New Jersey Approves $750 Million in New Borrowing, Pension Reform for Judges

Both NJ ballot questions passed with significant majorities

Voting in New Jersey via e-mail apparently runs through Friday, but there aren't any close races left. The reliably Democratic state sent a delegation back to Congress that looks a lot like the last one. There were two ballot questions up for storm-struck residents; borrowing $750 million to fund construction at public and private colleges in the state (question 1), and changing the Constitution to allow lawmakers to force judges to contribute into their own pensions (question 2). Question 2 was spurred by the state Supreme Court earlier this year ruling lawmakers' attempt to reform their benefits package unconstitutional.  Judges were barred from campaigning on the issue, and the amendment passed with by a more than four-to-one margin. It was supported by Chris Christie and both Democratic and Republican legislators, so its passage is no surprise. Yet despite the state facing a fiscal emergency, borrowing money to help fuel the rise in tuition costs came as no surprise either. The $750 million in new borrowing, which passed with more than 60 percent of the vote, was backed by Christie and lawmakers from both parties.

Disclosure: I voted no on 1 and yes on 2