NCPERS News Clips

7/14/2009

Health and Wealth

Today's first link suggests that health care reform at the federal level is well on it's way, with the House unveiling its revised plan, while the second article quotes Sen. Kent Conrad saying that health care legislation will pass out of the Finance Committee within a month. Let's hope these efforts have legs, and we can finally see some real progress on this important issue.

• House Democrats unveil health care reform plan
  House Democrats unveiled their revised version of health care reform Tuesday, offering a proposal that includes a government-funded health insurance option, requires both individuals and employers to participate, and taxes the wealthy to help cover costs.
• Conrad Says Health-Care Plan Will Clear Finance Panel by August
  The Senate Finance Committee will approve a U.S. health-care overhaul plan within a month, said Senator Kent Conrad, a top Democrat on the panel, even though setbacks have slowed the drive for a bipartisan compromise.
• NY: To Fix Pension Peril
  Before staggering away from Albany last week, the state Senate delivered a pleasant surprise for taxpayers -- rejecting a well-intentioned but badly designed bill that would have allowed the state and local governments to borrow billions from the state pension system while potentially compounding financial risks for generations to come.
• OH: Options for teacher pensions still 'under consideration'
  "Under consideration" were the two big words Thursday during a workshop for retired teachers. Hosted by the Putnam County Retired Teachers Association, more than 150 teachers and administrators from Putnam and surrounding counties attended the workshop for an update on plans for the long-term pension plan for teachers and health care funding.
• CA: Critics target recipients of six-figure public pensions
  Organization posts the names and incomes of 5,100 retirees in California who receive annual pensions of $100,000 or more. A judge denied pensioners' request to block publication of such information.
• Missouri pension benefits for elected officials, judges to be published
  Pension benefits for Missouri's elected officials and judges may now be viewed online. The Missouri State Employees' Retirement System voted Thursday to publish the retirement benefits for former public officials on its Web site. Last month, the agency decided to create a searchable database of its employees' salaries.
• OH: State pension fund won't be touched to patch budget
  A controversial plan to tap the state's largest public pension system to help balance the state budget has been shelved. Lawmakers said today that they have rejected a proposal from Gov. Ted Strickland to generate $256 million by reducing the percentage of employee salaries that the state contributes to the Public Employees Retirement System.
• MA: Running on empty
  Being a mayor today must rank somewhere below pest control officer. If the trickle-down theory of wealth has been a bust, and it has, the trickle-down effect from state and federal cuts on cities has flowed smoothly. It is on a mayor’s desk that these things land. To be mayor today is to choose the least horrendous option.
• Panel Mulls Ways To Combine Minn. Pension Funds
  Minnesota lawmakers are looking at whether it makes sense to fold some public pension funds into others. The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement convenes Wednesday. it will consider the feasibility of a so-called pension fund consolidation assistance account.
• MA: Pension fund task force schedules public meetings
  The Police-Fire Pension Fund Citizens' Task Force will hold two town hall meetings this month to gather public input on its recommendations to help fix the pension's $200 million shortfall.

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