The moment of truth arrives for State lawmakers Monday, when the House and Senate had to pass their versions of a budget for the coming year.
The choice is clear: staying with Governor Cuomo in support of reasonable cost reduction on future civil servants pension benefits — and save taxpayers $ 113 billion for the next 30 years.
Or stay with the trade unions of civil servants who are filibustering reform — and squalor of the State and the city to the growing piles of bills they can't afford.
So far, House Democrats are on the wrong side of the issue, with Speaker Sheldon Silver saying retired corrections, if any, should be negotiations with labor leaders who oppose the whole concept. He showed signs of coming around on Friday when he leaned on unions to stop their ads antiriformiste.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and its Republicans, meanwhile, are promising at least some reform. We'll see if it measures.
Fortunately, Cuomo holds the trump card. If he and the legislature did not come to terms, by the deadline of 31 March budget, he can put in a pension law changes temporary spending necessary to maintain the functioning of the State.
Lawmakers would have to choose between doing the right thing and shutting down the Government.
Cuomo is a weapon does not hesitate to use, because — unlike the propaganda of the Union — its proposals are required fiscal medicine. Also unlike the hue and cry of opponents, pension reform will slash benefits to every worker.
What would Cuomo — for future hires only — is offering reduced pensions but still very generous.
These workers would be retired to 62 or 65 instead of 55. Overtime is no longer included in calculating their benefits. And pensions would be the 50% of their final salary instead of 60%.
Cuomo would also give new workers the voluntary option of a personal savings plan — similar to a 401 (k) — instead of an old fashioned. Choice: what a radical concept.
Organized labor is still spending millions to portray this belt-tightening long-term as a belt to assemble on the middle class. Later there are proposals would hurt Cuomo's retirees and current employees to divert resources from the pension funds.
Cuomo nor anyone else could reduce retirement benefits, even if they wanted to. They are protected in the State Constitution.
Pension costs are breaking the back of State and local governments — tax hikes, triggering service cuts and layoffs.
Cuomo is determined to do something about it. The only question is whether he has a partner in legislature.
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