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‘Garbage’: Chris Christie Hammers Sick Leave Payouts For N.J. Public Sector

Dec. 23, 2011 8:13pm Buck Sexton

Garbage: Chris Christie Hammers Sick Leave Payouts For NJ Public Sector Chris Christie has become the quintessential anti-B.S. politician, and in a recent press conference over public employee benefits, the New Jersey governor showcased his principles and rhetorical skills. And it was all over public workers getting payouts for unused sick days.

“There is no intellectual efficacy to their argument… so now they have to go to ‘well people will commit crimes and commit fraud if we don’t pay them more money for not being sick.’”

With the premise in place, Christie ripped into the opposition’s argument right away: “The people of New Jersey know that that is a complete pile of garbage.”

And in case the liberal democrats in New Jersey’s legislature tried to play politics after the fact, Christie looked into the room full of cameras and said “Every dollar that accumulates from here forward is the responsibility of the Democrats in the legislature.”

Christie also pointed out that the impetus behind the sick leave reforms is just a payoff to public sector unions who support Democrats with donations.

It’s a soundbite that will surely come in handy for Christie if the public sector unions get their goodies, and the liberal Jersey legislature tries to share the blame for the largesse from the public treasury.

“We stand for unburdening taxpayers and not giving gifts to the public sector unions.”

Christie’s summation was not complicated: “I’m not compromising,” he said. ”Zero means zero.”

Powerful, direct, and leaving no room for confusion — classic Christie.

Watch New Jersey Governor Christie make the case himself here, courtesy of RealClearPolitics:

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Comments (202)

janmil200
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:56pm
Love this guy! Ready to go to the mat with Coulter!

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- Old_Bones
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 4:08am
  Hmmm. I not mind taking Coulter to the matt as well.
  
  Report this comment
- Jomil48
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 6:44am
  This guy is tough, and it’s exactly what New Jersey needs, as a matter of fact it is what our country needs right now, someone with kahonies.
  
  Report this comment
- robert
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:39am
  Christie is popular, because he takes a mostly conservative no-nonsense approach to everything and tells it like it is. Gingrich went from back of the pack to front runner for a while, because he literally told off the rabid leftist news anchors during debates and blasted the Obama administration.
  
  Bill O’Reilly’s in your-face-approach not only won him top spot over all other networks he was emulated by every news broadcast on T.V.
  
  People are crying out for heroes, no matter how small. But all they keep getting are the McCains, the Karl Roves, the Bob Doles, the George Bushes, and the like who would never speak and behave in any manner above what would be considered good managerial policies. Instead of acting as leaders and telling it like it is, they oil the squeaky wheel and it seems they’re constantly apologizing for one thing or another. They no more than corrupt politicians who will say and do anything to keep their party in power. They have no strong principles nor do they have a backbone.
  
  Of course, the left is so far out into space it has lost contact. They aren’t even close to being reasonable. They dwell in the land of oz and shouldn’t even hold political office.
  
  So people hang their hopes on Republicans. And those hopes are dashed everytime they nominate an inarticulate, sputtering demagogue who is afraid to step outside the party line.
  
  Don’t look for anything different this time around. Unless a LEGITIMATE third party appears.
  
  Report this comment
- Unix
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:36am
  Nice one Centurian! Christie is a gem, he may yet slay the dragon all by himself. I don’t know his stance on 2nd amendment, but all of his other stances, economically speaking make sense, I mean, zero does mean zero – wish he’d run.
  
  I know I will may be skewered here, but the more I think about this race – Paul comes bubbling to the top…I don’t necessarily agree with his stance on foreign policy, but I do think he’d go a long way to getting our fiscal house in order! Along with majorities of TEA in the two chambers. I do not think he could wreck the military in 4 years, too much on the fiscal front to be of that much damage (although he could cut budgets dramatcially (arg), but that is the only concern I have with him. Still, even a gutted US military, is as good as anything out there! Why is it always this way? Romney would come second, Newt third, if ANY of them make it, I will vote for them – I don’t care – anything but Obama 2012!
  
  Viva TEA
  
  Report this comment
- jzs
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:48am
  So if you take the sick time you get the days off and the pay. If you don’t take the sick time, you lose those days. Use it or lose it.
  
  Yeah, that’s garbage alright.
  
