Republican Chris Christie proposes public employee pension and benefits reform

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Gov. Chris Christie touted his proposed pension and health benefits reforms Wednesday while warning public employees that "gaming the system" will not be tolerated.

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"All of us recognize and understand that if a police officer or firefighter, in particular, were injured in the line of duty so significantly that they can no longer perform their duties, that they should be able to collect their pension," the Republican governor said in a town hall-style meeting at the Edison Senior Center on Woodbridge Avenue.

"They put their lives on the line for us every day. That's a covenant that we make with them," he said. "We do not make a covenant with them to cheat us.

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Included in his proposal are plans ... require most public workers to contribute 8.5 percent of their salaries toward their pensions, have workers pay 30 percent of their health-care premiums, and increase the number highest-paid years by which pensions are calculated.

Among some of his other proposals were increasing the normal retirement age to 65 for teachers and most state and municipal workers and requiring 30 years for early retirement instead of 25 years. Local and state police would be required to work 30 years for full retirement. Police would get reduced pension benefits if they retired early.

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"What I say to the public employees now — and I've said to them before — is that for some of you, when you hear these changes, you're not going to like me very much," he said. "But ... in 10 years, you're going to look on the Internet for my home address and send me a thank-you note, because your pension is going to be there."

http://www.app.com/article/20100915/NEWS03/100915120/Gov-Chris-Christie-says-reforms-would-thwart-pension-fraud

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It's as simple as this: Their salary and only their salary can contribute to their pension and THEN when they retire, what's in their account and ONLY what's in their account will be their retirement.

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It's as simple as this: Their salary and only their salary can contribute to their pension and THEN when they retire, what's in their account and ONLY what's in their account will be their retirement.

Maybe you can institute that when you're Governor of Texas. For now, we're talking about Governor Christie's plan which is nothing like yours.

[Peikko 1,575]

I can just see Paul in his 70's demanding his federal pension because his piggy bank is empty.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

This is why he enjoys popular support in NJ. He's pragmatic about a lot of issues. However, I was listening to story on NPR regarding state pensions awhile back that stated the pensions were structured and accepted by the employees as an alternative to higher pay, and then many states like NJ, underfunded the pensions. I understand that something needs to be done, but these state employees have gotten the raw end of the deal and Christie doesn't seem to acknowledge that.

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I understand that something needs to be done, but these state employees have gotten the raw end of the deal and Christie doesn't seem to acknowledge that.

So you're ok with reforms of this nature as long as someone publicly sheds a tear for the state employees?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

This is why he enjoys popular support in NJ. He's pragmatic about a lot of issues. However, I was listening to story on NPR regarding state pensions awhile back that stated the pensions were structured and accepted by the employees as an alternative to higher pay, and then many states like NJ, underfunded the pensions. I understand that something needs to be done, but these state employees have gotten the raw end of the deal and Christie doesn't seem to acknowledge that.

No 'state' employee ever gets the raw end of the deal. They work a job that doesn't produce anything and is a drag on the economy. They work off of the backs of the private sector.

Sure these people have 'jobs' which is fine and dandy, but they are living on welfare pretty much at the same time.

You're earning other people's money against the will of those people. That's hardly the 'raw end' of the deal.

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You're earning other people's money against the will of those people.

If the electorate consisted of Paul and Paul's clone, yes maybe that might be true.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So you're ok with reforms of this nature as long as someone publicly sheds a tear for the state employees?

Public contracts with private companies are honored, sometimes even at the economic demise to the state. While I agree that states must find ways to solve these budget deficit problems, essentially telling public employees that the state must now renege on it's agreements and they must simply accept it as taking it on the chin 'like everyone else,' Christie would get a lot more traction from the unions if he was serious about everyone tightening their belt.

Edited September 17, 2010 by El Buscador

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Christie would get a lot more traction from the unions if he was serious about everyone tightening their belt.

That's hilarious. Private sector employees have been doing for years what public sector employees are being asked to do now (contribute to their own retirement and health benefits and work till 65).

[Obama 2012 1,714]

If the electorate consisted of Paul and Paul's clone, yes maybe that might be true.

Oh I see, so you have a choice in how much in taxes you feel you owe to the government and you have a choice in how that money is dispersed?

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Oh I see, so you have a choice in how much in taxes you feel you owe to the government and you have a choice in how that money is dispersed?

Your statement was You're earning other people's money against the will of those people.

State employees aren't earning their money against my will. Unlike you, I believe we need state and local governments.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Your statement was You're earning other people's money against the will of those people.

State employees aren't earning their money against my will. Unlike you, I believe we need state and local governments.

Then perhaps YOU should pay for it, sine you believe in them so much and then let everyone else choose not to pay for i.

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Then perhaps YOU should pay for it, sine you believe in them so much and then let everyone else choose not to pay for i.

If you don't want to pay for it, exercise your right to vote for people like you who will first fire the entire local and state government and then fire themselves.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If you don't want to pay for it, exercise your right to vote for people like you who will first fire the entire local and state government and then fire themselves.

...or Paul could find himself a nice, secluded island somewhere so he can be his own government.