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Sun-Sentinel: Shine more light on pension problems
Edward E. Mills: Shine more light on pension problems March 16, 2012| Hooray for the editorial “Appeal adverse pension ruling,” which called for an appeal of a circuit court judge’s ruling that the state cannot require government employees to contribute 3 percent of their pay toward their retirement plans. This contrasts with the article “Pension [...] Read More »
Florida Today: Everyone loses pension-reform shell game
Matt Reed: Everyone loses pension-reform shell game Legislature cut pay to balance budgets, but will pay workers back from retirement funds It was the victory that wasn’t for teachers, prison officers and other public employees. After taking a bruising in the Legislature the past couple of years, their unions won a lawsuit Tuesday that struck [...] Read More »
Sun-Sentinel: Appeal adverse pension ruling
Appeal adverse pension ruling Sun Sentinel Editorial Board March 11, 2012 Not being attorneys, we’re not going to argue the points of law in a potentially damaging and costly ruling by the circuit court this week. We, instead, will support Gov. Rick Scott’s vow to appeal a ruling that would strike a necessary requirement that [...] Read More »
State Pension Watchdog: Legislature Missed Opportunity for Reform
State Pension Watchdog: Legislature Missed Opportunity for Reform Nancy Smith’s blog | Posted: March 13, 2012 10:51 AM Seems I’m not alone in my concern for the direction and sustainability of Florida’s retirement system. Robert McClure, a Ph.D. member of Floridians for Sustainable Pensions (FSP) has just released a statement on the opportunities lawmakers missed [...] Read More »
St. Augustine Record: Government employees should pay for pensions and health care
By Ed Harwell St. Augustine Editor: What is being battered around with regard to Florida’s pension reform was the same question I asked County Administrator Mike Wanchick at the last tax forum in August 2011 when I asked if he funded his pension this year. He snickered and told me no. I then rephrased the [...] Read More »
Sunshine State News: Public Employees’ Pensions Can Sink the Ship
Judge Jackie Fulford did more than dig a potential $2 billion hole in the Florida budget. She gave back to a redefined union movement in this state the two things it lacked most — muscle and heart. At the same time she delivered a jolt of oxygen to a deflated state Democratic Party. Now look [...] Read More »
Orlando Sentinel: Our take on pension purgatory
Pension purgatory We won’t second-guess the legal merits of the circuit judge’s ruling that overturned the 2011 law requiring public employees to start contributing to their pensions. But we won’t hesitate to call the ruling, if it stands, a financial calamity for Florida. The state has appealed; the case almost certainly will be settled by [...] Read More »
Tampa Tribune: Faulty pension ruling should be overturned
If a Leon County circuit judge’s ruling is correct, then state employees enjoy far greater privileges than private employees, and state lawmakers’ historic powers are meaningless. But we think the judge’s interpretation is too broad and urge that the ruling be overturned on appeal, which Gov. Rick Scott is pursuing. Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford on [...] Read More »
Bradenton Herald: Manatee County may have to refund $4.5 million or more to public employees
MANATEE Officials fear a court ruling in favor of the state’s public employees could create a hole of $4.5 million or more in next year’s Manatee County budget.If Circuit Court Judge Jackie Fulford’s ruling is upheld, the county could be liable for $4.5 million it would have to reimburse its employees, plus whatever interest might [...] Read More »
St. Augustine Record: Reverse the pension ruling
Florida’s pension reform law that requires state and local government employees to pay into their retirement plan was ruled unconstitutional on Tuesday by a Leon County judge who raised the question of whether the work of the Legislature can be trusted. Lawmakers have chuckled for years over the standing joke that nothing is safe when [...] Read More »