A plan to fold four state retirement systems into one draws questions from senators who think it might make it harder to attract qualified people to the legisalture and to judgeships.
Most state employees are part of MOSERS, the Missouri State Employees Retirement System. Judges have their own retirement system. Legislators have theirs. Statewide elected officials have theirs. Cape Girardeau Seantor Jason Crowell wants to combine them and base pensions on a common mathematical calculation,.
AUDIO: Crowell :26
Crowell’s plan would mean future judges would draw average pensions of 22-thousand dollars, about sixty percent less than they get now. Lawmakers who become vested in legislative pensions now after eight year would not become vested until ten–meaning term limited lawmakers would not get pensions unless than got elected to the other chamber after finish their limited eight years of service in the one they were first elected to. Elected officials also would see dips.
Critics worry the cuts will discourage highly-qualified people from wanting to serve in the legisalture or as judges. More lengthy debate is expected