Wednesday, December 22, 2010
NJ Democrats Block Shared Services Measures
New Jersey Senate Republicans attempted to force consideration of eight unfinished toolkit bills during Monday’s voting session, including those that dealt would greatly encourage shared services among towns and school districts. The bills were unanimously opposed by Senate Democrats when motions were made to consider them on the floor. In reference to shared services, the Democrats declined the GOP's motions to take up the following pieces of legislation:
S-2024 (Kyrillos)- Provides latitude to local government bodies to combine workforces/services
Goal: To encourage greater sharing of services among municipalities by easing workforce consolidation rules.
S-2025 (Kyrillos)- Requires executive county superintendents to expand sharing of services among school districts
Goal: To take advantage of cost saving opportunities between school districts by sharing certain services and functions where possible and appropriate.
For good measure, Senate Democrats also opposed considering legitimate Civil Service Reform:
S-2039 (Bateman)- Civil Service Reform/Local Opt Out
Goal: To provide meaningful civil service reform that affords local governing bodies greater layoff and furlough authority, as well as the opportunity to opt out of a system first conceived prior to modern collective bargaining and labor law employee protections.
S-2024 (Kyrillos)- Provides latitude to local government bodies to combine workforces/services
Goal: To encourage greater sharing of services among municipalities by easing workforce consolidation rules.
S-2025 (Kyrillos)- Requires executive county superintendents to expand sharing of services among school districts
Goal: To take advantage of cost saving opportunities between school districts by sharing certain services and functions where possible and appropriate.
For good measure, Senate Democrats also opposed considering legitimate Civil Service Reform:
S-2039 (Bateman)- Civil Service Reform/Local Opt Out
Goal: To provide meaningful civil service reform that affords local governing bodies greater layoff and furlough authority, as well as the opportunity to opt out of a system first conceived prior to modern collective bargaining and labor law employee protections.
Christmas & Terrain At Styer's: Perfection!
There is only one word to describe this place: "Enchanting!"
And at Christmas, well that word barely begins to describe this place. Everything is just more magical.
Terrain at Styer's is a Garden Center, Greenhouse Cafe, Home Decor Shop and Landscaping Service all combined in a beguiling atmosphere that soothes your jangled nerves and gives you hope for a aesthetically sensitive world.
Styer's likes to say that they've been bringing people and plants together since 1890 when Jacob Styer opened a flower stand alongside Route 1 in Philadelphia. Over the years Styer's has emerged as one of the country's most respected names in gardening with a 10 acre treasure trove of trees, shrubs, perennials and other plants. All of that is still intact.
But now, there is so much more.
Styer's has combined with Terrain to produce a one-stop destination that is a veritable year-round feast for the senses.
Terrain has picked through barns and bazaars to collect unique garden and home artifacts. Everyone promises unusual items but this place delivers. Their selection includes designs by American, European, and Asian artisans - things you will find nowhere else.
Of course the live plants and flowers defy description.
Right now Terrain at Styer's is a testament to understated Christmas beauty, proving that over the holidays less can truly be more. Simple, whimsical decorative items present the season of joy in a totally new light - calmer, purer and easier on the eyes.
And the cafe offers a simple lunch, brunch and dinner menu in a greenhouse atmosphere that is charming and nostalgic. Plus, a special Chef's Dinner is offered on the third Thursday of every month.
Here's the bottom line on this place: It simply must be experienced!
Christie Signs Arbitration Reform Measure
Fulfilling a critical element of his Reform Agenda, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed comprehensive arbitration reform legislation as part of a wider set of far-reaching reforms designed to curb property tax costs for hard-working New Jerseyans. The measure is the result of a bipartisan agreement reached on December 9 with legislative leadership to change the long-overdue interest arbitration reform process by providing municipalities with the tools they need to rein in property tax costs and live within their means.
“Trenton is demonstrating what can be done when we work together to find substantive solutions to the issues facing the hard-working taxpayers of our state,” said Governor Christie. “Working with Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, we are delivering meaningful and substantive reform to New Jerseyans, transforming the interest arbitration process and providing a long-term solution that will help local governments keep property taxes down and costs under control.
