A controversial proposal backed by Governor Christie that would alter the state’s civil service system is stalled in a commission led by a Christie appointee. Neither the governor’s office nor the Civil Service Commission — which, Wednesday morning, passed on its second opportunity to enact the proposal — is commenting on why the changes aren’t moving forward. The proposal would create “job bands” – groups of jobs that would allow government workers to advance from one job within the band to another without taking a civil service test or competing with other prospective applicants. All 170,000 employees in New Jersey’s civil service system could potentially be affected. Christie insists he will enact the changes, which he says will make state government more efficient. The five-member Civil Service Commission, whose chairman was nominated to the post by Christie, must vote on the changes. But at a meeting Wednesday — its second since the proposal’s public comment period ended in May — the proposal did not come up. A commission spokesman and representatives of Christie did not respond to requests for comment. Democrats and unions, who argue the proposal would open the door to political cronyism and effectively eliminate promotion preferences given to veterans, are trying to block the changes legislatively. The Assembly passed a resolution earlier this week, and the state Senate is scheduled to take up the measure on Thursday. A resolution that passed the Assembly on Monday declares the changes are “not consistent with the legislative intent” behind various provisions of the current civil service law. It passed along party lines in a 46 to 32 vote. The resolution relies on a rarely invoked provision in the state constitution that allows the Legislature to scuttle an administrative rule — such as the job banding proposal — that “is not consistent with legislative intent.” If the resolution also passes the state Senate, the Christie administration will have 30 days to amend or withdraw the proposal. If it does not, the Legislature can then vote to invalidate the changes.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 01:09:40 +0000
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