Christie Forces Unfair Civil Service Overhaul

Even though the New Jersey state legislature blocked changes to the civil service system that would lead to patronage and cronyism, Gov. Chris Christie (R) has pushed through the new rules anyway.

Last week, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission voted to set up the new regulations on how state workers are hired, promoted and fired, ignoring the legislature's resolution that prohibited the alternations because they violate New Jersey's constitution.

This week, New Jersey's top Democratic state lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Chris Christie and the chairman of the state Civil Service Commission calling on them to stop the controversial changes to the rules.

CWA, which represents 40,000 state workers, is considering legal recourse. Seth Hahn, CWA's New Jersey political and legislative director, said, "it is inconceivable that the Christie administration is granting itself permission to promote anyone it wants, while getting rid of oversight and objective standards for fairness."

He added, "If we've learned anything over the past several months, it's that we need more oversight and more transparency and less political influence in jobs and promotions in state government."

Bullies like Christie think they can get what they want. But the people won't accept this kind of government.