  Report this comment
- Bluedog78
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:11pm
  Whats next, no sick days for employees, and if you fall ill and miss a couple of weeks of work you’re fired? Nice. I always try to bank my sick time just in case I am injured or ill. If I have any left when I retire I’ll get paid only 50% of the value. There are people I work with who use every bit of it every year. Who’s the bigger parasite, me or them? Christie won’t save the state any money because now all state employees will be using all their sick time, its a wash, but it makes him look tough.
  
  Report this comment
- quicker
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:21pm
  @ JZS .At my job foremen get 2 weeks payed time off ,but we have to use it in that calender year,or use it.Just the way it is as they don`t have to give it to us.So why shuold public sector be any differant,especially since the taxpapers fund it.
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:25pm
  If you want to see unions in action come to Oklahoma City and see all the ex union whells meet across the road from the GM plant . Also, watch them leave early on pay day and party with the money that the regular working stiffs paid as union dues. GM could have shut down a lot of other – older and more expensive plants and wages, but Oklhoma is a right to work state. The union put a lot of pressure on GM and paid off the right people. Ever notice that the auto co’s never close a plant in Canada.
  
  Report this comment
- TXPilot
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:07pm
  @JANMIL200……I was reading this article, and I’m sure I was about to compose a really insightful and intelligent post, but then I saw the comment about taking Ann Coulter “to the mat”……..what was the article about again?…
  
  Report this comment
- Unix
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:10pm
  SICK days, use ‘em or lose ‘em, that’s right you heard me!
  
  Report this comment
- div
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:46pm
  @ BLUEDOG
  Your banking sick time is the responsible thing to do for your family and you should be commended. However payment for sick time not taken is a double dip into the till, so it will save NJ money. Even your 50% at retirement is a double dip, and another example of one of those special “union perks” given away by spineless politicians. Sick pay itself is a benefit to protect you and your family if you are unable to go to work. If you don’t need it, nothing lost/nothing gained.
  
  Report this comment
- The10thAmendment
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:08pm
  Christie is right on with the fight back against Unions and Public sector parasites who simply mooch through their lazy existences.
  
  The people I work for (non union) offer 5 sick days a year to every employee. That’s roughly 6400 hours of “free money”. The total they paid out according to the end of year report was 768 hours. Last year at the Corporation Christmas Party we suggested rolling 1/2 of the allotted sick pay account to a Charity. I’m not privy to their actually top end decisions but the rumor is that they are going to start giving that money to Building Homes For Hero’s. To keep the Unions the hell away from us we each pay into 2 special funds that over 1800 employee’s “can” contribute to. There’s a 100% pay in for the legal fund, and 94% for a group select charity. Management hires their own Attorneys but they contribute a matching dollar amount for the select charity.
  
  When the stench of the unions and their stealing of workers’ money is kept away, there is plenty of money for the company to grow, needs of employee’s met, raises, bonuses and extra’s.
  
  Public Employee workers are the most parasitic of all union workers in the Country.
  
  Report this comment
- LookTowardsTheLight
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:34pm
  %&$# all public sector unions.
  
  Viva La Christi!
  
  Merry Chistmas!
  
  Report this comment
- nzkiwi
  Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:23am
  @JZS
  
  I think I understood you correctly. Taking undeserved sick days is garbage. I agree with you. Leaning back on your fellow workers is disgraceful. It’s bludging. (NZ expression.)
  
  Report this comment
NV_RICK
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:21pm
Could you imagine what states right would be if we had 50 govenor christies start the recovery now get the band started we would have a chance. romney take heed this man backed you take a page outta his book. amen

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blueman
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:21pm
If Christie wil not run for President, I wish he would hook up with the nominee as Vice President.

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- TSUNAMI-22
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:33pm
  You like Christie’s views on gun control?
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:57am
  TSUNAMI-22 as VP he would have no power when it comes to gun control. So what is your point?
  
  Report this comment
- lukerw
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:17am
  If the 2nd Amendment can be abridged… nothing is Sacred in the Constitution!
  
  Report this comment
- ThePostman
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:44am
  Totally agree LUKER2. Chris has all the right things down, but if he would compromise on a constitutional issue such as gun control, then we have a problem and he cannot be a candidate that represents the people.
  
  Still, I just love the guy.
  
  Speaking of gun control. Back when the democrats were having town halls with metal detectors to screen out all their haters, my representative had one and allowed everyone to pack heat, with virtually no security.
  
  You know you are doing things right when people don’t want to kill you.
  
