Sen. Ring: Pension Reform Bill at Least a Month Away

Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, said Tuesday that there isn't likely to be a pension reform bill before the next 30 days, as legislators await actuarial reports for the state's retirement system, but some type of reform bill is inevitable.

"Reform is coming," said Ring, who chairs the Senate Government Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Ring and other senators are looking at ways to cut spending from the Florida Retirement System, and he says everything is on the table --from employee contributions to requiring all new hires to join a defined contribution program instead of offering a defined benefit plan, as well.

The actuarial studies will be the key for Ring, who is awaiting what he considers unbiased facts to go on, as public employee unions claim that the state's pension system is fine, and cities and counties throughout Florida claim it is eating too large a portion of their payrolls.