Blast From the Past

Chris Christie is proposing changes to health benefits and pensions for teachers and other public workers that will raise the retirement age, slash pension payments, and hike employee health care costs to a level where teachers will effectively take a 7% pay cut.

Christie promises these reforms will fix the pension crisis. Should we take him at his word?

Well, here's what he said in October of 2009 during his campaign for governor:

I will protect your pensions. Nothing about your pension is going to change when I am governor. In fact, in order to ensure your retirement savings are safe, I believe we must prioritize the protection of pension fund dollars and investigate the cause of Jon Corzine’s large investment losses to our pension system. Currently there is a $34 billion deficit in the State’s pension fund, which threatens the retirement and lifeline of so many teachers. We must do better for our teachers, future teachers and retirees. As Governor, I will work to close unfunded liabilities and make sure our state lives up to its promises, unlike Jon Corzine. I will not raid your pension fund to cover budgetary shortfalls like previous governors of both parties have done. One of the changes I will bring to Trenton is responsible management, investment, and oversight of state pension dollars.

He knew there was a huge pension liability. He knew we were in a recession. He knew the state hadn't paid into the pensions for years. And yet he still made that promise.

It's time to state it outright: Chris Christie is a liar. His word is worth less than nothing. None of his promises are to be trusted.