O’SCANLON: NEW JERSEY NEEDS REAL REFORM NOT POLITICS AS USUAL
Assemblyman O’Scanlon today responded to the Democrat press conference concerning arbitration reform. At that press conference, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Speaker Sheila Oliver announced a bill with a 2 percent cap that allows for raises above the cap as long as the average yearly raise does not exceed 2 percent. After three years, the cap would be lifted and the arbitration process would be evaluated.
“This is not real reform; these guys just don’t seem to get it. It’s astonishing, frightening actually, that our legislative leaders don’t seem to understand the most import policy reform we’re likely to discuss this session.” Said O’Scanlon (R- Monmouth/Mercer). “Any legislation allowing for a sunset does not help our towns. This is merely a temporary salary freeze that the unions can contract around a few years down the road.
“The legislature passed a 2% budget cap last year, but we did not give our towns the tools necessary to live within that cap,” O’Scanlon continued. “Arbitration reform is one of the keys to existing within that cap. There is no sunset on this budget cap, so why should there be a sunset on arbitration reform? This is not reform, it is pandering of the first order. The Democratic leadership is looking to preempt Governor Christie, and is doing so at the cost of true, workable reform.
“This sunset requires towns to go through this fight all over again three years from now. How does this help towns or relieve the property tax burden on our tax payers?” O’Scanlon asked. “It doesn’t. This is a token measure which allows the Democrats to declare a political victory when, a few years down the road, we’ll revert back to the same, unsustainable County and municipal budget crushing policy we have now and this ‘reform’ will be but a memory.
“Some people are arguing – or accepting – that the arbitration cap is only needed in these ‘tough economic times’. We must make clear the problem we’re addressing. It is the long-running property tax issue that we’re trying to tackle here, and that problem won’t be gone in three years,” O’Scanlon concluded.
More from my site
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O’Scanlon, in final action in the Assembly, makes push for arbitration cap (Video)
O’Scanlon forces Assembly vote on property tax cap effectiveness
O’Scanlon releases Arbitration Task Force report recommending permanent award cap
O’Scanlon: Time to make Interest Arbitration Law permanent 
Governor Christie Signs Key Reform Agenda Legislation to Transform System on Long-Overdue Arbitration Reform
O’Scanlon: Murphy’s Draconian Restrictions Are Proven Unnecessary, Economically Devastating- O’Scanlon calls for arbitration cap’s extension to control property taxes
O’Scanlon Implores Assembly Speaker To Put Salary Arbitration Cap To A Vote
Governor Christie Calls Special Session To Make Case for Middle-Class Tax Cut
What is with the caps?
We must cut tax revenues by 50%. Then we must eliminate the state income tax. Only then should we talk about the cuts that will be needed to balance the budget.
Domestic activity has shrunk. So must public revenue. Anything less from legislators is tyrannical.
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