  Report this comment
- tifosa
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:38pm
  Since President Obama would NEVER choose Christie, he has no VP chance in 2012
  
  Report this comment
- hypnos
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:32pm
  Isn’t tifosa so clever. Then they can use your wages to pay for their extortion pay tifosa.
  
  Report this comment
dtsiouts
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:19pm
Yes I agree that the Public sector has been given unearned handouts for a long time. I am totally in tune with the Governor’s position. But I try to see the issue from the worker’s side though and I can’t argue with human nature. These folks (rank and file) have been given so much excess for so long by people that want nothing more than power and money (Union Leaders), that they are accustomed to it. It’s a way of life to them. They feel entitled. Few others of us see it that way, but they do. And although they can be assigned blame for signing on to such entitlement fantasy, their unsustainable belief has been propagated by the System. That’s exactly why Governor Christie was elected. In the last election the few prevailing shards of sanity saw to it that this must stop. And it has to be stopped in a big way straight from the top. GO Chris!

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barber2
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:18pm
For me the real issue with public unions is that the Tax Payer is NOT represented at the bargaining table. Thus, the politicians who are courting ” give aways ” to buy votes and the union bosses who are courting “give aways” to secure their union boss salaried positions / power are the ones making the deals that the Tax Payer gets to pay for. This is patently unfair, unsound and unAmerican. The guy who pays should have a “say,” because that is the American way . Fix this injustice. And you’ll probably be able to Balance many Budgets ! The ACLU should be representing the American taxpayer : the truly Forgotten American !

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- popkorn520
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:53pm
  You absolutely nailed it. That is the entire difference between public and private sector unions. How can you possibly expect a negotiation between public employees and the taxpayers that pay their salary be fair and balanced when the politicians purportedly negotiating on behalf of the taxpayers are in fact in bed with the unions. It is a complete conflict of interest and should be illegal.
  
  Report this comment
- sissykatz
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:12am
  Barber2
  
  Very true and very well stated……The Forgotten American.. Indeed !!!
  
  Report this comment
- MEANS2RESIST
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:03am
  They’re doing it here in Fl as well. Theres a guy I know of that is one of these big union bosses for the firefighters union. He collects a hefty paycheck of close to 150K+ for doing nothing but running his big mouth now and again & taking advantage of the system….
  
  Report this comment
- ropati
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:22am
  @Barber2. I believe this used to be called “taxation without representation.”
  
  Report this comment
encinom
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:15pm
Christie is a 1 term load mouth soon to out of a job. He and the other union buster, Walker can stand on the unemployment line together.

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- barber2
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:36pm
  And, hopefully, the unemployment line will be joined by that “budget buster, ” Barack Obama and his band of Merry Men..as in Robin Hood..
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:49pm
  We need more union busting politicians to rid us of worthless unions.Seiu,uaw,afl-cio and all public employee unions,eliminate all of them.
  
  Report this comment
- Detroit paperboy
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:38pm
  Maybe, but he wont be in prison next DEMOCRAT Blago…. And DEMOCRAT Corzine…And DEMOCRAT John Edwards…..And Democrat gun runner HOLDER…..
  
  Report this comment
- allboys
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:41pm
  I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Theses 2 are politicians willing to make the hard choices that will save these states some money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:59am
  load mouth? What have you been up to?
  
  Report this comment
- asybot12
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:33am
  well as far as being a loud mouth is concerned he has had lots of union bosses to copy!
  
  Report this comment
- LIBSALWAYSLIE
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 7:44am
  Dont argue with ENCINOM, he is mentaly deficient, and we all know its not nice to argue with the mentaly impaired.
  
  Report this comment
- michael48
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:36am
  insanom …just another lush lib-tard…no doubt a gov. gumba seatwarmer…
  
  Report this comment
- EastTexas
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:16pm
  Encinom You Stupid Leftist Tool!
  
