TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The move to stabilize New Jersey's underfunded pension and health care systems by requiring public workers to pay sharply more for the benefits while suspending bargaining over health care was fast-tracked through the Legislature Monday, after Democrats joined with Republicans to buck the powerful public employee unions.
The Senate passed the bill 24-15 as a gallery full of raucous union members looked on; eight Democrats aligned with all 15 Republicans to pass the bill. An Assembly budget panel advanced the measure hours later, also without the majority party's support.
A vote by the full Assembly is set for Thursday. Gov. Chris Christie has already indicated his support.
"The time for political calculations is over," said Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a Democrat and member of the ironworkers' union, who sponsored the bill. "The time for passing the buck to someone else is over."
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