Bill proposed to cut legislators retirement plans

See Related Stories

1/17/2012: Newspaper Story - Missouri's public universities bore the brunt of Gov. Nixon's 2013 proposed budget cuts.

Intro:	A bill that would eliminate legislators pensions ran into opposition.
RunTime:	0:38
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Under Republican Representative Rick Brattin's plan legislators would have to serve sixteen years to receive pension benefits.

Most of the house committee disagrees with the bill, but Brattin says it will make lawmakers better public servants.

Actuality:	BRATTIN.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "You've got to I guess invest more of your time, be more of a public servant, kinda like a job I mean you can't do six years there and draw retirement. In the military, you know I served my country and I don't draw retirement due to that."

Brattin says he's not trying to take away his coworker's pensions, but make them more cost effective for tax payers. The committee has taken no immediate action.

Reporting from the capitol, I'm Sarah Duffey.

Intro:	Most of the House Retirement Committee questioned a bill that would restrict legislative retirement plans.
RunTime:	0:37
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: House Retirement Committee members attacked a bill restricting legislators who serve less than sixteen years from receiving retirement benefits.

Republican Representative Mike Lair from Northwest Missouri says the bill will make it unappealing for low income citizens to run for office.

Actuality:	LAIR.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "I don't look at it philosophically in the same way you do, you're looking at it as a young man where your retirement is somewhere in the future, I'm looking at it from a guy whose qualified for social security already."

Many Missouri legislators have other jobs. The committee has taken no further action on the bill.

Reporting from the capitol, I'm Sarah Duffey.

Intro:	A number of The House Retirement Committee members argued against a bill to save future retirement plans.
RunTime:	0:42
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Many House Retirement Committee members spoke against the bill that would increase the years in office required for legislators to collect a pension.

Democratic Representative Tommie Pierson from St. Louis says at his age he won't be around long enough to be re-elected to reach the sixteen years needed to get his pension.

Actuality:	PIERSON1.WAV
Run Time:	00:15
Description: "So what you're saying to most people is that you serve in the house if thats where you start, then you won't need to worry about a pension, most folks will not get sixteen years in this elected position so you're just cutting a bunch of us out if this passes."

The committee members say they will remain open minded to this bill because changes will be made.

Reporting from the capitol, I'm Sarah Duffey.