This is a very interesting article regarding how Governor Christie employed some "fuzzy math" to reduce the State’s legally mandated pension payment. NJSPOTLIGHT
Governor Christie
Christie Says Mercer County Should Create A County Police Force
By Frank M. Crivelli on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
On August 21, 2013, NJ.COM reported that Governor Chris Christie said Mercer County should follow Camden County’s lead and consider instituting a regional police force to address violence in Trenton.
"I believe if Trenton wants to really repair its public safety system, that they should look to Camden as a model and that they should…
Judge Upholds Suspension Of Pension Increases For NJ Public Employees
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, hundreds of thousands of retired public employees are not entitled to cost-of-living adjustments, a Superior Court judge has ruled, upholding a segment of the new pension regulations that suspend the increases indefinitely. The ruling by Superior Court Judge Douglas Hurd affects all current and future retirees in pension systems …
Public Employee Unions Fear Political Shift in NJ Supreme Court
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, as hearings on Governor Chris Christie’s two Supreme Court nominees draw near, the state’s largest public employee unions say they are alarmed by a potential shift in the Court’s political balance, and Democrats are poring over new information about the pair.
In a letter to the Senate last …
NJ Imposes Harsher Penalties For Killing K-9
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, people who intentionally kill police dogs or dogs involved in search and rescue operations are now facing stiffer penalties in New Jersey.
Governor Chris Christie recently signed legislation that mandates minimum five-year prison terms, with no chance of parole, for such offenders, who also will face fines of up …
NJ Public Workers Continue to Retire At Record Rate
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, for the second year in a row, public employees across New Jersey are retiring at a record rate, state figures show. Nearly 15,000 public workers are expected to retire from January through the end of July, a slight increase from the same period last year, when a record number of …
Christie Seeks to Change Health Benefits of Workers Through Collective Bargaining
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, after asserting for months that state employee health benefits will be overhauled through legislation, Governor Chris Christie’s office is now seeking the changes through collective bargaining with the state’s largest employee union.
“He’s out of his cage!” read a memo to Communications Workers of America members obtained by …
Gov. Christie, CWA Begin Bargaining Over Health Benefits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Contract Negotiations
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie began bargaining over health benefits for state employees this week, according to a memo sent out to members of the Communications Workers of America obtained by the Star-Ledger.
Christie has been adamant for months that he would obtain changes to employee health benefits through legislation. The new …
State Workers Demonstrate Solidarity Against Christie’s Proposed Benefit, Pension Cuts
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, state workers have begun wearing red arm bands to voice their opposition to proposals that would slash their health benefits. The arm bands are being distributed by the Communications Workers of America, the largest public employee union in New Jersey that represents most of the state’s professional rank and …
Christie’s Tool-Kit Reform Package Stalls in Legislature
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie challenged lawmakers last May to pass a series of bills he said would lower property taxes, but a year later, with only some of the reforms enacted, property taxes are up $1 billion. Depending on who’s talking, the impasse on Christie’s reform package, what he calls the …