You asked for solutions.  You got it.

State Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, joined me on air to discuss how her bill will get the ball rolling on negotiations regarding the state's rising health care costs.

The first part of her plan will save the taxpayers $1 billion for state worker plans and another $2.7 billion for local plans including teachers.

It's as simple as taking the current "Platinum" plans offered to public workers that cost an average of $40,000 a year per worker and creating an option that will lower the average cost to less than $30,000.

The challenge facing state and local workers is that the 2011 compromise between  Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney left workers with a cap on compensation without allowing for an increasing cost in health benefits.  Jennifer Beck's bill will change that and free up billions for tax relief and road construction.

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