  Report this comment
- Gabbie
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:02pm
  Hey, I live in Wisconsin and let me tell you about the teachers, to start, they have a package of benefits with their salary that is close and many over 6 figures. I know teachers that go to the emergency room for a cold and rack up 1500 dollars in tests at my expense. They post things such as they would like Walker killed and his wife raped. These are not nice people. They have set a very poor example for our children as they bully anyone in their way. They have threaten a poor teacher that bucked them as she said she had a good job and backed Walker. They posted her children’s names on the net and where she lived.At the same time they are at church professing how Christian they are while they are saying vile things. We had a 3 1/2 billion dollar deficit in this state due to the trough that the previous Democratic governor and controlled administration were spending money like drunken sailors.We pay some of the highest taxes here in the country, I do not want any higher taxes. So until you live here, keep noise out of our business. When these teachers can turn out kids that can read and write, maybe I will listen, but so far they do not know what work is. Work in the private sector and pay 50% of your health care and save for your own retirement and then then they want me to pay for all of theirs. They are only being asked to contribute 5% towards their retirement and I pay the rest and to pay 12% of their Cadillac 35000 dollar health insurance, I pay the rest.
  
  Report this comment
- OhSuzieQ
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:49pm
  hahahaha!!!!! Yea think? Hahahahaha!!!
  
  Report this comment
- GONESURFING
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 7:47pm
  Look like the town idiot is here.
  
  Report this comment
deweydewmeyer
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:53pm
The guy behind Christy is a bit weird. Turrets? …….Oh,… TJS twisted jaw syndrome. got it!

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- Baikonur
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:16pm
  The guy behind him is weird? He himself is bizarre!
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:33pm
  BAIK: ” Bizarre?” Thought you ware better than a vapid , non-issue, smirky comment.
  
  Report this comment
- asybot12
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:36am
  @baikonur soyuz just failed again just like you!
  
  Report this comment
Firefighter 538
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:36pm
I talked to a union rep the other day. When he found out I was a firefighter he ask which union represent us and I told him we were non union. He said that was impossible because all the firefighters in the cities around here were in a union. I informed him we were a rural fire district and we are 100% unpaid volunteers, but he was welcome to come down to the fire hall on Tuesday and sign us up…..He never showed? I guess all that BS about helping the working man doesn’t apply if you don’t have any money!

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- llotus
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:44pm
  Baikonur…….hello baikonur. Good to see you up and around again. Lotus.
  
  Report this comment
- Al J Zira
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:22am
  My question would be would anyone in your caompany actually sign up if the rep had showed?
  
  Report this comment
- guntotinsquaw
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:46am
  If the Union boss told you that he is lying…we are paid professional and volunteer (union members cannot volunteer) …and we don’t stand with the communist party…nor do we pay union dues…..I love right to work states
  
  For the politically in-correct Merry CHRISTmas
  
  Report this comment
RightPolitically
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:35pm
Privatize government employment. Let attrition do the job. People who take a job because of union protection and benefits go into “public service” for the wrong reasons. Dump these greedy, lazy people now!

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- 2theADDLED
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:57pm
  Put government workers on the same pay scale as a soldier and it will weed out the greedy S.O.B.s
  
  Report this comment
- babylonvi
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:13am
  So, when they ‘privatize what do you think the your Fire Department, what will the ‘Fire Fee’ be you will have to pay? What is the pay of a Firefighter worth to drag your sorry a$$ out of a burning building?
  
  Report this comment
13th Generation American
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:23pm
I think this might be one of the few things I agree with Christie on, the others being Gay Marriage and a women’s right to choose. I disagree with his support of Romney primarily because Romney is a Chicken Hawk Vietnam War draft dodger who fled to France to avoid serving his country. Just like John Wayne during WW2, Romney is a self serving hypocrite.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:05am
  And Dan Foster still thinks you are a jerk.
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:08am
  13TH DeGENERATION MexICAN is a plant from the Huff & Puff. A first class Obamabot. He and the gay robot are most likely room-mates
  
  Report this comment
- Cat Ballou
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:10pm
  John Wayne was too old to be drafted. He did try to join, they wouldn’t take him. He also had a bunch of kids, which was another reason they wouldn’t take him. Nice try…..!!!!
  
  Report this comment
DesertRose1960
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:18pm
Chris Christis a complete jerk, a quarrelsome, ill-tempered lying jerk. A braying donkey. I don’t know what the rules for civil service are in New Jersey, but in the Federal government, I get 4 hours of sick leave every pay period. I also get 6 hours of leave. Because I am under the FERS system, it used to mean that when I retired any sick leave I had on the books was erased and worthless but unused annual leave was paid to my retirement. It created a problem for the Government because Federal employees approaching retirement would use up their sick leave rather than see it vanish. Since so many people were doing this, the Goverrnment went back to the old way, and sick leave now applies to my time in service. It encourages me to retain my sick leave, which is about 400 hours after 8 years in service. If the leave I save isn’t compensated, why did I bother to save it. Oh, and before you go off and tell me that I have to consider the taxpayers, guess what, I’m a tax payer, and it’s my money, too.

