NJ Lawmakers Seek To Force Judges To Make Health Insurance Contributions
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- New Jersey legislators are wasting little time in seeking to change the state constitution, after the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled this week that judges could not be forced to contribute more for their own pensions and health care.
Legislators were expecting the high court to side with fellow jurists who called the move to increase those contributions "an unfair adjustment to salary," despite the fact that every other state employee is now paying more under legislative reforms.
So, state lawmakers have trotted out a proposed constitutional amendment, which got a public hearing in Trenton.
"Let the people decide that we are not diminishing judges' salaries when we mandate that they be treated like every other employee in this state," says state senator Shirley Turner, one of the sponsors.
Both the state Senate and Assembly are expected to approve the resolution on Monday, which would put the question on the November ballot.
