NJ Governor Chris Christie shines a light where Obama refuses to--corrupt union contracts

"Let’s tell our citizens the truth—today—right now—about what failing to do strong reforms costs them.

• One state retiree, 49 years old, paid, over the course of his entire career, a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him?
  
• $3.3 million in pension payments over his life and nearly $500,000 for health care benefits — a total of
  
• $3.8m on a $120,000 investment. Is that fair?

A retired teacher paid $62,000 towards her pension and nothing, yes nothing, for full family medical, dental and vision coverage over her entire career.

• What will we pay her? $1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime. Is it “fair” for all of us and our children to have to pay for this excess?

The total unfunded pension and medical benefit costs are $90 billion. We would have to pay $7 billion per year to make them current. We don’t have that money—you know it and I know it. What has been done to our citizens by offering a pension system we cannot afford and

• health benefits that are 41% more expensive than the average fortune 500 company’s costs
  
• is the truly unfair part of this equation."...

"Remarks of Governor Chris Christie to the Special Session of the New Jersey Legislature Regarding the Budget for Fiscal Year 2010,

• February 11, 2010" via RedState.com *****

As others have said, it is difficult to describe how deeply embedded the democrat machine is in the state of New Jersey. I am from NJ and most of my family still lives there. Only a few months ago, I said I didn't think a republican candidate could win in the state unless armed police were at every polling station. I was wrong and still consider it a miracle. Of course, it was a great help that the republican party itself does not exist in the state of New Jersey. Thank heaven. ed.



Above sign from NJ Garden State Parkway Exit 98,
leading to my favorite beaches on the Jersey Shore.
Thanks again to NJ voters.