Is anyone else outraged?

How many of you out there working in the private sector (otherwise known as "the real world") have 100 percent of your health insurance costs paid by your employer, and will get the same deal after you retire?

State employees have got it pretty good. That's a ridiculous understatement, and that's the #1 reason taxes in New Jersey are among the highest in the country. The biggest costs for most businesses, including the state, are people costs, salaries and benefits.

This year, Gov. Corzine asked state workers to "give something back" (in other words, take 98.5 percent from taxpayers instead of 100 percent) in the form of contributing 1.5 percent toward the cost of their health insurance.

Great. Well, it's a start. That small amount - because of the out-of-control bureaucracy we have in New Jersey - will save taxpayers an estimated $100 million a year.

But, wait.

Gov. Corzine couldn't do that to his old gal pal. What horrible working conditions! What a hardship! Carla can't take that back to the union.

Enter the loophole. Yesterday the governor signed a change to the health care contribution deal that will allow any current or retired state worker to get out of paying the 1.5 percent if they agree to enroll in a vaguely defined "health program" that focuses on getting people to "live healthier," such as quitting smoking, exercising and joining a health club.

So, guess what?

We could be giving back some to all of that $100 million in savings, depending on how many state workers agree to do a few pushups each morning.

Only in New Jersey.

Is anyone else outraged?

How many of you out there working in the private sector (otherwise known as "the real world") have 100 percent of your health insurance costs paid by your employer, and will get the same deal after you retire?

State employees have got it pretty good. That's a ridiculous understatement, and that's the #1 reason taxes in New Jersey are among the highest in the country. The biggest costs for most businesses, including the state, are people costs, salaries and benefits.

This year, Gov. Corzine asked state workers to "give something back" (in other words, take 98.5 percent from taxpayers instead of 100 percent) in the form of contributing 1.5 percent toward the cost of their health insurance.

Great. Well, it's a start. That small amount - because of the out-of-control bureaucracy we have in New Jersey - will save taxpayers an estimated $100 million a year.

But, wait.

Gov. Corzine couldn't do that to his old gal pal. What horrible working conditions! What a hardship! Carla can't take that back to the union.

Enter the loophole. Yesterday the governor signed a change to the health care contribution deal that will allow any current or retired state worker to get out of paying the 1.5 percent if they agree to enroll in a vaguely defined "health program" that focuses on getting people to "live healthier," such as quitting smoking, exercising and joining a health club.

So, guess what?

We could be giving back some to all of that $100 million in savings, depending on how many state workers agree to do a few pushups each morning.

Only in New Jersey.