Watch CBS News

NJ Senate Committee Passes Bill To Increase Public Workers' Contribution To Pensions

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A bill requiring 500,000 public workers in New Jersey to shoulder a significantly larger share of the costs for their health care and pension benefits and take the issue off the bargaining table has advanced over staunch objections from organized labor.

The vote by the Senate Budget Committee was 9-4.

The full Senate is scheduled to vote next week.

The panel heard more than four hours of testimony Thursday. Union leaders urged Democratic legislators to reject the measure.

More than 2,000 protested outside the Statehouse.

The bill legislates health care changes that are typically bargained. It bases contributions to health benefits on employee income. Pension contributions would also rise.

Should public workers contribute to their pensions and health care benefits? Sound off in our comments section below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.