CalSTRS reports 2.3 percent earnings on investments in 2011
CalSTRS announced meager investment gains for 2011 - and repeated its plea to the Legislature for help. (Sacramento Bee)
San Jose council moves to end its pensions
San Jose city leaders took initial steps Tuesday toward ending their own state-run pension plan as they continue seeking workforce retirement concessions. (Mercury News)
Editorial: Lawmakers spin their wheels on pension reform
A joint Senate/Assembly conference committee will hold its third (ho-hum) informational hearing today on the 12-point pension reform plan that Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled with such fanfare last October. Don't expect anything to come of it. So far, a lot of talk has emerged but no pension bill. Efforts to substantially reduce state pension obligations are a sham in this Legislature, and most people who work in the Capitol know that. (Sacramento Bee)
GOP Senators: Take Overtime Out Of Pension Calculations
Two Republican state senators called Tuesday for passage of a bill this year to take pensions for future state employees out of union negotiations and to stop employees' widespread practice of "padding" of their pensions with heavy overtime as they prepare to retire. (Hartford Courant)
Modesto council weighs costs of pension 'buyout'
The City Council decided Tuesday to ask for an evaluation of the costs of Modesto cutting ties with the California Public Employees' Retirement System. (Modesto Bee)
State workers could earn more by reducing spending
PHOENIX -- State employees could soon be making more money for doing something one lawmaker said they should already be doing: looking for ways to save money. (Arizona Daily Sun)
Democratic legislative leaders sue Controller John Chiang over pay in budget dispute
Democratic legislative leaders sued Controller John Chiang on Tuesday to have the courts determine whether the state's cash manager abused his authority by cutting off their paychecks in last year's budget fight. (Sacramento Bee)
Total Of 8 Employees Leave CT State Service As Result Of Food Stamp Controversy
Gov. Daniel P. Malloy made the announcement Tuesday regarding the controversy over state employees who allegedly falsified their financial status in order to qualify for emergency food stamps following Tropical Storm Irene. (Hartford Courant)
Markell's planned smoking ban elicits some grumblings
Charles Young, a 37-year smoker who quit seven months ago, doubts Gov. Jack Markell's planned ban on smoking outside Delaware state office buildings will have the desired effect of getting employees to kick the habit. As with any form of prohibition, Young said, "they're going to do it anyway." (The News Journal)
Bloomberg says pension costs stressing NYC budget
ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says an $8 billion pension bill is squeezing city finances and wants state legislators to back the governor and create a new lower tier for future municipal and state workers. (AP / Wall Street Journal)
Haley, Republicans take aim at unions
Gov. Nikki Haley and House Republicans are joining forces to close loopholes that, they say, unions could use to set up shop and expand in South Carolina. (The State)
Local Pensions at Forefront for State Leaders
Some top Tennessee officials say they don't expect the Legislature to address state employee pension reform at all this year -- although retirement plans for some 483 local government groups might get a look. (Missouri News Horizon)
State budget guru recommends Idaho switch to a defined-contribution pension system (video)
Bob Williams, president of State Budget Solutions, a think tank committed to promoting fiscal security among local governments, says Idaho needs to switch its pension system to ensure healthy state finances. (Idaho Reporter)
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