Free Republic

NJ.com is reporting Gov. Chris Christie is proposing a package of legislation Monday that would place a permanent 2.5 percent limit on annual raises for public workers. Affecting police, firefighters and teachers, the proposal would allow towns to discard civil service rules governing employee hiring and firing, the report said. Further, the 33-bill package would direct administration officials to study raising the retirement age, reviewing contributions to health benefits and pensions, and keeping new hires out of the pension system, the report said.