Qtec
02-26-2011, 11:39 PM
Now.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">GLOUCESTER -- Gov. Chris Christie unveiled one of the more aggressive pension and health benefit reform efforts in the nation on Tuesday, sending unions and Democrats into battle over what do next for a system that now demands billions of dollars a year from the state budget.
<span style='font-size: 14pt'>Christie, a Republican, called for pension cuts, increased retirement ages and health care contributions well in excess of what unions had bitterly fought against only months ago. </span></div></div>
Before the election.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style='font-size: 14pt'>Christie campaign letter promised 'no harm' to police, firefighter pensions</span>
Friday, 25 February 2011 19:52 Jerry DeMarco
<span style='font-size: 17pt'>"The claim that any harm would come to your pension when I'm elected Governor is absolutely untrue. It is a 100% lie,"</span> Chris Christie wrote to New Jersey law enforcement officers during his campaign against Jon Corzine. The 2009 letter, and a near-carbon copy sent to firefighters, has resurfaced amid Christie's bid to overhaul public servants' pension system. </div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <span style="color: #990000">Christie sent a similar "sacred trust" letter to firefighters through the state, adding: "The notion that I would eliminate, change, or alter your pension is not only a lie, but cannot be further from the truth.
"No one will stand up for you more than I will."
"Do not believe the lies that have been spread about my proposals," Christie told both groups. "Your pension will be protected when I am elected Governor."</span> </div></div>
http://www.cliffviewpilot.com/images/stories/january2011/christieletter.jpg
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But not all were happy. <u>As Christie outlined proposed pension changes for police and firefighters, some township police working security in the room audibly gasped and began to mutter.</u>
Ronald G. Bakley, 64, a retired police officer who now serves as director of the labor council for the state Fraternal Order of Police, told Christie during the question-and-answer session he was offended by the beer party story, since he believed the public workers in that analogy were the drunk partygoers.
Christie said he was referring to the overall condition of the state.
Bakley, in later comments to reporters, said the FOP realizes the pension system is in arrears and needs to be fixed. But he didn't think it was right to change the rules of the game for current employees.
"You're telling officers in the street now that you have to put 30 years in," he said. "That's not right."
Sean D. Grannan Sr., the FOP president for the township police, said Christie wasn't giving the full explanation of what has happened over the past 15 years.
<span style='font-size: 14pt'>"We've been paying into the system and keeping it solvent," Grannan said. "He wants to paint us as the villain, and that's not fair."</span>
Contacted following the event, Hetty Rosenstein, who heads the state chapter of the Communication Workers of America, predicted that Christie's proposal would lose in court if enacted because courts have already held that pension and benefits are "non-forfeitable" rights.
Rosenstein also said in an interview that Christie's proposal falls harder on lower-paid government workers who would have average annual pensions of $25,000 or less.
<span style='font-size: 11pt'>"The governor is slashing a plan that has mostly women and minorities.</span> <span style='font-size: 14pt'>Once again, it's an attack on the middle class," </span>Rosenstein said. "This is a bizarre way to negotiate. You don't call a press conference and make an outlandish attack on the lowest paid workers in the state." </div></div>
Q ..... link (http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20100915/NEWS01/9150322/Anger-greets-Chris-Christie-s-pension-reform-proposal)
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">GLOUCESTER -- Gov. Chris Christie unveiled one of the more aggressive pension and health benefit reform efforts in the nation on Tuesday, sending unions and Democrats into battle over what do next for a system that now demands billions of dollars a year from the state budget.
<span style='font-size: 14pt'>Christie, a Republican, called for pension cuts, increased retirement ages and health care contributions well in excess of what unions had bitterly fought against only months ago. </span></div></div>
Before the election.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style='font-size: 14pt'>Christie campaign letter promised 'no harm' to police, firefighter pensions</span>
Friday, 25 February 2011 19:52 Jerry DeMarco
<span style='font-size: 17pt'>"The claim that any harm would come to your pension when I'm elected Governor is absolutely untrue. It is a 100% lie,"</span> Chris Christie wrote to New Jersey law enforcement officers during his campaign against Jon Corzine. The 2009 letter, and a near-carbon copy sent to firefighters, has resurfaced amid Christie's bid to overhaul public servants' pension system. </div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <span style="color: #990000">Christie sent a similar "sacred trust" letter to firefighters through the state, adding: "The notion that I would eliminate, change, or alter your pension is not only a lie, but cannot be further from the truth.
"No one will stand up for you more than I will."
"Do not believe the lies that have been spread about my proposals," Christie told both groups. "Your pension will be protected when I am elected Governor."</span> </div></div>
http://www.cliffviewpilot.com/images/stories/january2011/christieletter.jpg
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But not all were happy. <u>As Christie outlined proposed pension changes for police and firefighters, some township police working security in the room audibly gasped and began to mutter.</u>
Ronald G. Bakley, 64, a retired police officer who now serves as director of the labor council for the state Fraternal Order of Police, told Christie during the question-and-answer session he was offended by the beer party story, since he believed the public workers in that analogy were the drunk partygoers.
Christie said he was referring to the overall condition of the state.
Bakley, in later comments to reporters, said the FOP realizes the pension system is in arrears and needs to be fixed. But he didn't think it was right to change the rules of the game for current employees.
"You're telling officers in the street now that you have to put 30 years in," he said. "That's not right."
Sean D. Grannan Sr., the FOP president for the township police, said Christie wasn't giving the full explanation of what has happened over the past 15 years.
<span style='font-size: 14pt'>"We've been paying into the system and keeping it solvent," Grannan said. "He wants to paint us as the villain, and that's not fair."</span>
Contacted following the event, Hetty Rosenstein, who heads the state chapter of the Communication Workers of America, predicted that Christie's proposal would lose in court if enacted because courts have already held that pension and benefits are "non-forfeitable" rights.
Rosenstein also said in an interview that Christie's proposal falls harder on lower-paid government workers who would have average annual pensions of $25,000 or less.
<span style='font-size: 11pt'>"The governor is slashing a plan that has mostly women and minorities.</span> <span style='font-size: 14pt'>Once again, it's an attack on the middle class," </span>Rosenstein said. "This is a bizarre way to negotiate. You don't call a press conference and make an outlandish attack on the lowest paid workers in the state." </div></div>
Q ..... link (http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20100915/NEWS01/9150322/Anger-greets-Chris-Christie-s-pension-reform-proposal)