McKee Pledges $12 Million to Cut Rhode Island Pension Age to 60
Updated
Updated · The Providence Journal · Aug 21
McKee Pledges $12 Million to Cut Rhode Island Pension Age to 60
2 articles · Updated · The Providence Journal · Aug 21
Summary
$12 million a year would be added to McKee's 2027-28 budget proposal to let state workers and teachers retire at 60 with full pensions after 30 years of service.
The plan would roll back current rules requiring age 62 and 33 years of work, delivering unions' long-sought "Rule of 90" ahead of Rhode Island's Democratic primary.
Major teacher unions and AFSCME Council 94 endorsed McKee before the announcement, giving him labor backing as independent polls have shown challenger Helena Foulkes ahead by as much as 20 points.
Critics cast the pledge as election-year pandering: Attorney General Peter Neronha attacked the timing, and Foulkes' campaign said McKee had six budget cycles to act and offered no funding plan.
The proposal also reopens a fight over Rhode Island's 2011 pension overhaul, which unions say hurt morale, recruitment and retention and still needs broader changes.