Pensions

• Smokers Need Not Apply: Government Hiring Bans
• BY: Heather Kerrigan   |   January 16, 2013
• Governments argue that no longer hiring smokers would free up some much-needed funds.
• 12 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.

• Public Union Dues Return to Legislative Spotlight in Arizona
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   January 14, 2013
• Public-employee unions will again be in the hot seat at the Legislature, following an effort last year that had mixed success.

• A TV-Inspired New Year's Resolution for Improving Government Services
• BY: Bill Bott   |   January 10, 2013
• Reality TV reveals the problems with government services, but how do we fix them?
• 2 Comments

• Idaho Lawmakers Get Ethics Training in Wake of Scandals
• Source: AP/Idaho Press-Tribune   |   Idaho   |   January 10, 2013
• Lawmakers underwent a half-day of ethics training in the wake of a series of high-profile lapses involving Idaho officials, a first-time event that Capitol leaders hope will head off rare instances when lawmakers' behavior risks damaging the public's confidence in government.

• 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

• Tennessee County to Pay for Police in Every School
• Source: Tennessean   |   Williamson County, Tenn.   |   January 7, 2013
• The sheriff acknowledged that by adding school resource officers, the county hopes not to be forced by state lawmakers to otherwise arm teachers or principals.
• 2 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.

• In Pay Fight over Indiana House Democrats' Walkout, Chief Justice Suggests Compromise
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   January 4, 2013
• After 45 minutes of listening to attorneys argue whether the Legislature had the power to seize the pay of lawmakers to collect fines after they walked out in 2011 and 2012 to stall passage of the anti-union “right to work” legislation, Chief Justice Brent Dickson had a suggestion: Compromise.

• On New Year’s Eve, Nearly 1/3 of D.C. Firefighters Called in Sick
• Source: Washington Post   |   District of Columbia   |   January 4, 2013
• Nearly a third of all District firefighters, who also staff ambulances, called in sick on New Year’s Eve, leaving the city short-staffed in emergency care on one of the busiest nights of the year.
• 1 Comments

• High-Crime Camden's Plan to Replace Police Dept. Approved
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Camden, N.J.   |   January 3, 2013
• Camden's plan to lay off all of its uniformed police officers has been approved by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, setting the stage for replacing the Police Department with a new county-run force.

• Texas Lawmakers Turn to Guns to Beef Up School Security
• BY: The Texas Tribune   |   Texas   |   January 2, 2013
• Following the shootings at a Connecticut elementary school, Texas lawmakers are considering making firearms more available to teachers and other school personnel.
• 3 Comments

• 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.