Sponsored by the Urban Institute

Hosted by the Senate Finance Committee - Republican Staff

On September 10, 2014, Urban Institute experts spoke at a briefing hosted by the Senate Finance Committee Republican Staff in the Capitol Visitors Center. During the event, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) provided opening remarks, followed by presentations from Kim Rueben and Richard Johnson of the Urban Institute. The discussion was moderated by Eugene Steuerle, Institute fellow, Urban Institute. The panel focused primarily on how states and municipalities across the country are struggling to close funding gaps in their pension plans, and how reforms would affect costs to taxpayers, public employees’ retirement security, and governments’ ability to attract and retain qualified workers. Richard Johnson demonstrated his interactive report card that grades plans on retirement income provided to short-term and long-term employees, incentives created to attract and retain a productive workforce, and funds set aside to cover promised benefits.

event materials    

• Event Agenda
• Speaker Biographies      
• Slide Presentation – Reform Options for State and Local Pension Plans
• When Do State and Local Pension Plans Encourage Workers to Retire
• How Long Must States and Local Employees Work to Accumulate Pension Benefits
• Do State and Local  Pensions Lock In Mid-Career Employees

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