NJ gov signs bill reining in employee benefits

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday signed landmark employee benefits legislation that increases pension and health contributions paid by a half-million teachers, police and other public workers and removes the issue from collective bargaining for four years.

Christie said the benefits have been more generous than the state can afford and need to be scaled back. The latest actuary figures show the pension and health care systems $110 billion short of their eventual liabilities.

The Republican governor said the legislation achieves two main goals: helping New Jersey taxpayers and ensuring that health and retirement benefits are still secure for public …