Pensions
Union reps and pension testifiers have been arguing that reducing pensions will harm the local economy. Using the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity’s pension database, though, I’ve looked at some relevant numbers, including the fact that the state sends $142 million in public pension payouts out of state.
Not to edge into Andrew’s territory in the Great Pension Debate, but a point that a town resident — with whom I often agree on local matters — made when the Tiverton Town Council voted to support “meaningful state-wide pension reform” raises a curious distinction of when government action is “theft”: Audience members Roger Bennis…
Some of the union heads are claiming that this pension crisis was fabricated by State Treasurer Gina Raimondo. She is trying to solve a problem that she created. People like Paul Valletta, representing the Rhode Island Association of Firefighters. His claim: [Raimondo] cooked the books on this issue… She created this pension problem … now…
I attended the final few hours of last night’s House/Senate pension reform public testimony session. While I was there, the great bulk of the testimony was from public union members and officials, repeating variations on the theme of yeah it’s a mess, but the young folks have plenty of time to figure out how to…
The notion that forcing teachers to work an additional five years before retirement will cost districts money came up during my appearance on the Dan Yorke Show, last week, and it apparently has some currency in the General Assembly. Obviously, though, a replacement hired on a five-year delay will cost less than one hired earlier…
Damn straight. Fight the power. Leaders of major public unions in Rhode Island used the word “draconian” more than once to describe the changes in pension benefits proposed by Chafee and Raimondo. They contended that public employees’ will lose too much money in retirement while assuming too much risk by having to enroll in 401(k)-style…
By way of presenting an example, I’ve estimated the effects of an underperforming market on the current pension system for state workers and teachers and on the proposed system, including the hybrid component. The upshot is that the hybrid isn’t less expensive unless the fund returns less than 5%, and if returns are that low,…
On Friday, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo sat down for an interview with WPRI on Rhode Island’s Subject Du Jour. The indefatigable Ted Nesi is posting it in three parts on WPRI’s blog. This morning, he released Part Two, which brings into focus the burden which current public employees would carry under the pension reform plan…
On Wednesday, on WPRO, Governor Lincoln Chafee compared re-amortization to remortgaging a house. “That’s no different,” he said. Actually, it’s quite a bit different, which the governor might be better prepared to understand if he had more in common with the average Rhode Islander. The cost of remortgaging comes, first, in the loss of interest…
To illustrate my point about Treasurer Raimondo’s hybrid pension plan, I’ve posted some pie charts.