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- Rickfromillinois
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:26pm
  Yeah, but you don’t pay nearly as much taxes as the rest of us have to pay you and others like you. Your sick time and vacation time should be combined in to one pool and you should not be able to sell more then 1 years worth at retirement. The rest of us are tired of you union parasites.
  
  Report this comment
- abbygirl1994
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:26pm
  Are you sure your not talking about yourself… we need strong men in government who do right.. not some wimpy dimpy dum dum.. who doesn’t no his but from a hole in the ground.. We he speaks you hear him.. when Obama speaks its nothing more than a squeak! God help us!
  
  Report this comment
- mensaman62
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:44pm
  OK. Now I see why you responed to me in the way you did. You are trying to use the system just like many of my co-workers. Shame on you. Go to work and not take away from the people.
  
  Report this comment
- Mateytwo Barreett
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:50pm
  I see your point -clearly. But just to make sure let me give you my interpretation of your situation . You were hired to do a job. And you applied there because??? pay scale and benefits? Ok, now exactly who pays for those benefits- or the wages as far as that goes. Your triad mentions “SERVICE”. Dedustion would be that you grow nothing, build nothing, produce nothing. Maintainence is your gig. So how did you and your organization gain the wage/benefit package. Who did the negotiations- ah, your union bosses. And with whom did they hegotiate- ah, elected politicians. Now whon got the pols elected? The unions Hmm. Thjis is a little problematic to me because I see two parties, feeding off the same tit. SOOOOooo, what is discussed at these negotiations? Ethics, morals, decency, respect, restraint? And IF, by some chance any of those qualities would be brought up- which sie laughs the loudest. I leave you with one last thought- when freedom is finished here- where do YOU go? You PAY taxes? Really?- just think of it as a kick-back!
  
  Report this comment
- Baikonur
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:09pm
  If you can’t roll it over into your pension, or cash it, I think you should try to take as much of it now as you possibly can. Istanbul is wonderful.
  
  What would a financial advisor say? I am sure you are consulting one already.
  
  Report this comment
- Wishkah
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:17pm
  That is some funny stuff there… you produce nothing and get paid by hard working tax payers. Your paid from money others pay. So any taxes you pay just means that the taxpayers are paying a little less .
  
  There was a good reason the govt. workers were not allowed to have a union.. too bad it was changed.. try getting a job in the real world.
  
  Report this comment
- neverending
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:19pm
  Cry me a river – you people get more time off in a year then I had in 15 years in the private sector.
  
  Report this comment
- singleparent
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:25pm
  You are the problem… people just like you…
  
  Report this comment
- Av8tor056
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:27pm
  I thank God every single day that I’m no longer in a union. between the entitlement mentality of many of the union workers and the massive amount of corruption even at the local level. Can you believe that the union leadership actually bragged about raising our dues so they could have a better convention (paid vacation) in Las Vegas. During union elections, the votes were always “adjusted” to keep the same corrupt leaders in charge.
  When the company I worked for laid off all the workers the union sued for back profit sharing. The suit was dropped after all the union leadership got their jobs back.
  And don’t even tell me that that’s an isolated incident. We all know that the unions are just one big socialist scam. The workers are forced to pay bullies and thugs for the privilege of having a job. The union bosses get rich on the backs of the workers and the liberals do all they can to keep the cycle going. This cycle continues until the company stuck with the union has to close it’s doors because they can’t afford to operate anymore. It’s happened all over this country with the private sector, now it’s starting to hit the state and federal governments.
  remember that when you’re shown the door with nothing to show for it and your union bosses retire with the millions they’ve taken from you and your fellow employees.
  
  Report this comment
- Female
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:42pm
  We in the private sector in recent years have lost 10% of our salaries, our sick and holiday pay. If sick, we have to use our vacation or no pay! Christmas is on a Sunday but guess what we have to take Monday off w/nopay and work extra each of the 4 other days to make up. New Years is also a Sunday, again Monday off, but the solution is to work normal hours but also on the next Saturday. As you enjoy all the security, holidays, and sick pay plus full medical and dental coverage: please remember there are a bunch of people out here in the private sector working their hearts out w/o much of even a thank you any more.
  