“Our work, however, is not done, and I urge the legislative leadership to keep the momentum going by acting on other critical pieces of the tool kit of reforms that will ultimately help to keep property taxes low. New Jerseyans can no longer afford inaction and delay which is why the legislature must move on real, comprehensive civil service reform as I have proposed, not a watered-down version,” concluded Governor Christie.
The civil service bill proposed by the legislature falls short by, among other things, not offering municipalities the option to opt-out of the antiquated and burdensome civil service requirements. As proposed by Governor Christie, arbitration and civil service reform get at the root of the problem faced by many local governments struggling to live within their means – ever-expanding operational costs.
Also awaiting legislative action is Governor Christie’s conditional veto of Senate Bill 2220, which would more effectively stop the abuse of sick and vacation benefits and prevent future use of sick days -- meant for employees who are sick -- as supplemental cash payouts for employees who already have generous pensions. Among improvements to the original bill, the conditional veto would phase out the practice of distributing cash payouts for sick days by prohibiting supplemental compensation for sick days that accumulate after the effective date of the legislation. It would also suspend supplemental compensation for any employee under indictment for a crime that involves or touches his or her public office and mandate the forfeiture of any supplemental compensation if convicted. The Governor continues to urge the legislature to act quickly to adopt the substantive changes in the conditional veto. The news release outlining the Governor’s conditional veto can be found HERE.
The bipartisan agreement signed into law mirrors Governor Christie’s call for a meaningful cap that matches the tax levy cap of 2.0. This 2 percent cap will be applied to all salary items, such as across the board and cost of living increases, step increment payments and longevity pay. In addition, there will be no additional exceptions for non-salary economic terms moving forward. The agreement also created a prohibition on allowing non-salary economic issues to be arbitrated above the cap, unless already included in an existing contract. This is an important provision because arbitrators will no longer be able to create new cost items in successor contracts.
The Christie Bipartisan Agreement on Interest Arbitration Reform:
· Provides a meaningful cap of 2 percent on arbitration awards that will be applied to all salary items, such as the cost of across the board and cost of living increases, step increment payments and longevity pay.
· Has no Exceptions for Additional Non-Salary Economic Terms Moving Forward. The agreement prevents arbitrators from awarding any new economic items moving forward. The agreement creates a prohibition on allowing non-salary economic issues to be arbitrated above the cap, unless already included in an existing contract. All salary items are subject to a maximum 2 percent cap. This is an important provision because arbitrators will no longer be able to create new cost items in successor contracts.
· Eliminates Accruing Labor Costs By Creating a Fast Track Arbitration Process. The agreement transforms the system by putting in place concrete deadlines to help eliminate delays in the arbitration process, from contract negotiation to the receipt of the actual award. Traditionally, once a contract expires, labor costs continue to mount until a new contact is reached. Enforcing deadlines and speeding up the process will ensure timely implementation of new contracts and the cap on interest arbitration awards. Effective January 1, 2011, there will be a concrete deadline of 45 days from the filing of a request for interest arbitration to the date of award, without any extensions. All appeals must be decided within 30 days, if arbitrators do not comply with the 45 day deadline, they will be penalized financially.
· Caps Arbitrator Pay. The agreement will cap arbitrator compensation at $1,000 per day and $7,500 per case. Capping arbitrator pay will further incentivize speedy resolution of arbitration cases.
· Increases Ethical Standards and Training for Interest Arbitrators.
· Randomizes the Selection of Interest Arbitrators.
The legislation also creates a Task Force to examine the impact of interest arbitration reform and the effectiveness of the cap on restricting municipal spending. The taskforce will study the impact of the cap on taxes, services, expenditures, public safety, recruitment, retention and professionalism. The Governor will directly appoint four members and two members will be directly appointed by the Senate President and Assembly Speaker. The Task Force will provide its recommendations no later than December 31, 2013. Since September, Governor Christie has been traveling the state to talk about the importance of enacting a tool kit of reforms to help local government leaders directly address cost drivers and manage within Cap 2.0 without adversely impacting core government services. Hundreds of mayors and local elected officials across political parties have voiced their support for the tool kit, and underscored the tool kit’s importance in helping them manage their local budgets.
