Jun. 08, 2017
HARRISBURG – On Thursday, Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) joined his House colleagues to pass
Senate Bill 1, which would mark the most significant reform of Pennsylvania’s public pension systems in decades.
The bipartisan plan, passed by a vote of 143-53, provides $5 billion in long-term cost-savings, shifts the risk from taxpayers, and provides new state employees and teachers with the option to choose among three reliable hybrid defined benefit/contribution plans while ensuring current retirees and employees do not have their benefits compromised.
“This bill addresses the most critical financial issue facing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Heffley. “Public pensions are the largest cost driver for the state budget each year as well as for school districts. The pension crisis is one of the main culprits behind increased property taxes, as well. I supported Senate Bill 1 because public pension reform is long overdue. We have met our fiduciary responsibility to contribute to the pension systems each year I’ve been in office, but years of reckless decisions by previous administrations and prior legislative bodies have put taxpayers in the position they are in today – with a $64 billion unfunded pension liability. Today’s vote brings Pennsylvania’s public pension system into the 21st century.”
Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to sign the bill.
Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Morgan Dux
717.260.6695
mdux@pahousegop.com
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