  Report this comment
- Cyhort
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:59am
  So because you benefit from it it’s a great policy that doesn’t need to change, right? Enjoy being part of the problem!
  
  Report this comment
- johnadamsdescendant
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:10am
  I’m as conservative as it gets. And, I’m no fan of unions. However, I was forced to join one for my County government job. Now I’m glad I’m in the union… Because government HR departments are not there to represent the employee anymore.
  
  Anyway, I’m getting really irritated with all of the “union parasites” comments. Or comments stating that we don’t pay the same amount of taxes. Um, hello?! I’m a property-owning, tax-paying citizen. Which means that, yes, I do pay part of my own salary. It’s also total garbage that government employeeds get FULL medical and dental.
  
  I agree that some unions have gotten out of control. Myself and my fellow unionized employees at the County where I work ask for nothing. We’ve foregone our annual 2% COLA once again (like we have for many years now). We also don’t get our benefits for “free.” This year, the premiums to cover a family of three will cost ME several thousand dollars. This is ON TOP OF all co-pays, hundreds in deductibles, etc.
  
  I’ve worked in the private industry before (it was a job which I LOVED but I was laid off due to the bad economy), and I earned WAY more PTO (paid time off) there than what I get with the County now. Currently, I get only 7.5 hours of sick leave and 7.5 hours of vacation time every month. That’s NOT EVEN ONE FULL DAY of each per month!
  
  You people who say ALL government employees are horrible, greedy, and lazy… That’s not true. Please, stop and think that you may not have the wh
  
  Report this comment
- johnadamsdescendant
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:18am
  Oh, and I forgot to mention that my County Commissioners rake in a big, fat $120,000/year. It’s your ELECTED government officials that are the problem, not your average salaried government worker…
  
  Report this comment
- asybot12
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:40am
  If you would have worked instead of spending your GD time checking the rules this country would be not in the sh,itty shape it is in!
  
  Report this comment
- asybot12
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 5:51am
  7.5+7.5+15= 2days of work (that is counting 15 minutes at each end of any shifts that is wasted during most companies workers shifts (not including peepee time)
  
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- PetraK4usa
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 6:33am
  I thought the reason for taking a sick day was because you were sick! I would thank the Lord that you didn’t need to take them. I’ve also heard of people going to work sick just so that they could save their sick time.
  
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- blzrdr
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 6:41am
  Don’t bother , your the bad guy and soon there will be posts calling for killing union members . Just like many of them call for the killing of ALL police officers . These folks are really no different than the occupy losers i e ( I’m mad and if you are a public employee you should be poor and do the job for the good of the people , not your family like everyone else) . I’ve been paying 10% of my pay into my pension for the last 16 years and yes I get paid for a portion of my sick time when I retire . After 27 years of dealing with the worst of society I have earned it . According to Christie and his ilk I don’t deserve it . FO
  
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- Suchy
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:21am
  Somebody has to say it. Your income tax, your social security, your pay, your sick days, and your retirement , PAID BY TAXPAYERS!!
  
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Robert-CA
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:06pm
The state of CA needs a Chris Christie .

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- Eatyourcrow
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:14pm
  The state of CA needs a Progressive enema first.
  
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- abbygirl1994
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:24pm
  All the states need a Chris Christie.. if he won’t run for president I hope he will think about being a vice president… Compare Christie to Biden… hahaha I see Biden in a clown suit… with a red cherry nose.. and I see Christie as the He Man! Go Chris.. I just wish I was lived in New Jersey.. how very refreshing to see someone with the ****** to fix it! God help us…
  
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- MAFDSF39
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:02am
  @Robert,
  
  I am a CA native and I don’t think, even Chris Christie can help this once great state. The A-holes in SAC, the Illegals, and the Hollywood elite have completely wrecked this state.
  
  But it seems you and I both know the truth. I didn’t think there was anyone left in CA like me.
  
  Keep the faith, at least there are at least two of us trying to bring CA back.
  
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- MAFDSF39
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:08am
  @Robert
  
  I don’t think Christie can help our state.
  
  Too bad the BLAZE police deleted my real post to you about this.
  
