Your editorial touches all the important points on the state pension crisis Massachusetts faces (“Close pension loophole,” Oct. 28). Lowering the expected rate of return for the state pension fund’s investments is a solid first step. The 5 percent you recommend may even be too high. Some experts recommend a more conservative rate of around 3.5 percent. While decreasing the expected rate of return does have consequences, it is important to inform those responsible for managing the fund about the real problems. Significant reforms are needed to bring public pensions into the black, including per-year payout caps, retirement age increases, the end of pension double-dipping and higher worker contributions. — Matthew Glans, Chicago The writer is senior policy analyst at the Heartland Institute.
Matthew Glans joined the staff of The Heartland Institute in November 2007 as legislative specialist for insurance and finance.
