As reported by app.com, a federal lawsuit brought by New Jersey public employee unions, in an attempt to overturn last year’s pension and benefit reforms, has been dismissed. U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson ruled Monday that the issue is not under federal jurisdiction because of the 11th amendment to the U.S. Constitution,
healthcare reform
NJ Wants To Keep Taking Increased Pension Contributions From Judges During Appeal
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the state wants to keep taking increasing pension and health benefits contributions from Superior Court judges and Supreme Court justices while it appeals a judge’s ruling that the hikes are unconstitutional.
The state Attorney General’s Office filed a motion to postpone implementation of Superior Court Assignment Judge Linda Feinberg’s …
Christie’s Constitutional Amendment On Judges’ Pay Gets No Support From Leaders
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver have no plans to post a constitutional amendment ensuring judges are subject to increases in pension and benefit payments proposed by Governor Chris Christie. “I am not inclined to support pursuing a constitutional amendment,” Oliver said. “It sets a very unhealthy …
Health Care Rates To Rise By 9 Percent For NJ State Employees
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, two state panels approved higher rates for health insurance plans today, raising premium rates for coverage of all state employees, municipal workers, and public school teachers and staff. These new, higher rates for health insurance plans, mean the state will pay more for benefits and so will approximately 850,000 workers …
After Overhaul, More Health Plans Available To NJ Public Employees
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, public employees, from state workers to local school teachers, may now choose from a wider range of health plans that include low-cost options and some with narrower coverage as they start paying more for their benefits. The signature benefit reform enacted by Governor Chris Christie calls for cheaper plans while …
NJ Towns To Save $267M In Pension Costs Thanks To New Law
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the Christie administration touted big savings for local governments because of pension reforms as state employees and a judge tussled over lawsuits challenging new requirements for them to pay more their benefits.
The controversial public benefits overhaul, signed by Governor Chris Christie in June, shifts a greater share of …
State Employees Challenging Legality of Pension Law Want to Combine Lawsuit
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, a group of state employees challenging the constitutionality of New Jersey’s new law covering pension and health benefits wants to combine their lawsuit to the one brought by a Superior Court judge. The employees said the lawsuit filed by Judge Paul DePacale was similar to the one filed on their …
Leaked Audio Reveals Christie Says He Helped Oliver Remain In Power For Her Help Passing Public Employee Benefits Overhaul
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, leaked audio from Governor Chris Christie’s closed-door speech to conservative donors in Colorado gives new details on the heated final days in the battle to cut public employee benefits. In particular, Christie said Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver personally asked him for Republican support to stay in power if dissident …
NJ Unions, Public Workers Sue To Stop Pension, Benefits Overhaul
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, dozens of unions and public workers filed suit against the newly enacted pension and health benefit overhaul in federal court yesterday. The 58-page, 17-count suit charges the state violated the state and federal constitutions by suspending cost of living adjustments for at least 30 years, failing to make full payments …
NJ Supreme Court Won’t Rush To Hear Judge’s Challenge of Pension Overhaul
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, a Superior Court judge challenging the increased payments judges must make under newly-enacted changes to public worker health and pension benefit plans will not be allowed to have his case directly sent to the New Jersey Supreme Court. In a two-paragraph order issued yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Virginia …