A Pew Center on the States report issued this week said New Jersey was in the eighth-worst fiscal condition in the nation. While the report said the root cause of most states’ fiscal troubles was the economic downturn, it indicated New Jersey was a victim of “years of fiscal mismanagement (that) have resulted in soaring debt and a persistent imbalance between what the state collects and what it spends.”

Christie’s advisers this week said he expects to tackle the state employee contract issues before he takes office Jan. 19. That’s good to hear. But Christie shouldn’t zero in on just state employees. Other public employee contracts — teachers, police and fire, county and independent authorities — should be subject to the same kind of scrutiny.

The Asbury Park Press urges Christie to exert some checks and balances on all public employee contracts, including teachers.