KEEGAN: ‘Dysfunctional’ pension plans need radical fix now

By   /  October 4, 2012  /  Commentary  /  No Comments

Frank Keegan

By Frank Keegan | State Budget Solutions
When a widely recognized world pension expert refers to current defined benefit and defined contribution plans as “dysfunctional,” it is time for politicians to stop their lying and denying that this fiscal catastrophe is spiraling out of control.
Keith Ambachtsheer, director of the Rotman International Centre for Pension Management, just released [...]

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NH: Committee starts work on pension reforms

By   /  July 17, 2012  /  New Hampshire, News, Pensions, State Budgets, State Government  /  No Comments

new hampshire seal

By Josh Elliott-Traficante | New Hampshire Watchdog
CONCORD — The New Hampshire House Special Committee met Tuesday to discuss ways to approach implementing a defined contribution plan, essentially a 401(k) style plan, for new state employees.
Two sub-committees were set up, one to address the projected $1.2 billion increased unfunded liability and the other with working on [...]

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PA Week in Review: Budget, privatization plans stalling

By   /  June 15, 2012  /  Accountability, News, Pennsylvania, State Budgets, State Government  /  No Comments

Pennsylvania flag

By Staff Reports | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — A busy week at the Pennsylvania statehouse started off with a late night, when House lawmakers stayed until 10:30 p.m. Monday debating the pros and cons of privatizing the state’s liquor sales, only to refrain from voting.
But the next day, state business continued with news of potential lottery privatization, [...]

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PA lawmakers may switch from pension to 401(k) plans

By   /  August 12, 2011  /  News, State Government, State House, State Senate, Statehouse News Online  /  1 Comment

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — The exceptional pension benefits available to state lawmakers might be facing the ax as part of a Republican plan to overhaul the state system.

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Actuaries deal with political reality of pension questions

By   /  March 30, 2011  /  News, State Budgets, State Government, Statehouse News Online  /  2 Comments

By Frank Keegan Watchdog.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – One actuary at the Public Employee Retirement Systems Workshop on Wednesday put the question in plain language:

“What do you say when a taxpayer asks, ‘You’re telling me I took a hit on my 401(k) and get no health benefits, and you’re going to raise my property taxes?’”

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