Financial pressures and equity considerations require that the state rethink how it provides retirement security. Under the Massachusetts constitution, major changes could only be applied to new employees. An important first question in thinking through change options for new employees is: What does federal law require the state to provide to employees?
Author Archives: Will Brownsberger
More conversations on health care
Stuart Altman, Connie Horgan and Michael Doonan from Brandeis came to the state house this week to hold an informal discussion about health care cost control with legislators and staff.
State financial outlook for 2012 and beyond
State revenues have dropped down to a new, lower trend line. We cannot expect to return to pre-recession spending levels.
Beyond probation
Reformers should be seeking to clean up arrangements that make weak agencies directly beholden to the legislature. The Turnpike Authority was one example. We’ve abolished it, but there are others that come to mind.
Recommending people for jobs
The question we will face over the next few months is: would the public be better served if legislators did not engage in job recommendations at all or did so only subject to limitations?
Why haven’t we achieved energy independence (and controlled climate change)?
Jon Stewart’s framing of this question is as powerful as it is amusing, although his answer is only more humor.