“Trenton is demonstrating what can be done when we work together to find substantive solutions to the issues facing the hard-working taxpayers of our state,” said Governor Christie. “Working with Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, we are delivering meaningful and substantive reform to New Jerseyans, transforming the interest arbitration process and providing a long-term solution that will help local governments keep property taxes down and costs under control.
“Our work, however, is not done, and I urge the legislative leadership to keep the momentum going by acting on other critical pieces of the tool kit of reforms that will ultimately help to keep property taxes low. New Jerseyans can no longer afford inaction and delay which is why the legislature must move on real, comprehensive civil service reform as I have proposed, not a watered-down version,” concluded Governor Christie.
The civil service bill proposed by the legislature falls short by, among other things, not offering municipalities the option to opt-out of the antiquated and burdensome civil service requirements. As proposed by Governor Christie, arbitration and civil service reform get at the root of the problem faced by many local governments struggling to live within their means – ever-expanding operational costs.
Also awaiting legislative action is Governor Christie’s conditional veto of Senate Bill 2220, which would more effectively stop the abuse of sick and vacation benefits and prevent future use of sick days -- meant for employees who are sick -- as supplemental cash payouts for employees who already have generous pensions. Among improvements to the original bill, the conditional veto would phase out the practice of distributing cash payouts for sick days by prohibiting supplemental compensation for sick days that accumulate after the effective date of the legislation. It would also suspend supplemental compensation for any employee under indictment for a crime that involves or touches his or her public office and mandate the forfeiture of any supplemental compensation if convicted. The Governor continues to urge the legislature to act quickly to adopt the substantive changes in the conditional veto. The news release outlining the Governor’s conditional veto can be found HERE.
The bipartisan agreement signed into law mirrors Governor Christie’s call for a meaningful cap that matches the tax levy cap of 2.0. This 2 percent cap will be applied to all salary items, such as across the board and cost of living increases, step increment payments and longevity pay. In addition, there will be no additional exceptions for non-salary economic terms moving forward. The agreement also created a prohibition on allowing non-salary economic issues to be arbitrated above the cap, unless already included in an existing contract. This is an important provision because arbitrators will no longer be able to create new cost items in successor contracts.
The Christie Bipartisan Agreement on Interest Arbitration Reform:
· Provides a meaningful cap of 2 percent on arbitration awards that will be applied to all salary items, such as the cost of across the board and cost of living increases, step increment payments and longevity pay.
· Has no Exceptions for Additional Non-Salary Economic Terms Moving Forward. The agreement prevents arbitrators from awarding any new economic items moving forward. The agreement creates a prohibition on allowing non-salary economic issues to be arbitrated above the cap, unless already included in an existing contract. All salary items are subject to a maximum 2 percent cap. This is an important provision because arbitrators will no longer be able to create new cost items in successor contracts.
· Eliminates Accruing Labor Costs By Creating a Fast Track Arbitration Process. The agreement transforms the system by putting in place concrete deadlines to help eliminate delays in the arbitration process, from contract negotiation to the receipt of the actual award. Traditionally, once a contract expires, labor costs continue to mount until a new contact is reached. Enforcing deadlines and speeding up the process will ensure timely implementation of new contracts and the cap on interest arbitration awards. Effective January 1, 2011, there will be a concrete deadline of 45 days from the filing of a request for interest arbitration to the date of award, without any extensions. All appeals must be decided within 30 days, if arbitrators do not comply with the 45 day deadline, they will be penalized financially.
· Caps Arbitrator Pay. The agreement will cap arbitrator compensation at $1,000 per day and $7,500 per case. Capping arbitrator pay will further incentivize speedy resolution of arbitration cases.
· Increases Ethical Standards and Training for Interest Arbitrators.
· Randomizes the Selection of Interest Arbitrators.
The legislation also creates a Task Force to examine the impact of interest arbitration reform and the effectiveness of the cap on restricting municipal spending. The taskforce will study the impact of the cap on taxes, services, expenditures, public safety, recruitment, retention and professionalism. The Governor will directly appoint four members and two members will be directly appointed by the Senate President and Assembly Speaker. The Task Force will provide its recommendations no later than December 31, 2013. Since September, Governor Christie has been traveling the state to talk about the importance of enacting a tool kit of reforms to help local government leaders directly address cost drivers and manage within Cap 2.0 without adversely impacting core government services. Hundreds of mayors and local elected officials across political parties have voiced their support for the tool kit, and underscored the tool kit’s importance in helping them manage their local budgets.
