Governor Christie renews calls for pension system reforms
APRIL 21, 2014, 10:06 PM LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014, 10:06 PM
BY MELISSA HAYES
STATE HO– USE BUREAU
THE RECORD
Governor Christie continued to pressure Democrats to overhaul public employee benefits, telling callers to his monthly radio show that they’re the reason higher education grants and cancer research is being cut in his proposed state budget.
The Republican governor, who has pushed changing the pension and benefits plans during recent town hall-style events, was coy when asked how he would fix the problem.
“You don’t put all your cards out on the table at once,” he said on NJ 101.5 FM.
Christie spent an hour fielding questions about his budget, the state’s recovery from Superstorm Sandy and the closing of institutions for residents with developmental disabilities.
He declined to comment on specific proposals a panel of experts recommended to overhaul the Port Authority Monday, saying he’ll continue to work with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to improve the bi-state transportation agency. Christie also declined to say whether he’d appear before the Democratic-controlled legislative panel investigating the George Washington Bridge access lane closure controversy if subpoenaed.
Despite the lack of movement on the pension issue, Christie said Monday that he’s confident he can strike a budget compromise with Democrats by the June 30 deadline.
Christie has proposed a $34.45 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The spending plan calls for a more than $1 billion increase, which would help cover a more than $2 billion payment into the public employee pension funds. Even at that rate, the state would be contributing only four-sevenths of the full payment, as it phases in increases under a deal struck with public employees in 2011.
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