From the AP/Star Ledger:
State workers hold showdown with lawmakers who want benefits cut
By TOM HESTER Jr.
State workers jammed into sweltering Statehouse corridors Thursday, chanting, booing and hissing at three Democrats who want to cut their benefits by 15 percent. The legislators said they were unmoved by the raucous challenge.
The boisterous spectacle unfolded after Sen. Stephen Sweeney and Assemblymen Gerald Green and Paul Moriarty scheduled a news conference to announce they’ve created a Web site to promote their plan to cut state worker benefits by 15 percent.
They contend the move would save $700 million and avoid a sales tax increase proposed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who wants to boost the tax from 6 percent to 7 percent.
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The lawmakers have proposed an array of changes, including trimming the 17 state holidays, barring workers from carrying over unused sick and vacation time and increasing the state worker retirement age.
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The legislators held their ground and said other lawmakers quietly support their cause. They contend Corzine, who last week declined to reopen union contract talks, proposed tax increases without seeking sacrifice from the 80,000 state workers who receive $4.6 billion in pay and benefits annually.