Finally – Real Pension Reform from the Texas State Senate
A couple of months ago, I wrote that the Texas Employment Retirement System (“ERS”) was back in financial straits after...
Pensions
A Cautionary Tale of Pension “Reform”
The state of Texas maintains a pension system for its employees (including state elected officials) known as the Texas Employment...
“Highlights” from the City’s Audit
The City of Houston is required by state law to file its annual audit (the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report or...
Judge Rules Houston Pension Plan Unconstitutional
On Wednesday, State District Judge Beau Miller1, in no uncertain terms, struck down the provisions of SB2190 which made fundamental...
Turner Should End the Divisive Fire Fighter Pay Dispute: Go to Arbitration!
I don’t think there is a citizen in Houston who is not fed up with hearing about the City’s ongoing,...
Just in Case You Thought the City Had Solved its Pension Problems
We now have audits for the City and its three pension plans for the first full year of operation...
Town Hall Misinformation
There is so much misinformation being disseminated at the current round of “town hall” meetings it is hard to...
How Much Did the City Cut Pension Benefits
Recently on What’s Your Point and in my blog, I have cited estimates of how much the City cut pensions...
Houston Pension Bill – As Passed
As you have probably seen in media accounts, the Legislature has passed a bill making very substantial changes...
Houston Gets Vote on Pension Bonds
As you may have heard, the Texas Senate passed a bill yesterday which makes sweeping changes to the City of...
150 Financial Professionals & Executives Ask Legislature to Include Defined Contribution Plans for New City Employees
In the last few days we have heard more of the same old tired, debunked rhetoric from the Turner administration...
Employees Likely to Face Massive Pension Contribution Increases under Turner Plan
The centerpiece of Turner's pension proposal is its "corridor" mechanism which supposedly caps the amount the City will ever...
Why Not Put New City Employees into Defined Contribution Pension Plans?
According to a recent CNN survey, 96% of private sector employees have a defined contribution pension plan. The private...
Posts range from local to national issues and focus on fact-based analysis, avoiding hyperbole and partisanship. The site is intended to be an open, respectful discussion of the critical issues of our day. Contact Bill directly and let him know what matters to you - weking@weking.net