Lawmakers will offer a compromise on Christie's 2 percent cap on arbitration awards for police and firefighters, part of the governor's 'tool kit'
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester).TRENTON — Democratic legislative leaders today plan to offer a compromise on arbitration reform — a key piece of Gov. Chris Christie’s “tool kit” to help towns curtail property taxes.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) plan a Statehouse press conference today at 1:30.
The Democrats will offer a compromise on a key sticking point: a 2 percent cap on arbitration awards for police and firefighters, according to two officials briefed on the plans but not authorized to discuss them before the announcement.
Gov. Chris Christie has called for raises of no more than 2 percent per year. The Democrats’ plan would allow raises of more than that per year as long as the workers’ contract does not exceed 2 percent for the life of the contract, according to the officials. The cap would sunset after three years, at which point state officials would evaluate its effectiveness.
Christie aides were scrambling to find out what the Democrats would unveil and insisted that the Sweeney-Oliver announcement was not part of an orchestrated deal. They suggested the legislative leaders were trying to beat Christie to the punch because the governor is scheduled to have a 2:30 news conference and is expected to continue criticizing the Legislature for dragging its feet on his "tool kit" proposal.
By Matt Friedman and Josh Margolin/Statehouse Bureau
Previous coverage:
• Municipal officials accuse N.J. lawmakers of stalling on passing key 'tool kit' measures'
• N.J. Assembly Democrats postpone voting on arbitration change for public workers
• N.J. Democrats propose changes for police, firefighter contract dispute arbitration
• N.J. police contracts benefit from salary arbitration threat, officials say
• Gov. Chris Christie tells N.J. mayors to expect state aid cuts in upcoming budget