South Jersey is No Wisconsin

Lets Show the Christiecrats this will not be tolerated

Tuesday, June 28 7:00pm Collingswood Library
On Thursday, Chris Christie scored a significant victory in his war against public employee unions, when the New Jersey Assembly passed a plan that sharply increases what state and local workers must contribute for their health insurance and pensions, suspends cost-of-living increases to retirees pension checks, raises retirement ages and curbs the unions contract bargaining rights. The money involved is considerable, but what makes this particularly remarkable is that it was approved by a legislature controlled by Democrats. As the plan worked its way through the state Senate earlier this week and then the Assembly, large crowds of public employees and their allies descended on Trenton in a scene similar to Madison, Wis., earlier this year. But unlike Wisconsin, where it was left to Republicans in both chambers to pass a bill that ended collective bargaining, in New Jersey the decisive margin was provided by Democrats.[1] Democrats in other states -- and in Washington -- have scored political points this year by defining themselves in opposition to the "extreme" agendas of Republican governors and legislators. And, to be sure, plenty of New Jersey Democrats are taking the same approach now, with many legislators taking to the floor this week to rail against what they branded an assault on worker rights. But eight of the 24 Democrats in the Senate -- including the chamber's president -supported the pension and healthcare bill. And in the Assembly, 14 of 47 Democrats -- including the speaker -- went along.[1] Including Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley, was one of the few mayors to testify, stating they brought it upon themselves and deserve what they get The thing to remember about South Jersey is that there's really only one name you need to know: George Norcross, an insurance executive and political boss who essentially runs the so-called Democratic Party south of Interstate-195. A good friend of Donald Trump's, Norcross is not exactly an FDR Democrat, and neither are his protgs. He's not averse to cutting deals with Republicans. He had a terrible relationship with Jon Corzine, and a distaste for Corzine's predecessor -Richard J. Codey -- is well-known in New Jersey. [1] By stripping even currently retired public employees of their promised and earned cost-of-living adjustments, these legislators signaled that no promise they make should ever be believed by any New Jersey voter. Retirees who count on their pensions for a modest level of security after a lifetime of public service will suffer because of this vote. This pension raid would reduce many retired workers pensions by 40% or more by the end of their lives.[2] A legislature and governor who will raid the pension checks of retirees and the paychecks of middle-class workers but lack the courage or integrity to ask the very wealthy to share the sacrifice, of even a modest tax increase, are not the representatives of the people who elected them.

On Tuesday, June 28 at 7:00pm we will be holding a meeting in the Collingswood Library to organize against the next big attack on public services facing us from the South Jersey Christiecrats or should we call them Norcross puppets? We extend an invitation to individuals, clubs and organizations; everyone who still believes the government should reflect the wishes of the people and not the wealthy and corporations, to be part of planning what avenues to take to stop them from heaping more shame upon New Jersey and discuss their re-election in November. Hosted by: Progressive Democrats of South Jersey For further information: Tim ONeill 856-858-4997 ProgressiveDemocracySoJersey@gmail.com
Excerpts from:
[1] http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/24/christie_pension_democrats [2] http://www.njea.org/news/2011/06/23/assembly%20vote%20strips%20public%20employees%20of%20rights