" Don't you love the comments so HUGELY supportive of the status quo for Civil Servants ... like the one below from Misticonus (obviously a Civil Servant riding this gravy train).

To Misticonus:

Why would you expect the supposedly "nonpartisan" Office of Legislative Services NJ to do ANYTHING that might reduce pensions of benefits .... THEY are employees of the State and participate in these SAME plans. THEY would also get less if they opined as such. I'd call that a conflict of interest, wouldn''t you ?

Private Sector taxpayers (not riding this gravy train) need to fix this via State Constitutional Amendment or via the FEDERAL court system, where the conflicted decision-makers are taken out of the picture.

On your #(2), there your correct, Local Civil Servants are as bad (in the context of excessive pensions & benefits) as State employees .

As to your #(3), If the average pension for a retired state worker is indeed under $25,000 a year, its ONLY because many of those included in the "average" retired long ago with lower salaries, and this "average" includes short career workers and part-timers.

This is a meaningless number (and you know it ... more of you diversion tactics). What's relevant are the outrageous pensions full career workers retiring TODAY will get, while those that pay their way (Private Sector Taxpayers) may never be able to retire. "

" All government workers (yes that means police fire and teachers too)and retirees should be made to pay a portion of their health care costs, In turn, the government should be required to use the savings in health care to adequately fund pensions.

Much of the current pension mess was caused by governors, both Republican and Democrat, raiding the pension fund for political gain. The current governor should initiate a study to determine what the status of the pension fund would be if the employers had paid their fair share of pension costs over the past 15 years. From that, they could determine if the current defined pension benefits may be generated by equal payments by employees and employers. "

" Does anyone who creates "Issues" do any research on the topic that is to be discussed?

1. It would be illegal for the state to reduce or change the retired public employee benefits both pension and health to his or her's detriment.
Please go to the following website and read the report by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services on the above matter.

www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/pubhear/JCPE082306.pdf

2. Why are you only mentioning state workers when they are in the minority of all retired public employees, Local Government, Police and Fire, and Teachers?

The average pension for a retired state worker is under $25,000. a year. (Div. of Pensions).

M. "

" Public workers have always had salaries below the private sector. The benefits are what brings anyone worthwhile to the jobs. I do think that the teachers should contribute and I believe reform is needed for anyone working for the state who receives over $80,000.00 in compensation (excluding benefits). The problem with the usual reform means that those lowest on the payscale keep getting less while the higher ups keep what they have and are ready to get more! Leave the retirees alone except for those who are getting pensions through double dipping! "

" Current workers should pay 25% of Healthcare costs. The retired should pay 25% Plus 2% additional for each year of service below 35. Pensions should not be reduced for those ALREADY retired. The Pension formula should be reduced, on a sliding scale, by 2 % for each additional year of service need to reach the minimum retirement age. "