NCPERS News Clips

February 7, 2012

News Clips for February 7th, 2012

• NCPERS Launches new Retirement Security for All website
  NCPERS' new site www.retirementsecurityforall.org focuses on the Secure Choice Pension proposal, which would allow private sector companies and individuals to participate in a state-sponsored pension plan.
• Illinois governor urges pension, Medicaid changes
  Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Wednesday said the state must make changes to its pension system and to Medicaid this year, while also insisting that spending cuts alone will not fix the state's budget.
• In Defense of Defined-Benefit Pensions
  Police officers, teachers, caregivers, and other rank-and-file public servants join Illinois AFL-CIO members to protest the state's pension situation. Despite calls from critics to transition to defined-contribution plans, the way forward for most public-sector defined-benefit plans is through reform, not replacement.
• Arizona lawmakers targeting public employee unions
  Republican legislators are launching a push against Arizona public employee unions with bills that include a ban on collective bargaining with government workers, a change that would be felt in school districts and local governments.
• Walker's Union Law Saves Wisconsin Money as Teachers Quit School
  When Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker championed a law restricting collective bargaining for most public employees, he gave school districts cost-cutting tools. He also took away something: $800 million in aid.
• Minnesota state pensions: A realistic scenario
  Minnesota's systems are well-managed and are reasonably funded under the circumstances.
• Gov. Scott "extremely disappointed" in opponents of prison privatization, cites pension fund as a reason for the plan
  Gov. Rick Scott said he is "extremely disappointed" in officials who won't vote for a massive South Florida prison privatization effort that stalled in the Senate Wednesday. At required savings of 7 percent, the plan is "a simple decision," Scott said.
• NCSL Fiscal Brief: Top Fiscal Issues for 2012 Legislative Sessions
  Legislative fiscal directors are keenly attuned to the fiscal pressures confronting their states, which is why NCSL asked these experts to identify the top three fiscal issues their states expect to address in the 2012 legislative sessions.
• Why are we surprised by good news?
  It turns out that its pension funds performed well enough last year to save the City $90 million in anticipated contributions.
• Mayor pins hopes on pension task force report
  The $165 million the city plans to send to its three public employee pensions this fiscal year is the consummation of a decades-old contract with the people who put out fires, keep streets safe and pick up the garbage.