As reported by app.com, more union protests are planned at the New Jersey Statehouse for Monday as the debate over public employee benefits rages on. A bill requiring sharply higher pension and health care contributions from 500,000 public employees will be voted on in the Senate on Monday, the same day the contentious bill
Sweeney
Sweeney Says State Police Should Drop Charges Against Protesters Arrested At Pension Rally
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the State Police should drop all charges against the protesters arrested at Thursday’s contentious budget hearing, Senate President Stephen Sweeney said today. “The issues of pension and health reform are tough and emotional,” he said in a statement. “I understand that. And as someone who has spent my life in a union …
Some Democrats Tell Protesters They Will Not Vote For Public Worker Pension, Benefit Overhaul
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, rank-and-file Democrats are lining up to take the microphone at a steadily growing union rally outside the Statehouse today, vowing to cast no votes on a bill that would overhaul pension and benefits for teachers, cops, firefighters, and others.
Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo, Daniel Benson, Patrick Diegnan, Reed Gusciora, Vincent …
Public Employees With 20 Years of Service Would Lock In Benefits Under Change to Proposed Plan
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, employees with at least 20 years of service would lock in their retirement benefits under a last-minute change to the health and pension overhaul bill, according to Senate Democrats.
Under the current bill, only those employees with at least 25 years of service would have had their retirement benefits …
Overhaul To Pension System Pushed Forward By Sweeney
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, despite a rising chorus of opposition from fellow Democrats, the Senate President and Assembly Speaker pressed forward Tuesday to overhaul health and pension benefits for the state’s 500,000 public employees. After trying for a week to line up Democratic support for the measure with little success, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver…
As State Democrats Prepare To Introduce Healthcare Reform, Christie’s Stance Remains Unclear
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the state’s top lawmakers said Monday they cleared a significant hurdle in efforts to overhaul public employee benefits after agreeing to a plan that shifts more medical costs onto workers while protecting future collective bargaining rights.
The spotlight now turns to Governor Chris Christie, who has been uncharacteristically …
CWA Head Says Sweeney’s Health Benefit Proposal Is Misleading
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the state’s largest public employee union said State Senate President Stephen Sweeney has released misleading information about how his health benefit overhaul will affect the pocketbooks of workers.
Sweeney wants to shift more of the costs of health benefits onto public workers. All state and local public employees would pay …
Sweeney Says He Is Drafting Bill To Change Pension, Benefits System for Public Workers
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Senate President Stephen Sweeney said today he plans to introduce legislation to increase health and pension benefits payments for public workers and that the Budget and Appropriation Committee will hold a hearing on it next week.
Sweeney and Governor Chris Christie have reached an agreement on the measure, but …
NJ Assembly Holds UP Pension, Health Benefits Overhaul Brokered By Christie, Sweeney
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney were poised to announce an agreement on a plan to overhaul health and pension benefits for public employees, but were stymied after the compromise received a chilly reception in the Assembly. “We are not there yet,” said Speaker Sheila Oliver, who …
Deal to Change NJ Public Workers’ Pensions, Benefits Is Struck by Christie, Sweeney
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, public workers would pay more for their pension and health benefits under a deal struck between Governor Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney. Under the deal, most public workers would immediately pay an additional 1 percent of their salaries for their pensions, while police and firefighters would pay …