Friday, April 10, 2009

Pension Reform Needed Now

The House recently passed a transportation reform bill, but next week lawmakers will take on pension reform. As if we needed more proof that the pension system is inefficient and wasteful, an article in today's Boston Globe offered further support to that argument.

According to the Globe, "Four MBTA officials who retired under the agency's generous pension plan were then rehired under contracts to do their old jobs, earning large consulting checks even while they continued to receive their full pension payments, according to public records."

To add insult to injury, Massachusetts residents who depend on the MBTA for public transition found out today that service will be drastically cut due to a $160 million deficit.

Republican lawmakers will be offering a number of amendments to the bill next week. Be sure to check back on Tuesday to watch the House debate live right here.