HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering whether to overhaul pension benefits for newly hired public school teachers and state government employees, but the changes wouldn’t apply to current legislators.
The House and Senate may vote Wednesday on legislation to create new retirement plans that reduce the traditional pension benefit and offer 401(k)-style benefit options.
The recently unveiled legislation would gradually produce some projected savings on the state’s massive pension debt, but none in the near future.
The state troopers’ association is warning lawmakers it will sue over one provision and that another could trigger widespread retirements.
Previous pension bills that stalled would have pushed lawmakers into the new plan upon re-election or given them the option to join it.
Neither provision is included in the bill now pending in the Legislature.
