Unions Plan To Take Christie Administration To Court For The 3rd Time Over State Pension Funding
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) --- More than a dozen public sector unions have announced plans to take the Christie Administration to court, again, over fully funding the state pension system.
Governor Chris Christie, in last week's budget address, said he plans to make a $1.3 billion dollar pension payment in fiscal year '16 -- more than that paid by any other governor.
There's just one problem. Christie's highly-touted pension reform law requires a $2.9 billion dollar payment.
"He's short again on the law he signed, so we are taking him to court for the third time with plenty of notice," says Wendell Steinhauer, President of the New Jersey Education Association.
Communications Workers of America head Hetty Rosenstein says, "The Governor has responsibility, individual responsibility, for coming up with funding it. He cannot just say 'We don't have the money.' He cannot just walk away from the state's obligation."
While the unions failed on the first lawsuit, the second resulted in an order for the state to make a full $2.25 billion dollar payment into the fund by June 30th. That order is being appealed to the state supreme court.