pension reform

GLEN JOHNSON AP in SouthCoast Today writes that Governor Patrick, Senate President Murry and House Speaker DeLeo may be on to something ...............

Collectively, the initiatives might help restore public confidence in the Legislature and change the way Massachusetts government does business.

A transportation overhaul, financed by giving the state the highest gas tax in the nation, is the first of several initiatives Patrick and other Beacon Hill leaders will consider.

And Patrick, Murray and DeLeo all want to move next to a sweeping change of the state's transportation system — Murray has already filed legislation in the Senate.In the House, DeLeo started his tenure as speaker by pushing through new rules for his members he hopes lay the foundation for an upcoming debate on ethics reforms. Patrick has already proposed a comprehensive ethics overhaul. 

Besides ethics and transportation reform, the leaders have all said they want to eliminate pension perks that permeate state government and aggravate taxpayers. That sets up the next major legislative initiative: retirement reform. Among the ideas are standardizing the state system around private-sector retirement programs and eliminating such concepts as enhanced pensions for lawmakers who get voted out of office.

Collectively, like the lovely lady in the Thomas Nast cartoon looking over Tammany Hall, we all need to continue to pay attention and make sure our elected and appointed officials know we're watching them do their best to rebuild the public's confidence in their ability to keep doing the right thing.