New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's ongoing battle with public employee unions over pension contributions is headed to the state's highest court.
The New Jersey Supreme Court agreed on April 6 to hear the state's appeal of a Feb. 23 Superior Court ruling that sided with unions who filed a lawsuit against Christie after he stripped $1.6 billion from the state's planned 2015 pension contributions. The unions argued that a 2011 law implementing a scheduled ramp-up of the state's pension funding for seven years created a contractual right for the money to go to employee pensions. Oral arguments in Trenton are slated for May 6, 55 days before the state's 2015 fiscal year ends on June 30.
Christie vetoed the $1.6 billion pension payment from the 2015 budget last June.
Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson
Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said there was no comment on the State Supreme Court decision to hear the governor's appeal. Christie's