Jack Ciattarelli Campaigned on Ending Pensions, Healthcare for Retirees

When Jack Ciattarelli first announced his bid for New Jersey governor in October 2016, he made public worker benefits reform a centerpiece of his platform. In his launch speech, Ciattarelli outlined proposals that would have sharply reduced retirement security for public worker

He called for eliminating post-retirement health coverage for anyone whose pension and Social Security income exceeded $50,000 annually, effectively stripping many middle-class retirees of the health plans they relied on — and potentially the doctors tied to those plans.

Ciattarelli also proposed phasing out the state’s traditional pension system by shifting all new hires and employees with less than ten years of service into 401(k)-style defined contribution accounts. At the same time, he vowed to end so-called “Cadillac” health insurance plans, echoing language from the Affordable Care Act.

Ciattarelli's proposals would have been sweeping, negatively impacting workers counting on pensions. The Republican candidate proposed switching workers to riskier retirement accounts, and retirees who had earned benefits through decades of service could be denied health coverage outright.

https://meidasnews.com/news/jack-ciattarelli-campaigned-on-ending-pensions-healthcare-for-retirees