TRENTON — Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said today she would not move forward on legislation to change health and pension benefits without significant support from her caucus, staking out a position in stark contrast with Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a fellow Democrat. "That is not an option for me," Oliver (D-Essex) said. The Star-Ledger reported three weeks ago that...
Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver in this 2010 file photo. Oliver said today she won't move on legislation to change health and pension benefits until she sees more support from Democrats.TRENTON — Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said today she would not move forward on legislation to change health and pension benefits without significant support from her caucus, staking out a position in stark contrast with Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a fellow Democrat.
"That is not an option for me," Oliver (D-Essex) said.
The Star-Ledger reported three weeks ago that Sweeney (D-Gloucester) is prepared to push benefits legislation for public employees through his Democrat-controlled Senate with the support of all 16 Republicans and a small minority of his own members.
Oliver’s comment is the latest indication that the push for changes to health and pension benefits faces a tougher road in the Assembly, where she leads a caucus more sympathetic with the public unions.
The unions oppose Sweeney’s plan, which would increase contributions on a sliding scale based on salary.
"I support collective bargaining as the solution to the issue of health contributions, and I’m not alone in that belief," said Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union). "I think there’s a very dynamic discourse going on with that topic. My sense is that the majority of the members think it should go to the bargaining table."
Oliver said she would not move forward with the bare minority of Democrats needed to pass the legislation — that would be eight votes — if all Republicans are on board. But she would not say whether she would move ahead with a more robust minority.
"I haven’t determined that," Oliver said. "But I was responding to reports that the senate president was prepared to move a bill forward with seven votes from senators. I wouldn’t do it with eight."
Despite her seemingly tougher terms, Oliver has been in discussions with Sweeney and Gov. Chris Christie in an attempt to hammer out a deal. They met as recently as Friday in a nearly empty Statehouse, as lawmakers and staffers prepared for the holiday weekend.
In addition, two officials with knowledge of the negotiations but who were not authorized to speak publicly about them said the three are to meet again today. Oliver would only say that she will be in Trenton and "it’s possible I might swing by the governor’s office again."
Just blocks away, at the nearby Trenton War Memorial, unions members plan to rally with the Rev. Jesse Jackson today to protest what they consider an assault on collective bargaining rights.
The unions warmed up yesterday at a rally with Jackson in Camden, where he said a "toxic wind" was sweeping across the United States to wipe out collective bargaining rights. In New Jersey, public sector unions say changes to their health benefits should only be made through collective bargaining.
"Workers are being dumped on as if you are the reason we’re in an economic crisis," Jackson said. "State workers must hold ranks and fight back. When we fight back we never lose."
Asked about her meeting with Christie and Sweeney on Friday, Oliver said the discussion centered mainly on the budget. She would not say whether they talked about legislation on pensions and health benefits.
"I don’t report everything I talk about on a daily basis," she said.
Sweeney could not be reached for comment.
Matt Friedman/Statehouse Bureau
Christopher Baxter and Ginger Gibson contributed to this report.