• Fat Cat Public Retirees? Think Again.
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   January 30, 2013
• Some say one of the biggest misconceptions about public retirees is that pensions are making people rich.
• 56 Comments

• New York Gov. Cuomo's Pension Proposal Puzzling
• BY: Jonathan Walters   |   January 29, 2013
• Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to let municipalities short their pension payments for the next quarter century uses fuzzy math, writes Governing's Jonathan Walters.
• 3 Comments

• Bucking Trend, Traditional Pensions Back in Discussion in Alaska
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   Alaska   |   January 25, 2013
• A bill before the Alaska legislature would put defined benefits for state employees back in play after pension reform in the state cut out the option.
• 2 Comments

• Wisconsin's Controversial Collective Bargaining Law Upheld
• Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel   |   Wisconsin   |   January 22, 2013
• A federal court of appeals upheld Wisconsin's law repealing most collective bargaining for most public employees, handing a victory to Gov. Scott Walker and his fellow Republicans who put the law in place amid tumult two years ago.

• Rahm Emanuel Urges Cities to Divert Pension Funds from Gun Makers
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Chicago   |   January 21, 2013
• Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he was asking all city pension funds -- and mayors across the country -- to examine whether they have investments in assault weapons manufacturers and sellers as the first step toward getting them to divest any such holdings.
• 1 Comments

• L.A. Mayor Asks Pension Boards to End Gun-Firm Investments
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Los Angeles   |   January 17, 2013
• Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said that he has asked the city's three pension funds to review all investments and work to end those in companies that manufacture assault weapons.
• 1 Comments

• Illinois' Credit Rating Takes a Hit After Pension Reform Fails
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   January 14, 2013
• The state now has an outlook known as "rating watch negative," which could make it more expensive for the state to borrow money. Only California is below Illinois among states on this rating firm's list.

• Illinois' Pension Problem Punted to Next General Assembly
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   January 9, 2013
• State lawmakers bequeathed the government worker pension problem to the next General Assembly, rejecting Gov. Pat Quinn's roundly criticized "Hail Mary" plan to ask a committee to fix the worst-in-the-nation retirement system.

• The Hard Choices on Public Pensions
• BY: Charles Chieppo   |   January 7, 2013
• Rhode Island's capital city is addressing the fiscally crippling problems with its retirement system. Can Illinois find the political will to do the same?
• 6 Comments

• Illinois Pension Reform Talks Continue in House
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   January 7, 2013
• With time running short in the lame-duck session, state lawmakers on Sunday dropped hot-button issues dealing with guns and marijuana but kept alive hopes of reforming pensions.

• Georgia's Startup Investment from Pensions Falling Short of Expectations
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   January 2, 2013
• Six months after Georgia enacted a law meant to attract more startups by allowing the state’s pension plans to invest in them, few plans have actually taken advantage, according to an Atlanta Journal Constitution report.
• 1 Comments

• Change to Georgia’s Pension Law Falling Short of Expectations
• Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution   |   Georgia   |   January 2, 2013
• Earlier this year, lawmakers gave the go-ahead for Georgia’s public pensions to start putting money into start-up ventures and other “alternative” investments, ending the state's status as the last that detoured most of its big pension plans for state, county and city employees around such investments.

• Top 10 Legislative Issues to Watch in 2013
• BY: Dylan Scott,Ryan Holeywell   |   January 2013
• Here are 10 of the biggest topics states will tackle in the year ahead.
• 2 Comments

• Pension Obligation Bonds: Risky Gimmick or Smart Investment?
• BY: Eric Schulzke   |   January 2013
• POBs have bankrupted cities, including Stockton, yet some are still big players.
• 4 Comments

• IRS to Raise Limits on Retirement Contributions in 2013
• Source: The Washington Post   |   Nation   |   December 27, 2012
• The expiring Bush tax cuts aren’t the only laws worth watching for investors as the year ends. A number of new rules are kicking in next year that will allow workers to stash away more money in their 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts.