NCPERS News Clips

March 5, 2013

News Clips for March 5th, 2013

U.S. News

• Video Blog: David Clark Annual Conference Video
  How can a staff of just eight employees administer benefits for 18,000 active and retirement plan participants and 500 participating employer groups? The Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System provides a premium level of service that way -- by taking advantage of the latest technology to reduce administrative costs and dramatically increase efficiency. Attend the 2013 Annual Conference and hear executive director, David B. Clark share LOPFI's formula for improving retirement system administration through technology on Monday, May 20th.
• Editorial: Changing to 401(k) pension plan would be costly for Floridians and public employees
  A key Florida House committee didn't wait for facts and figures before moving ahead with a plan to bar new state employees from enrolling in the Florida Retirement System's most popular pension plan. Now, the consultant's report that was supposed to provide those facts and figures is flawed and must be reworked.
• Illinois House deals setback to pension reform
  he Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday dealt a setback to efforts to fix the worst-funded state pension system in the United States, defeating several proposals to make substantial changes that would affect public sector workers.
• Forum: Public pensions not all paid for by taxpayers
  Opinion: Re. Feb. 23 Spotlight letter by Robert Renner, “When it comes to pensions, we are our own worst enemy”
• Democrats accuse GOP of 'gridlock' after House rejects pension bill
  (Kentucky) he Senate's refusal Thursday to accept part of the House's plan to overhaul the state's pension system will likely mean a special legislative session, House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Thursday
• State pension funding gap up 20 percent in 2012: Wilshire
  The recovery in the state pension system suffered a setback in 2012 as the huge funding shortfall in a large swath of state pensions swelled more than 20 percent, interrupting two years of improvement following the devastation of the financial crisis.
• Corbett pension details outlined
  (Pennsylvania) State and school employees would be forced to forgo nearly $12 billion worth in pension benefits over the next 30 years if Gov. Corbett's pension changes are approved, according to an administration analysis released Tuesday.
• McCown, Villanueva: Texas public pensions on sound footing
  Texans believe in hard work that leads to a secure retirement. We provide our public servants a secure retirement through a decent pension. At the Center for Public Policy Priorities, we recently released a major report on our state's two largest pension plans, the Teacher Retirement System and the Employee Retirement System.
• Changes loom for Washington state pension system
  As public pension plans come under fire around the country for being overgenerous, underfunded, loosely managed budget-busters, Washington state's massive system looks pretty good by comparison.

Canadian News

• Building a better pension system in Canada
  (Opinion) A greater reliance on the CPP is the best way to ensure that all Canadians have a reasonable standard of living after retirement.