Tough fiscal decisions still have to be made

More and more government workers are feeling effects of the recession that hit the rest of us in 2008.

The latest are in New Jersey, where 750,000 government workers and retirees have had their benefits rolled back by the governor and Legislature.

They will now have to contribute more to their health insurance and pension, forego cost-of-living increases in their pension checks and wait longer to retire.

The changes will save state and local governments $132 billion over the next 30 years, and, most importantly, keep in place a benefit system that was in danger of collapse.

Wisconsin voters are being asked to rewrite history through three recall elections related to the governor's move to bring the state budget into line by limiting collective bargaining rights of public workers.

Six Republican state senators are being targeted for supporting the governor; three Democratic state senators are targeted for fleeing the state to stall the measure.

Nebraska is in much better shape than most states, thanks to a long history of conservative government, but has seen some of the same disconnect between the financial condition of the average taxpayer and the workers whose salaries they pay.

While private sector workers get by with small or no raises and pay more and more for health insurance, some public employees pay nothing or nearly nothing for health insurance, and are given raises out of line with inflation.

It is difficult for those serving on local elected bodies to make hard choices affecting current or former co-workers, but that's what has to be done to keep government at all levels on a sound fiscal footing.