14 Unions To Sue Gov. Christie Again Over Pension Payments
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Fourteen unions representing New Jersey public sector employees say they plan to sue Gov. Chris Christie again over planned contributions to government employees' pension funds.
The unions announced their plan on Tuesday, one week after Christie presented a budget proposal calling for the state to contribute $1.3 billion to pension funds in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Christie points out that would be the state's largest ever one-year contribution.
14 Unions To Sue Gov. Christie Again Over Pension Payments
But it is also less than half of what was called for under a 2011 law signed by Christie to ramp up funding for retirees over seven years.
"The pension funding is a contractual right and constitutionally guaranteed as such and the governor hasn't met his constitutional responsibility," Hetty Rosenstein with the CWA told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
Last week, a judge ruled that Christie and lawmakers must put $1.6 billion more into pensions for the current fiscal year.
Christie's office is appealing that order.
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