Teacher's union says it will push for pension payment from Christie at budget hearing

An official with the state's largest teachers union says it will continue to press Gov. Chris Christie to make a court-ordered $1.6 billion payment into New Jersey's public pension system.

New Jersey Education Association secretary-treasurer Sean Spiller spoke Tuesday in Paramus outside a state Senate hearing on Christie's proposed $33.8 billion budget. Spiller says the obligation must be met.

A judge ruled last month that Christie and the Legislature need to work together to make the pension payment that they agreed upon in 2011.

Christie's budget calls for making a $1.3 billion payment.

Spiller says the union will look at other options because of the tight budget conditions. He says making the payment is "Plan A," but did not specify what other plans the union could accept.