News from

John Amodeo and Vince Polistina

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            Contact:  John Amodeo or Vince Polistina at 609-677-8266

September 4, 2008      

 

 

AMODEO AND POLISTINA CHALLENGE THEIR COLLEAGUES

MOVE PENSION REFORMS FORWARD NOW

 

NORTHFIELD –District 2 Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina once again are urging the legislative leadership to fast track pension reform measures when the Legislature returns to Trenton this month.

“Taxpayers need relief.  It’s only four months before state agencies and municipalities begin drafting their budgets.   Those budgets should reflect the savings in pension costs.  That can only happen if the Legislature acts on our bills,” noted Polistina.

            “Without meaningful reforms the abuse and spiraling costs will continue at taxpayers’ expense,” Amodeo added.

Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina introduced four bills earlier in the year designed to trigger much needed wholesale changes to the State’s pension system.  The legislation proposed by Amodeo and Polistina would eliminate health benefits for part-time elected officials; make certain appointed officials ineligible for pensions;  eliminate pension and health benefit entitlements for State appointees who serve in positions working fewer than 35 hours per week.  Plus, Amodeo and Polistina are pushing legislation which would require legislators to take a two year hiatus from subsequent appointment or employment with a State agency when they leave the Legislature.

“Our intentions were to start the process for change, stop abuse, and save taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Polistina.  “Other legislation adopted so far was symbolic and weak.”  

 

 

 

 

“There has been no movement on our bills. We have been stonewalled,” said Amodeo. “We will spend even more time over the next few months making calls and knocking on doors of our legislative colleagues to garner support in the Assembly and companion legislation in the Senate.” 

            Amodeo and Polistina want to see their measures on the Governor’s desk before year’s end.

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