NJ Assembly Panel Halts Salary Hike Bill

A bill giving pay raises to members of Gov. Chris Christie's cabinet and tweaking the pension law to benefit some elected officials has stalled.
 
The bill scheduled to be fast-tracked through the Legislature this week was held by the Assembly Budget Committee on Monday.
 
Assemblyman Gary Schaer, the budget committee chair, gave no reason for postponing the bill.

The Senate plans to hold a public hearing and final vote on the bill in a single day -- Thursday.
 
A draft of the bill obtained by The Associated Press shows proposed raises for Christie's top staff of up to $34,000 at the governor's discretion.
 
The measure also reverses a pension change that kept some government officials from remaining in the state retirement system after changing jobs.