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NJ State Sen. Joe Kyrillos on efforts to reform pensions for all government workers in an effort to reduce government spending.
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Hello everybody I'm Gerri Willis a ruling by the new Jersey's Supreme Court could have huge implications for the entire country's efforts to control spending.
Here's the issue.
A salary separate from health and pension benefits.
They've won and the same thing.
It's a question exploding this week after governor Chris Christie signed a -- you remember this requiring government workers to chip in more for benefits.
But an extraordinary ruling one group of government workers the new Jersey's State Supreme Court said a lot doesn't apply to them.
Why because they say it's unconstitutional.
To make them contribute war because it's basically -- and and they say that's illegal.
One lawmaker says this is crazy Republican new Jersey state senator Joseph paralysis.
Why you can't separate out salary and benefit.
It's well you should be able to and of course two of the justices Jerry said that you should and you can't.
But you know these judges is get done judges get got nominated and confirmed they put on their black -- when they forget where they came from and so.
-- -- -- -- Think about -- those New Jersey cops the fire reminder everybody and teacher rings you have to do this the reason we had a past pension and benefits reforms because the systems were going bankrupt and so we wanted people to have a pension in the future.
Wanted them to keep.
Getting -- to -- benefits better than than many out there in the private sector still.
We had to change the systems and that it went for everybody state senators state assembly members.
-- -- and everybody -- -- police firemen teachers all public but I don't think are set.
-- -- this milk and what he's saying is that we have to bring down -- -- everybody's got to contribute just like they do in the private sector right.
There is a point let's be fair -- balanced here the judges are saying if you can cut my salary than try to influence my decision making you're not buying that explanation.
Why yeah judicial independence doesn't mean judicial exceptional -- -- or judicial supremacy and so the constitution says listen.
You gotta pay these guys what what the salary is when they come to the bench but it doesn't say anything about.
Benefits that that go up they -- don't ever go down.
And so are it just it just makes a whole lot of sense so it's laughable to say that when we're doing this for the whole workforce -- single and -- judges and and there are.
Judge is right there and here's what they said in their majority opinion what ever good motivational legislature may have had when enacting a lot with its broad application to all state employees.
The framers message is clear the constitution forbids the reduction of the justice or judge take on salary during the term of his or her.
Appointment so.
People out there it's all good well for you to have your -- up but not us you know I wanna get you to respond for a second vote to something the governor sad and you are not a great friend of his.
He's endorsing you when your -- For state presented -- for the United States senate.
And he says that's.
I wanna get your act I have to tell the truth if you're a police officer or firefighter or a teacher in the state and you're paying more for your help them benefits for your pension.
I -- feeling he'd be pretty frosted if it turns out that a group of judges decide to the whole group of judges that they don't have to pay their fair share your reaction.
It sounds like Chris Christie and the people that I talk to and hear from their frosted and they're gonna do something about it is we're gonna we're to try to change this in November.
Can you what do you do about the hotel right now because -- -- anything at all that this is we're gonna do.
The state senate on Monday is gonna come together and we're gonna -- We're gonna pass.
A resolution to get this thing on the ballot to change the constitution.
I'm hopeful general assembly.
We'll follow suit as well.
Now we're gonna put this before the voters that's remembered well -- today may have done and -- -- right and and I'm I have a sneaking suspicion Gerry that if we get this thing on the ballot in November.
That it's gonna -- not by just a little bit.
We got to lower the incorporate individual rates we have to have a Simpson -- style commission.
Culture and methodology to get our fiscal house in order and that's what we're gonna do.
So much work to be thank you them NASDAQ it -- it's so fun to -- you talk about Chris Christie will be watching very closely and follow everything you've done well we're we're we're fixing things little by little in New Jersey and that's what we have to do for America that's -- -- for the US and.
Thank you for coming into appreciate it thank.
