Bad Timing and Poor Taste
Steve Adubato, Ph.D.

Frankly, there is really no other issue in the state that compares to the massive budget deficit we face. The fact that we are short by $2 billion now and well over $3 billion in the near future will drive virtually every decision Governor-elect Jim McGreevey and the new state legislature will have to make. Healthcare, education, the environment, the contracts of state workers and taxes-all of these issues will be dealt with in light of our unprecedented money problems.

There will be sacrifice. There will be pain. There will be many worthwhile projects and programs that won't get funded because of this. Given this gloomy fiscal picture, why in the world are certain forces in the legislature, particularly in the Senate, attempting to pass a bill that would increase pension benefits to Senators who have served for more than 22 years?

A couple of points; I am a former member of the state legislature and every Senator who is in line to get a pension increase used to be a colleague. All of them are good people who have served with distinction. Further, I have never been one to criticize increasing the salary for legislators who play an important role in our lives, even if most citizens don't understand what they do.

But attempting to increase the pension benefits for a few veteran Senators is absolutely insane. The timing couldn't be worse. Not only is the economy in trouble, but people are losing their jobs and those who are lucky enough to have jobs are receiving minimal, if any, pay increases. Employers are cutting health benefits and looking for any angle to save a few dollars at the expense of employees. The economic fallout from September 11 is just beginning to be felt.

Look, the amount of money we are talking about is no big deal. Only a few Senators are eligible for the pension hike. Yet, by doing this the problem is that the legislature loses all credibility with citizens, community groups, schools and state employees who they will be having to say "no" to in the months ahead. Why should everyone else have to take a hit and understand that there is simply no money for worthwhile projects and programs, yet the money seems to be there for a select few state legislators who have served in Trenton for 22 years or more?

It's not only a question of bad timing, it's an issue of poor taste for the legislature to do anything that could be perceived as benefiting themselves right now. If I as a former legislator who likes and respects all of the Senators who are receiving the pension hike feels like this, just imagine what the vast majority of citizens who don't particularly like politicians are feeling?

I urge the state legislature to reject the pension hike. Not that it isn't deserved, but that it will only increase the chasm between citizens and elected officials at all levels of government. The good old boy network has its place in the state capital and helping our friends is okay most of the time, but this is just simply wrong. This is a no brainer. Even the state legislature should know that.

A final footnote. It's funny. Ever since Governor-elect Jim McGreevey publicly announced that we needed to stop spending on any new projects or programs out of the State Capital, both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature have engaged in a spending frenzy that is simply embarrassing. McGreevey can't blame the Republicans for this because while those same Republicans who call themselves fiscal conservatives are spending for their pet projects, Democrats have been just as bad. Look, the problems in Camden are well documented, but is the time really right to spend $150 million of state money to help Camden out? That effort is being led by Democratic Senator Wayne Bryant. One wonders if Jim McGreevey is starting to feel a little like Rodney Dangerfield who was famous for his one-liner, "I get no respect."

Steve Adubato, Ph.D. is a commentator, lecturer and former state legislator. Dr. Adubato is also an Emmy Award-winning television anchor and syndicated columnist.
He can be reached by fax (973) 509-1659 or e-mail him at sadubato@aol.com.

Back to Syndicated Column