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- Notsureishoulddothis
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:06pm
  Make that three of us
  
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barber2
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:03pm
Ok. So when do the union Occupiers show up at the New Jersey legislature ? Following the bullying tactics of their Wisconsin buddies, I’m sure the professional signage is being printed as we speak/ comment ! Then, let’s see , the Democrats have to run away to another state – probably liberal New York – and hide out ( maybe with the remnants of the Occupy Wall Street crowd which may be a tad dangerous ! ) . Oh, and then the union will organize a Bully Recall Election Petition . Will Christie be the New Walker ? Will New Jersey be the new Wisconsin? Will America survive until we get these thugs and their complaisant Obama Administration out of the White House? Tune in soon for the next exciting installment of : The Destruction of America’s Economy, Part II ( in case you missed Part One, that was about the Fannie / Freddie/ Acorn/ Discrimination Card/ Sub Prime Housing Economic Catastrophe Starring Chris Dowd, Barney Frank, CountryWide, Bill Clinton and the Affordable Housing Act. ) Part III, now in the making , is about the Federal Discriminatory Voting Laws Versus the States and Election 2012 …. sure to be a highly intriguing drama…

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- JohnTwoFeathers
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:05pm
  Chapter IV—December 21, 2012
  
  Merry Christmas all and prey that chapter is not written
  
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LiveforFreedom
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:41pm
You should see the millions that the Federal house and senate get in sick leave buy outs. And the State of WI house and Senate member who work three months out of the year and are paid full time with benefits, they collect millions with out passing go when they retire from public office nice isn’t it the best the we can pay for BABY!!!!! Real Change remember that one!!!! Ya remember that $1000.00 dollars a year bull!!!! Cake and Cirus thats all they keep giving U.S. sheepile!!! We get $1000.00 and they get MILLIONS!!!!!

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mensaman62
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:39pm
Christie has it right for the state of NJ but for the nation he is a RINO, does not support the 2nd amendment, believes in Cap and Trade, appointed muslim judges, etc…

As a state employee who has no choice but to join a union (they represent me, HA!) I express my opinion to my fellow employees that the unions are destroying this country and I get mocked and ridiiculed. While I agree with them that it is not our local but where does our money go? Into the hands of Trumka, the man who says he speaks to our dear leader every day and does he represent me? I think not.

May God help us and bless us. Merry Christmas to all the Blazers

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- DesertRose1960
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:03pm
  Okay, you seem to be one of those people who thinks they know what they’re talking about, but really don’t. In the 1960s, union members were about 35% of the workforce and Americans averageed about $300 in real wages in constant dollars. Now, union members are only 12% of the workforce, with about half of them being public sector unions. And guess what, average worker wages are still less than $300 in real wages in constant dollars. The Middle Class is shrinking and the amount of the GDP controlled by the top 1% has doubled in 30 years. It isn’t the union that is ruining the economy, it’s people like you. Is your union under the AFL-CIO? If it isn’t, and it might not be, then you aren’t represented by Trumpka and your money doesn’t go to him. Get off The Blaze, do some real reading about the issues and then maybe your co-workers won’t be mocking you for not knowing what you’re talking about.
  
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- mensaman62
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:21pm
  My union is CWA and yes we are under the AFL-CIO and part of my dues goes to Trumpka. I provide a service to the mentally ill, not an office clown. When Trumpka talks about the workers of the world unite, that is unAmerican. He is a socialist/marxist, whatever, just like his buds in the WH.
  
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- abbygirl1994
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:29pm
  We have had corruption in our unions more than once.. I do recall that they never did find Jummy Hoffa senior… Trumka and Jimmy Hoffa Jr. are as corrupt as they come… God help us!
  
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- rock-n-roll-rebel
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:31pm
  Christie has many liberal social views but he is a fiscal conservative and that is an asset in our current political quagmire. If conservatives would give up their assumption that they are always on the higher moral ground because their religion tells them so then we might even be able to make some compromises on some of our social problems but until then I will support vote and defend fiscal conservatives on both sides of the isle.
  
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- Mateytwo Barreett
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:11pm
  @Desert
  Now, why do you suppose that the union membership decreased? I have seen what unions do, to companioes- hell, whole industires -cities- states. We gotta have, we DEMAND, whatever it takes to get what you want. If for any reason, unions had a place in this country, I would have no problem. IF, In return for increased wages, benefits, working conditions, or “job compliance” there was any gain in quality, productivity, or performance, it would be a wash. NOPE, just keep pushing! Wudertheygunadu? Mechanization- robotics the rest the companies outsourced. Well, DAMN- couldn ‘t see that coming? So, where are we now. We have two generations that have a signifcant percentage that are, may I be frank, were “built to be on production lines- that aren’t there.
  Enter every liberal’s phallic symbol- E P A doncha want clean water-or air. Let’s regulate the hell out of this industry- steel comes to mind. Well- Pennsylvania’s got clean air- no jobs, but at least people on welfare don’t have to breathe that nasty smoknshit. Damn, we gotta clean up the emissions from automobiles- I got I lets demand air pumps and catalytics on everything! Won’t that sut into the overall efficiency? Who cares! Thats for the DOE.
  
