Government Workers and Retirees Facing Reality

By Art Gallagher

While the NJEA and CWA are pressuring the Democrats in the Legislature to stop the pension and benefit reforms that Governor Christie and Senate President Sweeney have agreed to, the media is looking to create public sympathy for state retirees.

The Asbury Park Press has a piece this morning, Former NJ state workers ask: Now what? The article by Jason Method of Gannett’s Statehouse bureau is an expose of the worries of a 85 year old retired DOT bus inspector who faces possible increased co-pays for his life saving medicine and the loss of cost of living adjustments under the Christie-Sweeney plan. The three time cancer survivor who still remembers to worst bus accident he ever investigated and is taking care of his son who has been out of work for three years is worried.

His son, who is probably in his 50’s or 60’s should be very worried. If junior had followed in his father’s footsteps and taken a state job he wouldn’t be a burden on dear old Dad.

The millions of private sector workers and business owners who will pay the bill for the state workers retirement and health care before they pay for their own should also be very worried. We’ve been worried for years. Very worried for the last three years as we have cut back expenses and adjusted our expectations for the future based on the reality that the borrowing and speculation orgy that fuel economic “growth” over the last twenty years is over.