Last night the House of Representatives voted 113 to 42 to remove health care plan design from collective bargaining for municipal employees. I view the reform as a very modest and responsible labor law adjustment that reflects important practical realities.
Government Reform
children and families, election laws, ethics rules, insider jobs, pensions & benefits, structure and operations, transparency
Independent compensation committee to decide public employee compensation?
The pay scales of public employees might be decided by an impartial referee committee that has no vested interest but the public interest (as much as is humanly possible). Politicians should not be directly involved in negotiating with unions. I believe in the very high value of unions. However, it is true that most people …
Continue reading “Independent compensation committee to decide public employee compensation?”
Health care
Will -I support your stand with the speaker on removing bargaining rights for municipalities on health care. Budgets are being cut to the bone and everything should be on the table in setting town budgets. Health care is also the prime area of expense growth and we all have to share the pain of controlling …
Health care costs
Will, I support your stand on allowing local authorities to modify contracts. All budgets are under pressure and there has to be shared sacrifice. I would like to see some more sacrifice by taxpayers. The tax rate could easily go up. The quid pro quo would be that towns and the State Government would have …
Local Health Plans in the HWM Budget
The House Ways and Means budget includes a relatively strong form of the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s plan design proposal.
Public Pension Investment Return Assumptions (updated 3/28/11)
The inter-generational fairness of the public pension system depends on the investment return assumption used in planning. This post collects resources on this subject.