Cherry Hill Leads Way In Services Consolidation
In October, Cherry Hill (NJ) put a landmark joint-purchasing agreement out into the marketplace that included five separate government entities and encompassed more than 45,000 homes. Now, the results are in, and the Township, Gloucester Township, Merchantville Borough, the Cherry Hill School District and the Cherry Hill Fire Department have realized a savings of about 10 percent across the board on their trash services – a clear victory for shared-services and for the taxpayer.
“Our message was clear: We went out to the marketplace and told these contractors to sharpen their pencils to get our collective business,” Mayor Bernie Platt said. “Acting as a single entity, we were able to leverage economies of scale to realize a substantial savings over the course of this new contract.”
“There is no question in my mind that this shared-service experiment was a success; we’ve secured the absolute best price for the taxpayer,” Platt added.
This was the largest residential solid waste and recyclable materials collection pickup and disposal bid in South Jersey, and just the latest example of Cherry Hill working with other government agencies to share services and consolidate costs. Currently, the Township has existing shared service agreements with Merchantville, Haddonfield, Gloucester Township, the Cherry Hill Schools, and Camden County.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Bishop Strips Phoenix Hospital Of 'Catholic' Standing
Statement of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
Diocese of Phoenix
December 21, 2010
Jesus says (Cf. Mt 25:40), “Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.”
Authentic Catholic care in the institutions of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) in the Diocese of Phoenix has been a topic of discussion between CHW and me from the time of our initial meeting nearly seven years ago.
At that first meeting, I learned that CHW already did not comply with the ethical teachings of the Church at Chandler Regional Hospital. The moral guide for Hospitals and Healthcare Institutions is spelled out in what are called the Ethical and Religious Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. I objected strongly to CHW’s lack of compliance with these directives, and told CHW leaders that this constituted cooperation in evil that must be corrected; because if a healthcare entity wishes to call itself Catholic (as in “Catholic” Healthcare West), it needs to adhere to the teachings of the Church in all of its institutions. In all my seven years as Bishop of Phoenix, I have continued to insist that this scandalous situation needed to change; sadly, over the course of these years, CHW has chosen not to comply. . . .
Let me explain.
CHW and St. Joseph’s Hospital, as part of what is called “Mercy Care Plan”, have been formally cooperating with a number of medical procedures that are contrary to the ERDs, for many years. I was never made aware of this fact until the last few weeks. Here are some of the things which CHW has been formally responsible for throughout these years:
• Contraceptive counseling, medications, supplies and associated medical and laboratory examinations, including, but not limited to, oral and injectable contraceptives, intrauterine devices, diaphragms, condoms, foams and suppositories;
• Voluntary sterilization (male and female); and
• Abortions due to the mental or physical health of the mother or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
This information was given to me in a meeting which included an administrator of St. Joseph’s Hospital who admitted that St. Joseph’s and CHW are aware that this plan consists in formal cooperation in evil actions which are contrary to Church teaching. The Mercy Care Plan has been in existence for 26 years, includes some 368,000 members, and its 2010 revenues will reach nearly $2 billion. CHW and St. Joseph’s Hospital have made more than a hundred million dollars every year from this partnership with the government.
In light of all these failures to comply with the Ethical and Religious Directives of the Church, it is my duty to decree that, in the Diocese of Phoenix, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, CHW is not committed to following the teaching of the Catholic Church and therefore this hospital cannot be considered Catholic.
The Catholic faithful are free to seek care or to offer care at St. Joseph’s Hospital but I cannot guarantee that the care provided will be in full accord with the teachings of the Church. In addition, other measures will be taken to avoid the impression that the hospital is authentically Catholic, such as the prohibition of celebrating Mass at the hospital and the prohibition of reserving the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel.
For seven years now, I have tried to work with CHW and St. Joseph’s, and I have hoped and prayed that this day would not come, that this decree would not be needed; however, the faithful of the Diocese have a right to know whether institutions of this importance are indeed Catholic in identity and practice.
