NCPERS News Clips

March 13, 2012

News Clips for March 13th, 2012

• Judge rules Florida pension changes unconstitutional
  In a dramatic defeat for the governor and the Florida Legislature, a Leon County circuit judge on Tuesday ruled that the decision last year to cut public employee salaries was an unconstitutional breach of the state's contract and ordered the money returned with interest.
• Pension Spending Supports 6.5 Million American Jobs, $1 Trillion in Economic Output
  Retiree spending stimulates, stabilizes U.S. economy
• Legislature overreaches, public pays the bill
  (FL) Editorial: Tuesday's ruling that cutting public employee salaries to help pay for pensions is unconstitutional is not the result of an activist judge as some Republicans complain. It reflects the failure of the executive and legislative branches to recognize their limits and the role of an independent judicial branch.
• Cuomo's Pension Plan Rejected by New York Assembly Democrats
  Assembly Democrats rejected Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to raise the retirement age and offer a 401(k)-type option to new workers in their version of the budget, according to a legislative memo released yesterday.
• Seeking balance on public, private-sector pensions
  Critics of Gov. Jerry Brown’' pension-reform proposal — one that has now been embraced by Republican lawmakers — say that what the governor is proposing is to force state and local government employees in California to join in a “race to the bottom” that is threatening the retirement security of workers across America.
• Governor Renews Call for KPERS Reform, Signs Bills
  Topeka - During a news conference this afternoon at the Kansas Capitol, Governor Sam Brownback renewed his call for the Kansas Legislature to address the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System's (KPERS) more than $8 billion shortfall.
• Re-Imagining Pensions: Panel 2 -- Hank Kim, presenter
  (Video) Hank K. Kim, Executive Director and Counsel of the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS), presents the Secure Choice Pension during Panel 2, Pension Designs to Increase Coverage and Adequacy. For more information on the Secure Choice Pension and the Re-Imagining Pensions conference
•  Governor Cuomo Says He Can't Negotiate Pension Reform With Public Employee Unions
  In a Q&A session with reporters after the cabinet meeting today Governor Andrew Cuomo discussed the state of his push to reform the pension system for public workers. Governor Cuomo was asked about legislators who are demanding he negotiate the reforms with the unions and get them to agree to a plan, but he was adamant that there's nothing to negotiate and the unions are inherently opposed to reform.