“they don’t realize that they’re sticking it to the consumer”
Yes, they do.
I don’t think the libs running these states understand how widely perceived it is that they are sticking it to individual taxpayers as well; add NJ to the list of states where young American workers are evacuating, following the employers away from the burdensome costs.
The sense of entitlement by our public employees is stunning, and the financial disconnect between them and the little people that pay them is widening daily. Our public employee caste is our new upper middle class, replacing the upper middle class they chased out when they burdened employers too much.