To the Point
After Detroit, Public Pensions Are No Longer Sacred
State and local governments may be breaking their long-standing promise to public workers. Guaranteed pensions are said to be too expensive. How did they get that way?
By Warren Olney • • 51m ListenFrom Rhode Island to Illinois to California, state and local governments may be breaking their long-standing promise to public workers. Guaranteed pension plans are said to be too expensive. How did they get that way? Is it the fault of people who took moderate wages for sometimes dangerous jobs in exchange for security in their old age? Also, Congress has just days to pass a "cease-fire" budget deal, and new revelations about government spying — using online computer games.
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In this episode
3 storiesCongress Has Just Days to Pass a 'Cease-fire' Budget Deal
For the first time in two years, House and Senate Committee leaders may have forged a budget agreement. But it's been done in secret and may be as noteworthy for what it does not do as for what it does. Lori Montgomery is economic policy reporter for the Washington Post .
Read the story7 minAre Government Workers Facing a Broken Promise?
Public workers may not be getting the retirement pay they've traditionally been guaranteed by contracts, laws and state constitutions. Last week, a federal bankruptcy ruling declared that Detroit's pension plans for city workers could be modified , just like any other debts owed by the city.
Read the story35 minIs NSA Monitoring You through Your Favorite Video Games?
Classified documents leaked by fugitive Edward Snowden reveal that American and British intelligence agencies have created make-believe characters to take part in the computer games World of Warcraft and Second Life. Google, Microsoft and six other technology companies are calling for limits to government spying on their customers.
Read the story8 min
