Could pension funding for government workers turn into an issue in the governorâ??s race? It hasnâ??t come up yet that Iâ??ve seen, but a report issued last week by the conservative Wisconsin Public Research Institute showing the difference in retirement benefits for public and private sector workers is continuing to draw fire in government circles.
Wednesday, the secretary of the Department of Employee Trust Funds issued a statement attacking the instituteâ??s report, which estimated that state and local taxpayers could save $600 million per year by forcing workers to contribute to their pension plans. Currently, employees pay nothing.