sues, we are providing a sustainable future for our pension and health benefit system, saving New Jersey taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and securing a fiscally responsible future for our state." Sweeney and Oliver, also a Democrat, struck a deal with Christie and GOP legislative leaders to advance the bill. They rejected repeated calls from union leaders and Democrats to split the bill and force the governor to negotiate health care with the largest public worker union, the Communications Workers of America, whose contract expires June 30. "You've made the governor not do his job," said Adam Liebtag a Communications Workers of America local president. An amendment relaxing a potential deal-killer — a provision restricting public workers' access to out-of-state medical care unless similar care wasn't available in-state — was approved in the Senate, 24-14. The change instructs new health care boards to create insurance plans that include only in-state providers, as well as options that include coverage for out-of-state providers. Employees could choose the plan they want, but more extensive benefits would cost more. Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono was among many to question the effectiveness of the last-minute change. "I don't think there is any physician that would knowingly sign this certification," she said. "It doesn't need to be watered down. It doesn't need to be amended. It needs to be stricken." The employee benefits legislation requires a half-million teachers, police, firefighters and other public workers to pay a portion of their health insurance premiums based on income. Pension contributions would also rise, by 1 percent immediately, and by an additional percent or more after a seven-year phase-in. Automatic cost-of-living increases on pensions would disappear, for now. The average New Jersey public worker — who earns $60,000 and contributes $900 toward health care — would see their yearly health care costs rise to $2,056 for single coverage or $3,230 for a family plan, after a four-year phase-in. The legislation is intended to shore up underfunded retirement systems, which are short of eventual liabilities by a combined $110 billion. Bill Dressel, the head of New Jersey's League of Municipalities, told lawmakers the state's unfunded pension liability is "a ticking time bomb" that they now have a chance to defuse. Sweeney estimates the pension savings at $120 billion over 30 years and the health care savings at $3 billion over 10 years. However, the law contains a sunset provision that allows collective bargaining to resume over health care in four years. A Treasury official testified last week that the health care portion of the bill would save $10 million the first year, not the $323 million Christie's budget anticipates. Public-sector unions remain vehemently opposed to the legislation, in part, because it limits collective bargaining over health care. They also say the bill does nothing to contain health care costs, like encouraging bulk purchasing, and is being steam-rolled through the Legislature. Hundreds turned out at the Capitol on Monday for another day of protests that started with a march across the Delaware River into Trenton. "You can spin this legislation any way y