Thanks to 12 Assembly Democrats joining every Assembly Republican, the pension and health benefits bill pushed by Chris Christie and his DINO buddy Steve Sweeney passed the New Jersey Assembly and will become law. While 70% of the Assembly Democratic caucus voted against the bill, enough DINOs voted with the Republicans to put it over the top.
I discussed this legislation in detail in an earlier diary:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
The two most egregious provisions in the bill, now that a section which would have forced employees to beg for treatment from physicians in New York and Philadelphia has been removed, is the termination of the right of workers to collectively bargain over health benefits and the elimination of cost of living increases (COLAs) for people receiving pensions for the foreseeable future. The former is the first time the right to collectively bargain has been taken away in New Jersey, and although it will "sunset" in four years, it will result in the negotiation starting being the imposed contribution amount. Which will cost most New Jersey employees thousands more per year.
The pension provision suspending COLAs is being challenged in court. There is a decent chance of success for those currently receiving COLAs and those whose pensions are vested but not yet retired. The pension shortfall is primarily due to the state failing to make payments into the fund for most of the last decade.
The local claims that skipping pension payments violates a U.S. constitutional provision saying that no state shall pass any "law impairing the obligation of contracts," and that it runs afoul of a similar provision in the New Jersey constitution. The union also says that the indefinite suspension of cost-of-living increases would violate the U.S. and state constitutions.
http://www.sfgate.com/...
Public workers will be required to contribute a higher percentage of their income to the pension system in the years to come. As they have been contributing all along. In return, unless struck down by the courts, they will have a pension that will depreciate in value year after year. Even after paying into the fund with the understanding that it would not do so.
But that's what this state, and this country, has become. A land of broken promises where the rich and powerful get what they want, and everyone else gets cuts. One way or the other.