TRENTON — Members of the Assembly Budget Committee sparred over pension and health benefit issues during the first of a series of budget hearings in Trenton. The meeting began this morning with David Rosen, the budget and finance officer with the Office of Legislative Services, who provided his take on revenue projections for the current year and next. Rosen...
Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald speaks during the an Assembly Budget Committee hearing in December.TRENTON — Members of the Assembly Budget Committee sparred over pension and health benefit issues during the first of a series of budget hearings in Trenton.
The meeting began this morning with David Rosen, the budget and finance officer with the Office of Legislative Services, who provided his take on revenue projections for the current year and next. Rosen told lawmakers that projections remain largely on track this year and revenue is projected to grow by $1.1 billion next year. It was the same message he delivered to the Senate Budget Committee yesterday.
New Jersey Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff will update the Assembly Budget Committee later today for the first time since Gov. Christie delivered his budget address last month.
The treasurer was originally scheduled to update the Senate Budget Committee on Monday. But his testimony was postponed at the last minute due to a redistricting meeting, which angered some Republican lawmakers.
After Rosen's testimony, lawmakers took turns pointing fingers at each other over who is to blame for the state’s pension problem. The culprits included a list of governors and lawmakers.
Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald, (D-Camden) noted that former Gov. Jon Corzine contributed more to the pension funds than his predecessors. “He may have not done everything right, but he was right on this one,” said Greenwald.
Later, Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, (R-Morris), criticized Democrats for passing a law that allowed municipalities to skip pension payments, saying the decision has only exacerbated the problem.
Greenwald them reminded Bucco that he voted for a state budget that allowed the governor to skip the state’s $3 billion pension payment this year. Bucco said it was done out of necessity.
“Don’t the municipalities have the same problem?,” Greenwald asked.
Greenwald then challenged Gov. Chris Christie’s proposal to have employees pay 30 percent of their medical insurance premiums. He said the governor’s plan does nothing to control prices, instead it just “shift costs.”
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said he is happy that Assembly Democrats agree employee medical costs are a problem, but he said that is not enough. “Democrats should put a bill on the table,” O’Scanlon said.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) has submitted a reform bill, but Democrats in the assembly have not followed with their own legislation.
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