BENEFITS REFORM PANEL TO TAKE TESTIMONY FROM PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF MURPHY REPORT WEDNESDAY

(TRENTON) - The Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform will take testimony from Philip D. Murphy, Chairman of the Governor's Benefits Review Task Force, on Wednesday.JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REFORM

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR RELEASE:
October 24, 2006

CONTACT:
Senator Scutari
Press Office
(609) 292-5215
Assemblywoman Pou
Press Office
(609) 292-7065

BENEFITS REFORM PANEL TO TAKE TESTIMONY FROM PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF MURPHY REPORT WEDNESDAY

(TRENTON) - The Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform will take testimony from Philip D. Murphy, Chairman of the Governor's Benefits Review Task Force, on Wednesday.

The task force issued a report in December of 2005 - colloquially known as "The Murphy Report" - which was used by the joint committee as a basis for discussion and analysis of state pensions and benefits as they relate to the property tax problem.

"The Murphy Report has proved an invaluable guide during our exploration of the state's pensions and benefits systems and how they affect our property taxes," said Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Middlesex), one of the co-chairs of the joint committee. "Chairman Murphy's testimony tomorrow should prove equally invaluable."

"Tomorrow's testimony from Chairman Murphy will help to shed new light on some lingering questions and concerns facing this joint committee as we enter the final few weeks of our special session," said Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-Passaic), the committee's other co-chair. "His input is a necessary part of our review of the pensions and benefits systems and will help guide our committee as we begin to prepare recommendations for reform."

The joint committee will meet 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 25, in Committee Room 4, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton.

For information on the special session, please visit: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/PropertyTaxSession/specialsessionpt.asp.
--30--