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Christie, NJ Senate President Agree On Overhaul Of State Worker Benefits

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) - Look for action in New Jersey on pension and benefit reform involving state workers, at least in the state senate.

Senate president Steve Sweeney is ready to proceed with a package he hammered out with Governor Chris Christie which would require state workers to pay more for health insurance and increase contributions to their pension fund, even though the Assembly isn't on board with the health part of the package.

Christie, at an event in Camden, expressed confidence action will be taken before the end of the month.

"We're on the precipice of a disaster and those people who play politics with this issue do so at the peril of the taxpayers."

Assembly speaker Shiela Oliver, in a statement, insists the concerns of her caucus are "reasonable and appropriate".

Meanwhile, 10 national union leaders are now on record as urging legislators to reject any compromise in favor of leaving the process to collective bargaining.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio

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