Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr. made a strong call for COLA, or Cost of Living Increases, to be the New Jersey State Legislature’s top priority, on Tuesday.
“The state’s public workers have had their cost-of-living pension increases suspended since 2011. In just the three years President Joe Biden has been in office, inflation has increased by nearly 20 percent. Our retirees are dealing with an untenable situation in a state that used to treat its public workers well,” Torrissi said.
“That’s why I’m calling on our legislature to come to the table, Republicans and Democrats, and make restoring COLA the top priority for the rest of the year and into 2025,” Torrissi continued.
Cost of living increases to New Jersey pensioners were suspended in 2011 by then-Governor Chris Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney. The deal made by the Senate President and Governor also increased worker contribution rates and hiked the retirement age for public employees to receive a full pension.
State workers have been calling for its restoration and detailing their strenuous retirement situations ever since.
“When South Jersey Democrats partnered with the Governor to end cost of living increases, they left all public worker retirees stranded with an income that goes down as inflation goes up and up. I’ve heard from countless retirees who are struggling to afford their mortgage and stay in this state. It’s time to do right by our working class,” Torrissi said.
I’m an Independent voter. I appreciate any candidate whose interest in the theft* of part of our contractually agreed to delayed compensation (COLA) is sincere.
I am concerned that the reference to the Biden administration in what was a global post COVID inflationary event suggests your interest is politics and not our economic plight, which is very real. I’d dearly like to be reassured you intend to actually push this as a bipartisan initiative as it’s going to take votes on both sides of the aisle to correct this failure to be fair with those of us who made our careers the service of the people of New Jersey.
I do, sincerely, have grafitude of any genuine concern.
* Informational,…
Dear Assemblyman Michael Torriissi,
I’ve made a career working for the Ststd Of New Jersey, Division of State Police. I loved all the different aspects of my job. I worked for 31+ years, but when it was my time to retire, I retired, and never planned on working again. Promises were made by the State of New Jersey that would have enabled me to retire fully, without any Social Security benefits. as Troopers never paid into it. My wife and I were fine, and able to live comfortable within reason. We live in the same house that we purchased 58 years ago. We drive a Honda car. We don’t have any summer or winter homes. Lately, we are really feeling…