Tag: CSG National Conference

Video: Challenges Facing Public Pensions

The 2014 CSG National Conference was held last month, but videos of the presentations have just begun to surface in the past few weeks.

This presentation touches on the history of public pension plans in the United States, the challenges those plans face today, and the retirement “insecurity” faced by private sector workers.

The talk, titled “Public Pensions”, was given by Hank Kim, executive director and counsel for the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems. His bio:

Hank Kim is executive director and counsel for the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems, the largest public pension trade association in the United States. His responsibilities include strategic planning for NCPERS, promoting retirement security for all workers through access to defined benefit pension plans, and the expansion of NCPERS’ role in the continuing debate on health care.

 

Video: Pennsylvania’s Pension Predicament

The 2014 CSG National Conference was held last month, but videos of the presentations are just beginning to surface.

This presentation, on public pensions in Pensylvania, was given by state Senator Pat Browne (R).

Sen. Browne has previously proposed and supported legislation to shift workers into a 401(k)-style plan. In 2012, he said:

“Significant policy decisions regarding Pennsylvania’s pension system must be made soon,” Senator Browne said. “Without significant changes in the design of Pennsylvania’s pension system, including a switch to a defined contribution system, the long-term costs will be unaffordable to Pennsylvania taxpayers.”

“Over the past few decades, virtually all of the private sector has shifted to defined contribution retirement plans,” Senator Pileggi said. “It’s time for Pennsylvania government to do the same.”

“A switch to a defined contribution plan will benefit Pennsylvania taxpayers by forcing fiscal discipline,” Senator Corman said. “Retiree benefits will become predictable and sustainable, costs will be easily defined, and future liabilities will be fully funded; it’s an excellent choice prospectively.”

Browne is a board member on the Public Employee Retirement Commission and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System board