Judge's Decision On Christie Pension Payments Could Poke Huge Hole In N.J. Budget
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- New Jersey governor Chris Christie's bid to withhold state pension fund payments to balance budgets for this fiscal year and next (see related story) will be considered by a state judge later this month.
Unions representing state police officers contend that Christie's plan breaks state law.
Judge Mary Jacobson has scheduled a hearing for June 25th, five days before New Jersey, by law, must adopt a new budget.
If the judge sides with the unions, legislators and the governor would have to scramble to find more than $2 billion in cuts. But at this point, no one is talking about the scheduled hearing.
The CWA -- New Jersey's largest state workers' union -- and the New Jersey Education Association, representing teachers, have both indicated they plan to file their own lawsuits (another related story).
