption charges, the State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President became the latest official to demand Mack step down from office.
PBA President Anthony Wieners said Trenton and its layoff-depleted police force need help immediately. “The recent wave of violence in Trenton …
Wisconsin Prison Guards Sue State For Unpaid Wages
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by JSOnline.com on August 7, 2013, Corrections officers in Wisconsin sued the State this week alleging they are owed millions of dollars in back pay because of a 2012 policy that prevents them from being compensated for perhaps five minutes of work a day.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Dane County Circuit Court, …