Gov. Christie Talks Health Care, Pension Reforms At Ocean City Town Hall
By David Madden
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has spent much of the summer touring shore towns. Only his message has had nothing to do with the beach or tourism. He's talking of the need for continued pension and health care cost containment for state workers. This week, he brought that message to the Ocean City boardwalk.
It's a bitter pill for many people, state employees in particular, to swallow. But Christie says the reforms adopted a couple of years ago are far from enough. And he cited a newly released report from the Pew Charitable Trust as proof.
"They concluded that New Jersey has the third most expensive and generous health benefit plans in the country," Christie said.
Which are 39 percent more expensive than the national average. And while the pension deficit has been reduced by $17 billion during his term, it's still $40 billion underfunded. Those packages are better than all surrounding states, and Christie insists that's got to change.
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