Russell Rapose

I would like to remind the PAWC that the General Assembly charged them with determining the “unintended consequences of the 2011 Pension Reform Act.

To me this means determining was any unintended hurt caused by the act and if changes in the Bill are required.

If the committee does determine unintended consequences”, and there are many.

The committee should also determine the following:

1. Who was hurt by the 2011 Legislation? I submit the following:

• The State’s ability to attract the best and brightest to fill vacancies in State, Municipal, and Education fields suffered tremendous damage.

• Current state and municipal and educational personnel were damaged.

• Former state, municipal and educational personnel were damaged.

2. How much hurt did the Legislation cause? I submit the following:

• Present and future employees have lost the security of a fair and equal pension upon retirement.

• People who retired after the act was passed who lost benefits that were legally promised upon employment.

• People who retired before the act was passed lost benefits due to the termination of a legal contract.

3. What are the possible remedies for these “unintended consequences”? I submit the following.

• Resend the 2011 Pension Act 1and make everyone whole relating to the legal contract in place before the 2011 Pension Reform Act. (A Dream Solution)

• Reform the Pension Reform Act and make changes such as adding a yearly COLA in line with the yearly Social Security COLA. (A Fair Solution)

• Reform the retirement conditions for future retirees such increasing the accruement of years of service to more than 1%. (The Fair Solution)

• Ament the pension act so that current and future retirees do not pay taxes on the state pension funds they receive. (The Minimum Solution)

Finally, I want to remind the committee to stay focused on the task you were charged with and resist the distractions. You have a specific job to do. Stay focused and do the job you were given.

Submitted via online webform