New Jersey Democrats join court battle over Christie’s pension funding cuts

Democratic leaders in the state Legislature joined the court battle over Governor Christie’s funding cuts to the New Jersey pension system on Monday, arguing in a legal brief that public workers have the law on their side as they seek an extra $1.57 billion than Christie authorized this year.

Christie, a Republican, signed a major overhaul of the state pension laws in 2011. Among other provisions, the law gave public workers stronger contracts with rights to full contributions from the state’s yearly budget to their pension funds, which are underfunded by $37 billion.

Three years after signing the law, Christie now argues it is unconstitutional. He has cut $2.4 billion from New Jersey’s legally required pension contributions, paying $1.38 billion instead of $3.8 billion over the last two years in a last-resort effort to balance the budget. The latest cut is under review by the New Jersey Supreme Court, which has scheduled a hearing May 6.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, both Democrats, submitted a five-page brief rebutting the central plank of Christie’s legal strategy. The 2011 pension overhaul is, in fact, constitutional, the lawmakers argue.

“We want to make it clear to the court that the administration’s refusal to make the legally required pension payments violates the law and disregards legislative intent,” Prieto and Sweeney said in a joint release. “The pension reform bill approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor is a law he can’t choose to ignore.”

In their brief, Sweeney and Prieto point out that the same 2011 overhaul increased pension costs for state workers – and that workers have no way of skipping them. They also point out that the Legislature approved a budget last year that fully funded the pension system, making a $2.25 billion payment, by raising taxes on businesses and wealthy earners. Christie vetoed the tax hikes before signing the budget and reduced the pension contribution to $681 million.

 

 

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Democrats must avoid old solutions in run up to 2016 election

A growing number of Republicans are entering the race for the 2016 presidential election, yet Hillary Clinton is the candidate defining the issues of for both Democrats and Republicans.

The iconic figure has so much influence and such standing in her party that her decision to run on economic issues has already forced Democrats and Republicans alike to either adopt or discredit her positions.  Whether or not Hillary Clinton wins the 2016 Democratic nomination, her stands on issues are setting the debate for the general election.

In many respects, the economy is the hardest topic for the political world to face. The U.S. economy has been struggling since the 2008-2009 Great Recession started. Voters are focused on issues such as job creation and decreasing income inequality. As few policy solutions on the table seem to be working, debating economic policies, which largely depend on tried and untrue deals, force to light the weaknesses of solutions candidates embrace while leaving politicians open to scrutiny that they cannot easily defend against.

The highly polarized nature of our political system will pressure Democrats to over-rely on nontraditional economic mainstays: increased spending on social programs, increased regulation and social welfare. Unfortunately, it appears Democrats are already on track to do just that when it come to raising taxes, the minimum wage and education funding.

As the growing national debt, sluggish economy and government dysfunction/intrusiveness weigh heavily on the minds of voters, Democrats need to stay in the middle and promote balanced, comprehensive solutions to America’s economic problems.

Voters will not support more government spending, taxes or regulation unless they know it will produce results.

Education, for example, is important, but job seekers are not job creators, even if they are educated. It is important to recognize that many Americans, including educated Americans, continue to struggle to find work and increase their earnings.

Although education gives the individual the best chance at a better life, it is not a guarantee.  Americans are growing disenchanted with the education solution.

It will also be a temptation for Democrats to over focus on income inequality for women and minorities. Hillary and her Democratic brethren are already trying to frame themselves as the champions of the 99 percenters. While this may appeal to segments of the population, it ignores the much broader issues that come with income equality, thereby aliening non-minority voters who suffer under the extreme economic disparity that exists in this country today.

Whether making minimum wage or earning a middle-class income, it is difficult for non-minority men to take criticism from someone like Hillary Clinton is a multi-millionaire.

Income inequality is not about gender or race for the bulk of Americans. It is about attaining a comfortable lifestyle instead of struggling to pay the bills. It is about improved access to greater economic opportunities for all.

Democrats need to demonstrate how they can build a strong, stable economy stable that provide jobs security for the middle class and better jobs for the poor.

 
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Pontotoc County Democrats hold county convention

The Democrats of Pontotoc County held their annual county convention on Saturday, April 11, at the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex. The meeting opened with a flag pledge led by Chairman Billie Floyd.

Following the invocation, Floyd introduced David Scott, the current executive director and IT specialist for the state Democratic Party (a graduate of Ada High and Oklahoma City University). Sen. Susan Paddack was invited to share some thoughts or current events.

Paddack praised Floyd for her service to the Democratic Party and to the citizens of her district. Paddack also talked about the devastating results of Republican actions on a state level, including massive cuts to education in the past few years.

Paddack said with more money being syphoned off for additional tax cuts and tax credits, people can expect increases in college tuition and decreases in state highway repairs.

Paddack said, “Democrats must stand up for their core beliefs. They must demand support for education, mental health, public safety, etc.  The general public does not realize that for most of them, they are getting a $30 tax cut and losing much more in state services that affect their quality of life.”

Floyd led the group in holding elections of new county officers. Joe Trail was elected as the new chairman. Trail graduated from East Central University where he won the George Nigh award. He has been serving as an intern in Paddack’s office. On May 9, he will graduate from OU with a law degree and Ada will remain his home. Deborah Large was elected vice chairman and Haley Burrows was elected secretary.

Delegates for the District 4 convention at Pauls Valley were selected. The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 23 at the Agri-Plex. Details about the district convention and possible resolutions to the state Democratic Constitution will be discussed. All Democrats are encouraged to attend.

 

 

 

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Democrats reintroduce repealed equal pay law

State Democrats introduced a law repealed by Republicans three years ago that they say would allow the state to enforce laws preventing pay discrimination on the basis of sex.

Originally passed in 2009, the law authorizes state courts to order employers pay damages to victims of discrimination. The law was only on the books for three years before a new Republican majority in the state voted to repeal the legislation on a party-line vote in both the state Senate and Assembly.

“While Republicans have said they support equal pay they eliminated the best tool we had to enforce the law and close the gap—the ability of victims of wage discrimination to get justice through our civil court system,” said state Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, one of the bill’s authors, in a Monday statement.

Republicans argued in 2012 the law put an unnecessary legal burden on businesses in the state and created a procedure by which some could file frivolous lawsuits against businesses. A number of companies and commerce associations lobbied heavily in favor of the repeal.

Gov. Scott Walker signed the law’s repeal in 2012 without comment. Reinstating the law became a campaign promise for Democratic challenger Mary Burke as she unsuccessfully competed against Walker before the 2014 gubernatorial election.

Wisconsin still has another law in place that forbids discriminating against any individual when considering compensation or promotions on the basis of sex. Hansen argued in the statement that law alone cannot prevent a growing state wage gap between sexes.

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