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Vechorik
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:34pm
In my state, State employees aren’t paid so well and they are NOT union. They depend on the annual days of leave they earn and sick days they earn (both based on number of months served).

They need this time to balance out their low-paying job.
When they come near retirement, the employees get to calculate the leave time + sick day time + days served to = a retirement date.

It’s only fair to give them what they earned.
Whether it’s in dollars, or time served.

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- broker0101
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:39pm
  Really? And in what state, pray tell, are NO State employees unionized? My guess is the State of Confusion.
  
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- RightThinking1
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:56pm
  @Broker
  The unions may exist, but they have no collective bargaining rights in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina or Virginia. You know…, God’s country.
  
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- Mateytwo Barreett
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:19pm
  @Rightthinking
  The state employees may not be unionized in GA. But from numerous personal observations I would say that the state buys wayyyy tooo many ultra light shovels. There at least 50% of most crews gotta hold ‘em down.
  
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- Mateytwo Barreett
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:30pm
  You GET what you pay for or less. Try this analysis- most if not all interestate highways have a posted MINIMUM speed of 40 mph. Ever see a cop cite someone for– “slowing”.
  
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RightThinking1
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:29pm
Quoting from National Affairs:
“…. confront them policymakers must. As Christie said about the duel with the NJEA, “If we don’t win this fight, there’s no other fight left.” Melodramatic as this may sound, for many states, it is simply reality. The cost of public-sector pay and benefits (which in many cases far exceed what comparable workers earn in the private sector), combined with hundreds of billions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities for retired government workers, are weighing down state and city budgets. And staggering as these burdens seem now, they are actually poised to grow exponentially in the years ahead. If policymakers fail to rein in this growth, a fiscal crack-up will be the inevitable result.”

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- decendentof56
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:36pm
  Rightthinking…..
  I agree with the Nat. Affairs quote.
  Too many of these posts stray from the point that we (taxpayers) should not be paying for sick time not used….. Period!
  The fact that union membership has declined is beside the point.
  
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jagr1850
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:29pm
great businessman ……cut the costs…..nobody will quit their public sector job over it…..

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vicsemprini
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:28pm
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a Republican President willing to intellectually dismember Harry Reid this way?

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kevin
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:26pm
careful hes been corrupted by the d.c establishment ,he says some great things but endorses romney and meets with the other theives…err politicians i mean

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NE12012
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:26pm
Public sector unions suck.

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- TumbleBumble
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:00pm
  Yes, they do!
  
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- barber2
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:33pm
  Yes. The lifeblood out of the taxpayer’s wallets and city budgets
  
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neverending
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:22pm
Love this guy so much. Don’t always agree with him but why can’t we get more politicians that work to stop the bs and truly work for the people.

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Baddoggy
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:21pm
Gee Chris, you think the UNIONS wopuld screw the taxpayer? Say it isn’t so!! No way, these turds are honest, outstanding, hard working, shovel leaning people who just want a fair share. You should be ashaned for looking into this.

Put an end to this BS Ron paul 2012

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- barber2
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:04pm
  I’d rather put an end to public unions 2012…
  
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- William Hemenway
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:29pm
  F$%c Ron Paul your an idiot people like you are going to give Obama another term please please please quit breathing
  
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- Baddoggy
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:01pm
  William, you will love Ron Paul as your President. He is the closest candidate to a true Constitutionalist you will find. But if you want a stinking RINO, go ahead. But you need to think about it…They are the same as OBAMA.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:20pm
  BAD: No RINO is a Marxist. Thus, No one is as bad as Obama except Obama… WAKE UP…
  
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I.Gaspar
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:21pm
I am not in favor of Christie in the White House, at least not yet, but he does have balls and he is doing good things for New Jersey.
I hope he tears these union leaders a new one. If he beats them…then Christie 2016 or 2020 may sound pretty good.

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Jenny Lind
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:19pm
Go, Christie!

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