TRENTON — In an effort to line up more Democratic support for a proposed overhaul of public employee benefits that is stalled by reluctant legislators, Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver is pushing a proposal that would force employees to pay more for health benefits now but allow unions to negotiate down the costs by 2014. The sunset provisions would not...
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), seen here in this 2010 file photo, is pushing a proposal that would increase the cost of health benefits for public workers but would allow unions to negotiate the cost down by 2014TRENTON — In an effort to line up more Democratic support for a proposed overhaul of public employee benefits that is stalled by reluctant legislators, Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver is pushing a proposal that would force employees to pay more for health benefits now but allow unions to negotiate down the costs by 2014.
The sunset provisions would not roll back the proposed increases, but would allow public unions to lower contributions levels below those established in the overhaul proposal by 2014, according to four sources who are familiar with the proposal.
The compromise may attract Democrats who until now have opposed legislating health benefits because it requires public workers to pay more, while helping ensure collective bargaining rights after a brief suspension.
Oliver could not be immediately reached for comment.
Under a deal brokered between Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Gov. Chris Christie, all public employees would pay a percentage of their health care premiums in a tiered system based on their salary.
All employees who earn more than $110,000 would pay 35 percent of their premiums, while those at the other end of the pay scale would pay 3 percent, records show.
A public employee who earns $60,000 and is enrolled in a family plan would 17 percent of their $19,000 annual premium, or about 5.4 percent of their salary.
Sweeney could not immediately be reached for comment.
The sunset provision would go into effect in 2014, the same year the federal health care overhaul begins and changes the landscape.
In 2013, Christie would be up for reelection and the sunset provision, if enacted, would clearly be a topic on the campaign trail.
By: Jarret Renshaw & Matt Friedman/Statehouse Bureau
Christie’s office could not be immediately reached for comment.
Previous coverage:
• Sweeney to introduce bill to change pension, benefits system for N.J. public workers
• N.J. Assembly holds up pension, health benefits overhaul brokered by Christie, Sweeney
• N.J.'s largest union criticizes deal to increase employee health, pension costs
• Deal to change N.J. public workers' pensions, benefits is struck by Christie, Sweeney