ASSEMBLY WANTS PENSION PAYMENT MADE WITH REFORMS

The Assembly budget committee began to look at the $10.5 billion budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year. The committee said they think the state should be obligated to make its pension payment and begin to close the $46 billion hole the fund is in. Any reforms that are passed to fix the system should be tied to the payment; meaning if the state doesn’t hold up its obligation, neither should the employees. Gov. Chris Christie has said he is going to look for more changes to fix the fund this fall.