Cuomo is setting himself up nicely for a presidential run in 2016. clo
Gov vows veto for pension fatteners
By BRENDAN SCOTT in Albany and RICH CALDER & CARL CAMPANILE in NY
Last Updated: 3:29 AM, April 13, 2011
Not on my watch!
Gov. Cuomo yesterday vowed to veto a blizzard of bills introduced by spend-happy lawmakers that would boost cushy pensions for government workers and stick taxpayers with nearly $1 billion in additional costs.
"We need to reduce the costs of pensions, not increase them," Cuomo told The Post. "I would not support any legislation that increases pension costs for the state or localities."
Cuomo instead is pushing a new "Tier VI" pension plan that would require new public employees to contribute more toward their pensions to reduce the burden on taxpayers.
The governor's tough stand comes a day after the business-backed Citizens Budget Commission issued a report that found legislators introduced 55 pieces of legislation this year to give government workers even more generous benefits.
Mayor Bloomberg has called on Albany lawmakers to reform pensions to save money -- not to inflate benefits and costs. His budget projects that city taxpayers will have to shell out $8.4 billion next year to cover escalating pension costs.
"The CBC report -- it's indicative of the problem," said mayoral spokesman Marc LaVorgna. "The mayor has worked to knock down literally hundreds of pension sweeteners in the last nine years."
Meanwhile, the city pays a larger share of pension and health benefits for city workers than many private firms pay for their employees.
"Most all city workers and retirees pay zero towards health-care premiums," LaVorgna said.
Cops and firefighters can retire with pensions worth at least half their final-year salary after 20 years, regardless of age.
Most private-sector workers can't retire until age 65 or later with a full pension, and they often contribute more of their own money through 401(k) accounts.
Like Cuomo, Bloomberg has proposed a legislative package that would require workers to contribute more toward their pensions and work longer before they can collect.
But Brooklyn schoolteacher Sue Parla cautioned against demonizing city workers. She supports a 7-month-old son.
"I don't think taxpayers should have to pay more in. But where is the balance? Teachers don't make much money," said Parla, 32, a four-year veteran who is paid $55,000 and hopes to retire at age 55.
"If I have to give up any more money, I don't how I would survive," she said. (work a few more years! clo)
brendan.scott@nypost.com
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_vows_veto_for_pension_fatteners_CSWSnYky4wYi0YbqqEzLHM#ixzz1JOqspkcT
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