Key excerpts from N.J. Supreme Court ruling on pensions
Christie calls for interested parties to “come to the table” to solve pension crisis
Photo by Paul Scharff
Governor Chris Christie reacted to the New Jersey Supreme Court decision that he has the authority to cut pension payments from the State Budget and that the political branches of government…the Governor and Legislature…not the Court…must “deal with one another to forge a solution to the tenuous financial status of New Jersey’s pension funding in a way that comports with the strictures of our constitution,” by calling for “all interested parties” to come together and solve the New Jersey’s pension and benefit crisis “once and for all.”
“This decision is an important victory not only for our taxpayers who simply cannot afford these unsustainably high costs, but for limited, constitutional government that recognizes the proper role of the executive and legislative branches of government,” the Governor said in a statement issued by his office, “The Court’s position is clear, as is mine, it is time to move forward and work together to find a tangible, long-term solution to make our pension system and public employee health benefit costs affordable and sustainable for generations to come. In light of today’s decision, I urge all interested parties to come back to the table and partner with me to finally solve this problem once and for all.”
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, the Assembly Republican Budget Officer, said,
Posted: June 9th, 2015 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, Declan O'Scanlon, New Jersey, New Jersey State Budget, NJ Senate Republicans, Pensions | Tags: Chris Christie, Declan O'Scanlon, Joe Kyrillos, NJ State Budget, NJ Supreme Court, Pension and Benefit Reform, Pension and Benefits, Senator Joe Kyrillos | 2 Comments »N.J. Supreme Court sides with Christie in billion dollar pension dispute
TRENTON — The state Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Gov. Chris Christie can slash billions of dollars in contributions from New Jersey’s troubled public employee pension system. The court’s ruling caps an intense fight for pension funding and deals a major blow to the state’s labor unions, who challenged Christie’s spending cuts. Christie had sought… Read the rest of this entry »
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments about Payments to Public-Worker Pensions
It was just four years ago that Gov. Chris Christie and Democrats in the Legislature struck a deal on a bipartisan plan to address years of underfunding the public-employee pension system. The legislation mandated increased contributions into the system from both from the state and its workers.… Read the rest of this entry »
A crazy June: Things to look out for in Trenton this month
A crazy June: Things to look out for in Trenton this month (via NJ.com)
TRENTON — Hold onto your seats. It’s June in Trenton, and that’s always a bumpy ride. With the state budget due by month’s end, horse-trading is rampant as just about everything that was proposed all year long under the Statehouse dome is up…
Christie to announce judicial nominations this afternoon
Governor Chris Christie has called a press conference for 2:30 this afternoon to announce his new judicial nominations.
The Star Ledger reported this morning that the governor would re-nominate Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, giving Rabner tenure, and nominate Superior Court Judge Lee Solomon to the Supreme Court. In a deal struck with Senate President Sweeney, there a remaining vacancy on the Supreme Court would continue to be filled on a temporary basis by Rabner’s choice, Judge Mary Catherine Cuff.
Christie’s press conference can be viewed live here:
Watch live streaming video from governorchrischristie at livestream.com
Posted: May 21st, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, NJ Courts, NJ Judiciary, NJ State Legislature, NJ Supreme Court | Tags: Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, Governor Chris Christie, Judge Lee Solomon, NJ Supreme Court, Senate President Steve Sweeney | Comments Off on Christie to announce judicial nominations this afternoon
Christie to nominate Chief Justice Rabner for tenure on NJ Supreme Court
Christie to nominate Chief Justice Rabner for tenure on NJ Supreme Court (via NJ.com)
By Matt Friedman and Salvador Rizzo/The Star-Ledger TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today will re-nominate Stuart Rabner as chief justice of the state Supreme Court, The Star-Ledger has learned. The development is a breakthrough in negotiations between…
Christie alters course on Supreme Court nominee
Christie alters course on Supreme Court nominee (via NJ.com)
Gov. Chris Christie plans to nominate Robert Hanna as a lower court judge, apparently altering course on the nominee he had championed for the Supreme Court, NJ.com has confirmed. Christie has filed the pre-nomination documents for Hanna, whose nomination…
Bennett: Supreme Court Decision Does Not Apply To His Oceanport Job
Ethics Expert Disagrees
John Bennett. Photo credit: Rhoda Chodosh
Monmouth County Republican Chairman John O. Bennett said that a State Supreme Court Opinion written in 2000 by Justice Daniel J. O’Hern that states that the positions of Borough Attorney and Borough Administrator may not be held by the same person does not apply to his job in Oceanport.
In re ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL ETHICS, DOCKET NO. 18-98, the Court ruled 5-2, to affirm an ACPE opinion that Gregory C. Hart could not serve the Bergen County Borough of Old Tappan as both attorney and administrator.
We respect the wishes of the Borough to engage for its day to day management an attorney in whom it has reposed great trust and confidence. Likewise, we respect the attorney who is certain that his integrity would assure an unfettered exercise of judgment in either capacity. Yet we must fashion a rule that will apply equally as well in more demanding circumstances, as in a fast-growing suburban community. It asks too much for an individual to be able to give objective advice to the municipality without being materially limited by the “lawyer’s own interest” as the subject of the inquiry.
For these reasons, we hold that one attorney may not hold both the position of municipal attorney and clerk-administrator for the same municipality. As modified, the advisory opinion of the ACPE is affirmed.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, Bennett said he became aware of the Opinion after his appointment as Acting Administrator in Oceanport earlier this month, but that he did not believe it would prevent him from holding both positions on a permanent basis.
Posted: November 21st, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: John Bennett, Monmouth County, Oceanport | Tags: Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics, Borough Administrator, Borough Attorney, John Bennett, John O. Bennett, Justice Daniel J. O'Hern, Michael J. Mahon, NJ Supreme Court, Oceanport, Paula A. Franzese, Seton Hall University | 7 Comments »Sick of election season? Here are 7 political stories you’ll want to follow after Tuesday
Sick of election season? Here are 7 political stories you’ll want to follow after Tuesday (via NJ.com)
Are you a political junkie weary of campaign season and tired of the barrage of television ads that have assaulted you during your favorite television shows? Ready for it all to be done? Well for those of you who’ve had enough but are not yet ready…