Click here for more on this story.
Santa To Be Outlawed Under 'Little Billy's Law'
I'm officially proposing "Little Billy's Law" to outlaw Santa Claus.
And I'm looking for sponsors in key states to get things rolling.
Here's why: Little Billy is frightened. He's afraid of Santa Claus.
Little Billy has heard that Santa has taken an unnatural interest in him. He's been told that he "better watch out" for Santa because Santa "knows when he is sleeping and knows when he's awake" and that frightens little Billy.
Little Billy is an aware, sensitive kid.
And he understands when somebody is trying to entice him and/or frighten him or bully him. He also knows that he must watch out for other children as well. In fact, we must all watch out for one another and collectively, the state must watch out for all of us. Little Billy's enlightened and compassionate parents have taught him all this.
He and his parents know and understand that Santa is clearly using toys to entice children to consume unhealthy items like candy canes, sugar cookies and hot chocolate.They also know that Santa may be pushing inappropriate and/or needlessly violent or dangerous toys.
So, to protect the little children all over America, we must act quickly.
In fact, we must act now.
Will you join me to help enact "Little Billy's Law"?
I assure you: The world will be a better, safer, happier place if we succeed. Trust me.
And I'm looking for sponsors in key states to get things rolling.
Here's why: Little Billy is frightened. He's afraid of Santa Claus.
Little Billy has heard that Santa has taken an unnatural interest in him. He's been told that he "better watch out" for Santa because Santa "knows when he is sleeping and knows when he's awake" and that frightens little Billy.
Little Billy is an aware, sensitive kid.
And he understands when somebody is trying to entice him and/or frighten him or bully him. He also knows that he must watch out for other children as well. In fact, we must all watch out for one another and collectively, the state must watch out for all of us. Little Billy's enlightened and compassionate parents have taught him all this.
He and his parents know and understand that Santa is clearly using toys to entice children to consume unhealthy items like candy canes, sugar cookies and hot chocolate.They also know that Santa may be pushing inappropriate and/or needlessly violent or dangerous toys.
So, to protect the little children all over America, we must act quickly.
In fact, we must act now.
Will you join me to help enact "Little Billy's Law"?
I assure you: The world will be a better, safer, happier place if we succeed. Trust me.
Christmas 'Sweater Club' HS Students Punished
It's come to this: Some students in Manassas, Virginia who formed a high school Christmas Sweater Club have been punished by there school.
WUSA 9 News in Manassas reports as follows:
Click here to read the whole story and view a video of the Christmas Sweater Club.
WUSA 9 News in Manassas reports as follows:
They call themselves the "Christmas Sweater Club" because they wear the craziest ones they can find. They also sing Christmas songs at school and try their best to spread Christmas cheer. Now all 10 of them are in trouble because of what they did at their school.Basically, these were just a bunch of young guys trying to have some fun.
"They said, 'maliciously maim students with the intent to injure.' And I don't think any of us here intentionally meant to injure anyone, or did," said Zakk Rhine, a junior at Battlefield High School.
The boys say they were just tossing small two-inch candy canes to fellow students as they entered school. The ones in plastic wrap that are so small they often break apart.
Click here to read the whole story and view a video of the Christmas Sweater Club.
What's So 'Offensive' About Christmas
A reader (Joe Welsh of Haddonfield) placed a letter in the Courier-Post today that makes a lot of sense when it comes to the whole issue of Christmas in today's "politically correct" environment.
Here's part of what he had to say:To read the rest of this fine letter, click here.
When people say "happy holidays," it seems logical and appropriate for Thanksgiving and New Year's celebrations, but what exactly are they celebrating on Christmas Day? Do they know or are they embarrassed and just trying not to make waves and to be politically correct?
I also wonder why songs for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Santa are sung in public schools to the exclusion of traditional Christmas carols? Don't any Christians go to public schools? This movement begs the question: How long will the words "under God" remain in the Pledge of Allegiance, or "In God We Trust" stay on our money?
This not only attacks religion, it attacks the U.S. Constitution at its core. It should be noted that nowhere in the constitution is religion excluded and more than 85 percent of Americans are Christians of many, many denominations.
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