Asks for Help Solving State Pension Issue

To the Editor: 
For over 20 years, state workers have trusted governors, legislators, and courts to do the “fair” thing when it came to honoring the financial agreement that was promised them regarding their pension fund. At one time or another, all of these entities failed to honor their promise to keep the state worker pension fund solvent.
It is now time for me, as a state employee, to ask my real employer, you, the citizens of New Jersey, to help solve this pension issue once and for all.
The good people of this state have heard about and read about the inadequate funding of the pension fund for over two decades. It was not the taxpayers who created this problem. The people of N.J. paid their taxes, and they paid a lot of taxes. It was not their fault that tax money was not put into the state employee pension fund. It certainly was not their fault that “binding” promises were routinely broken.
New Jersey citizens, however, know the importance of a promise made, whether by a handshake, gentleman’s agreement, or formal contract (or law). When someone who lives in this state gives their word, it is their bond! We pride ourselves on this trait. The fair people of N.J. understand that lives can be ruined, and hopes and dreams can be permanently altered when promises are not kept.
The state employee pension fund was a financial promise that was shortchanged. That has never been the fault of the taxpayers. So why now would a state employee like myself ask the taxpayers of N.J. to help right this pension fund ship? Simply put, there is no one else who can be trusted to fix this problem in a fair manner.
The problem should have never come to the point of state employees having to ask the citizens of N.J. to pass a dedicated pension funding Constitutional Amendment. But that is what will occur in November 2016. This amendment will bypass all of those groups who broke previous pension funding promises. The request for funding will be brought directly to the people of N.J. This amendment will not “fix” the fund in one year, but it will stabilize the fund and begin the slow, steady process of fulfilling a promise.
I want to thank Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3rd) for having the courage to take this issue out of the world of politics and placing it in the hands of the voters. As a state employee, I am relieved to know that once this amendment gets on the ballot then the funding of the pension fund will be decided by the fair citizens of this great state. I am confident that my fellow residents will look upon this amendment as a way to right a past wrong. I know they will give it a fair reading. You, the people of New Jersey, not the governor, elected or appointed politicians, or judges will make the decision.
I hope that the citizens will support this amendment and I am ready to place my full trust in their judgement.