PA Senate Committee could tackle Sen. Pat Browne's or Gov. Tom Corbett's pension reform plans

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:32:48 GMT

Source: blogs.mcall.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
Yo! The Senate Finance Committee may vote on a pension reform bill Wednesday. But which pension reform bill will the committee take up? Could it take up the far-sweeping, Gov. Tom Corbett-endorsed bill introduced in May by the committee chairman, Sen. Mike Brubaker, R-Lancaster? Or could it be the less-reaching Senate Bill 2 introduced in January by one of the committee’s members, Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh? Brubaker’s legislation, Senate Bill 922, mirrors Corbett's three-step overhaul to the state workers’ and public school employees’ pension systems. The bill and Corbett's plan would cut the employer's contribution to save a combined $313 million next fiscal year for the state and school districts. It would put new state and school employees into a retirement system akin to a private sector 401(k) defined-contribution plan. Beginning in 2015, the plan would reduce pension benefits of current workers in the State Employee Retirement System (SERS) and Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS). Lawmakers in both chambers of the Legislature have voiced opposition to cutting the state’s and school district’s share of payments, arguing it pushes debt further down the road. Unions also have said that is a bad idea and also have threatened to sue if the state attempts to reduce future benefits in 2015. The third part of Corbett’s plan has not generated lawsuit threats or opposition. That’s where Browne’s bill comes in. Browne’s ...

On Medicaid expansion, Governor Tom Corbett is right and Patriot-News editorial...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Source: www.facebook.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
On Medicaid expansion, Governor Tom Corbett is right and Patriot-News editorial is wrong: PennLive.com letters On Medicaid expansion, Corbett is right and Patriot-News editorial is wrong: PennLive letters www.pennlive.com Governor Corbett is right to continue to negotiate with the federal government for flexibility to improve Medicaid, rather than expand a failing system. ...