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NJ Lawmakers Seek Constitutional Amendment To Increase Judges' Pension Contributions

By David Madden

TRENTON, NJ (CBS) - New Jersey legislators are wasting little time in seeking to change the state constitution after the state Supreme Court ruled this week that judges could not be forced to contribute more for 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. This, despite the fact every other state employee is, in fact, paying more under legislative reforms.

According to Trenton State Senator Shirley Turner, the judicial pension fund is the worst of all in New Jersey.

"We're looking to save the pensions of our judges as well as those retired judges."

So, they've trotted out a proposed constitutional amendment, which got a public hearing in Trenton.

"Let the people decide that we are not diminishing judge's salaries when we mandate that they be treated like every other employee in this state."

Both the Senate and Assembly are expected to approve the resolution Monday which puts the question on the November ballot.

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