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Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop at the opening of a new middle school on Ninth Street in Jersey City on Sept. 17, 2015. Terrence T. McDOnald | The Jersey Journal
JERSEY CITY -- Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and Mayor Steve Fulop today defended former Gov. Jim McGreevey, one day after The Jersey Journal reported on McGreevey's four-month stint as a county attorney that led to lifetime health benefits paid for by county taxpayers.
McGreevey has worked for various public entities for nearly 27 years, DeGise and Fulop, both Democrats, noted to The Jersey Journal today. But the two men advocated for system-wide changes to how retirement health benefits are awarded
"At the end of the day, 25 years in public service ... is the general threshold," Fulop said. "The entire system should be changed as this really isn't about one person but a systematic issue."
DeGise said he believes public workers should receive credits from each public agency they work for so that when they retire, all the agencies help to pay for their health benefits.
Readers have expressed outrage that McGreevey, 58, landed a job with Hudson County as an attorney in late March and retired effective Aug. 1 with county-paid health benefits. DeGise today said he "can understand" local taxpayers' anger.
POLL: Should Hudson County have minimum service time to earn lifetime benefits?
McGreevey began receiving his $66,837 pension last week. He accrued pension credits as a prosecutor, state parole board director, Woodbridge mayor, state legislator, governor and Jersey City official.
Hudson County is paying for his retirement health benefits because it is the final public agency he worked for.
The former governor makes $115,000 running the autonomous Jersey City Employment & Training Program.
Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.