Mass. nears state worker pension reform

BOSTON – Massachusetts lawmakers are poised to make major changes to the state’s pension system, in a vote that is likely to lead to further reform of ethics and transportation issues in the Bay State, according to the Boston Globe.
The legislation, if passed and signed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, as is expected, will eliminate pension credit for volunteer work and the granting of a full year of pension credit for one day of work in a year, among other things.
Because this bill is largely devoted to items that are seen as pension abuse by highly ranked public officials, there is still more work that needs to be done in order to “save the state substantial money,” the Globe said. The legislation calls for a commission to review larger changes and issue a report by Sept. 1.
“The needs to be a phase two,” said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.