Senate leader set to push reform plan

by Jarrett Renshaw
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
reprinted from the NorthJersey.com.

Despite slim Democratic support, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney is prepared to move forward with a plan to overhaul public employee pensions and health benefits before the end of June.

Sweeney, D-Gloucester, has lined up a small group of Democratic senators who said they would be willing to join with Republicans to help ensure there are enough votes to enact sweeping changes to public employee benefits, four sources familiar with the plan said Tuesday.

The move signals that negotiations between Sweeney and Governor Christie over the shape of the changes are progressing. The sources, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the negotiations, said lawmakers have not been told of specific details, but Sweeney had assured Democrats the plan to require workers to contribute more to health benefits would take into account their salaries.

Sweeney spokesman Chris Donnelly declined to comment Tuesday on what steps Sweeney has taken or will take to enact the changes, but he expressed confidence a bill would pass the Senate.

“Reform is coming, and the Senate president will have more than enough votes to get it done,” Donnelly said.

Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts declined to comment.

In recent weeks, Sweeney has told a number of Democratic lawmakers he plans to package the health and pension proposals into one bill and is willing to move the legislation without the majority support of his own party, the sources said. Because Democrats hold 24 of the 40 seats in the upper house, such a move would require votes from Republicans. Senate Republican spokesman Adam Bauer said Tuesday that he could not comment because members have not seen a bill, but he said, “We would be happy to talk to Senator Sweeney if he is seeking our support.”

The measure also would require approval in the Assembly. Tom Hester, spokesman for the Assembly Democrats, had no immediate comment Tuesday night.

The momentum is likely to anger public employee unions and even some Democrats, who argue that employee medical benefits should be decided at the bargaining table, not through legislation.

Hetty Rosenstein, regional director for the state’s largest public employee union, called a move to vote on changes to the medical benefits “disgusting.”

“For Democrats to support a bill that eliminates collective bargaining around health care … that’s hugely problematic for Democrats and wrong,” Rosenstein said. “We expect the Democratic Party to stand up for collective bargaining.”
Sweeney and Christie have found common ground on changes to public employee medical benefits, but less on the issue of pensions.

Sweeney introduced a bill that would increase employee medical benefit contributions over seven years and set a sliding scale of 12 percent to 30 percent of premiums, based on salary.