|
Legislators caused current pension
problem
Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/21/05New Jersey politicians are quick to yell fire, but they are often the ones who started it. Now they are lamenting that New Jersey's pension and benefit costs are out of control and putting a strain on the budget. In their zeal to buy votes and gain campaign contributions from state unions, they put the system and the taxpayers at risk. The gall of these political hacks is disgusting.Sen. Joseph Coniglio, D-Bergen, blames the Republicans, Sen. Nicholas Asselta, R-Cumberland, points his finger at losses in the stock market, Sen. Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, said the system has run amok, and acting Gov. Codey calls for a moratorium on any further pension increases. Yet they were aware of the escalating problems when they continued voting to increase benefits, despite the fact that the state plan had four straight years of deficit spending from 1999 through 2002. The state's Health Benefits Plan is running more than $300 million in the red because of the disparity of rates charged to public employees and their families vs. their contribution to the program. Benefits offered are 10 percent more generous than comparable states and private-sector firms, according to a report by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Instead of raising the rates for state workers, the plan relies on taxpayers to cover any deficit. Who is the next fall guy the politicians are going to blame for their ineptness? Teresa Curatolo MANASQUAN
Yahoo! Groups Links
|
