Pensions

• Illinois Looking to Stop Outsider Access to Pension System
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Illinois   |   May 7, 2013
• No longer just concerned with saving the state's underfunded pension system money, reform efforts now seek to stop allowing interlopers who aren't state workers into the taxpayer-supported retirement systems.
• 1 Comments

• Florida Pension Reform Bill Fails
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   May 1, 2013
• A pension reform bill that would have moved new state workers and teachers into a 401K plan and blocked them from enrolling in the state pension system, failed in the Florida senate. Several Republicans joined the Democratic minority to defeat the measure 22-18.
• 1 Comments

• Retiree Health-Care Benefits: The Next Shoe to Drop?
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   April 22, 2013
• The rising cost of health care for retirees may force states and localities to make wholesale changes to their pension health plans.
• 6 Comments

• Has Pension Reform Gone Too Far?
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   April 19, 2013
• Faced with growing pension gaps, states and localities in recent years have reacted with sweeping reforms.
• 11 Comments

• Public Workers, Secret Pensions
• BY: Charles Chieppo   |   April 18, 2013
• Under an unusual arrangement dating back to 1948, information about the Boston-area transit agency's pension system doesn't have to be made public. That may soon change, and it ought to.
• 3 Comments

• Moody's New Rules May Mean More Downgrades
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   Nation   |   April 17, 2013
• Moody’s Investors Service announced its highly anticipated new ratings rules, which could result in downgrades for dozens of cities and school districts.
• 1 Comments

• Christie Vetoes Union Labor Bill
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   April 17, 2013
• Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have allowed towns to hire all-union workers to rebuild key pieces of infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Sandy under project labor agreements.

• Unions Seek New Ways to Combat Declining Membership
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   April 15, 2013
• No longer in denial about its dwindling numbers and diminished political power, organized labor unions are exploring new, potentially risky approaches for growing their memberships.
• 6 Comments

• New Jersey's 2011 Pension Reform Spurs Savings
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   April 15, 2013
• While local pension costs will grow in the new state budget, the bill would be $540 million higher without reforms that forced public employees to pick up a greater share of the pension costs and stopped cost of living adjustment for retirees.
• 1 Comments

• Fitch: Kentucky's Pension Reform Still Has Uncertainty
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   Kentucky   |   April 12, 2013
• Kentucky’s pension reform signed into law this month marks a positive step but should not be heralded as a cure-all to the state’s massive underfunding problem, a major ratings agency said Friday.
• 1 Comments

• Is a Lieutenant Governor Necessary? Illinois Doesn't Think So.
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   April 12, 2013
• The Illinois House approved a measure that would ask voters whether to eliminate the job of lieutenant governor. The bill's sponsor says the job is a "luxury" that the cash-strapped state cannot afford.
• 2 Comments

• Tennessee Forcing Its IT Workers to Re-Apply for Their Jobs
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 11, 2013
• Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration is forcing 1,600 information technology workers across state government to re-apply for their jobs in an effort to screen out those who can’t master the skills of a rapidly changing field.

• Washington Targets Veterans for State Employment
• BY: Heather Kerrigan   |   April 10, 2013
• As troops begin returning home from Afghanistan, states are looking for ways to reduce veterans' high unemployment rate. Washington state wants to hire them.
• 2 Comments

• Sen. Sweeney Calls for 4th Rutgers Official to Resign over Mike Rice Video
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   April 10, 2013
• New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney sent Rutgers officials a letter asking for the resignation of board member Mark Hershhorn, who failed to notify other members after he viewed the video of basketball coach Mike Rice abusing his players in December.