The State Worker

CalPERS vows to push giant Preservation Ranch vineyard project
CalPERS, the giant state workers pension fund, has ended several months of uncertainty by signaling to Sonoma County that it intends to move forward with a huge, controversial timber-to-vineyard conversion project near Annapolis. (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

State workers may have to wait longer to retire
COLUMBIA -- A House panel studying South Carolina pension reform will consider this week tweaking proposed requirements on age and years on the job. (AP / Post and Courier)

HI: State overpaid employees by more than $2 million
HONOLULU - A Hawaii News Now investigation reveals the state has overpaid its employees more than $1.5 million, with hundreds of thousands more in state tax dollars written off as uncollectable and other incorrect pay amounts recovered months or years later from employees who were accidentally paid too much. (HawaiiNewsNow)

WI: State's public workers cope with reduced buying power following Walker legislation
State of Wisconsin clerical worker Gina Bertolini started paying about 6 percent of her $15.48 hourly wage toward her pension in August plus $84 a month for her health coverage. (Wisconsin State Journal)

One year later, lower-paid state workers feel pinch of CB law
MADISON, WI - It was a year ago this week when Governor Scott Walker proposed his landmark legislation that virtually eliminated public union bargaining privileges. The same law requires all state and local workers not covered by union contracts to pay 12 percent of the health insurance benefits, plus 5.8 percent of their salaries toward their pensions. Laura Dresser of the UW-Madison Center on Wisconsin Strategy says the economy's taking a hit, because thousands of people are getting cuts in their take home pay. And Dresser says it "moves Wisconsin away from creating jobs." (WTAQ)

Alaska state workers might get DB again
A bill in the Alaska Senate would allow new public employees to choose to participate in a defined benefit or defined contribution plan. (Pensions & Investments)

Iowa auditor says budget doesn't cover raises
DES MOINES, Iowa -- State auditor David Vaudt warned Monday that Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad's proposed budget doesn't include funding to cover pay and benefit increases for state workers, nor does it do enough to help an estimated $5.7 billion shortfall in the state's pension system. (CBS Money Watch)

Proposed Changes in Benefits Could Lead to Early Lawmaker Retirements
When state lawmakers changed post-retirement health care for state workers several years ago, a number of state employees took early retirement -- all while many complained that legislators themselves would be treated differently and could retire out of the legislative branch with better benefits. (Utah Pulse)

Lawmakers in 9 states target own pension perks
Lawmakers in nine states -- Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey and South Carolina-- are advancing legislation to scale back their own pensions by closing loopholes and lucrative retirement plans that have let thousands of former lawmakers earn more in retirement than while in office. (USA Today)

Debate on Florida private prisons hinges on cost
TALLAHASSEE -- As state lawmakers consider a massive expansion of prison privatization, one number dominates the debate: 7 percent. (Miami Herald)

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