Christie may declare a financial emergency (Union busting at it's finest)

[DainBramaged]

As he seeks concessions from state workers to balance his first budget, Gov.-elect Chris Christie is examining the possibility of declaring a financial emergency in the state, according to an official familiar with his plans.

Such a declaration -- invoking the same law as if New Jersey were hit by a natural disaster -- could give Christie broad powers, such as suspending rules governing state worker layoffs. With many state workers due to receive two raises in the next fiscal year and a no-layoff pledge in place through December 2010, Christie's transition team expects to tackle the issue before he takes office Jan. 19, two of his advisers said yesterday.

The advisers, who requested anonymity because the discussions are preliminary, said it is too early to determine whether a state of emergency would be an attractive proposition or a last resort in the face of a continuing recession.

Christie, a Republican who defeated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine last week, will face an estimated $8 billion shortfall for the budget he must present by March.

His budget balancing options are limited because he has ruled out raising taxes or cutting state aid to K-12 education.

Corzine invoked the state of emergency provisions of New Jersey law in July 2006 in ordering the shutdown of state government after the unprecedented breakdown of budget talks between himself and the Legislature. New Jersey's Constitution mandates a balanced state budget, so if a budget is not in place or if the spending plan is out of balance, government lawyers believe that is a legal "emergency."

Corzine's aides considered employing the same provisions earlier this year as state revenue plummeted in the face of a crashing national economy. But Corzine and the largest state workers union, the Communications Workers of America, reached an agreement calling for 10 unpaid furlough days while deferring a wage increase in exchange for a no-layoff pledge through December 2010.

Christie was critical of that deal throughout the campaign and reiterated yesterday he is not "bound by" the no-layoff agreement. He said working out a solution with unions is a priority to deal with "right away."

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1257821705234970.xml&coll=1

Another union busting Reich-wing fuck is gonna be in for a surprise in NJ.

[DainBramaged]

1. Carrie Prejean, albino squirrels, Viagra, these are important

Union/jpb issues, pffffttt, who cares.......

:eyes:

[tabbycat31]

2. I'm still mixed on how to react to Christie

part of me wants to fight him every step of the way and another part of me wants to put aside partisan differences and work with the guy.

[Bitwit1234]

3. I can't get over his mob connections

If you had mobsters as relatives, you can't choose your relatives, but he doesn't have to work with them and associate so close with them. And since New Jersey voted for him, they get what they get and I hope it satisfies them.

[tabbycat31]

4. I did 2 blog posts on him

one for the case for working with him and one for the case for fighting him. I'm much more inclined to fight, but my blog readers seem to disagree with me. Someone please sell him to me.

http://outspokenliberal.blogspot.com