Pa. lawmakers deal Corbett a pension setback

Pennsylvania lawmakers have unceremoniously tabled a public pension overhaul supported by Gov. Tom Corbett.

The proposal to change pension benefits for future state and school employees has been sidelined.

Shortly after the bill was brought up for debate and a vote on the House floor, 15 Republicans joined with Democrats to send it to a committee for further study, possibly putting off a vote until after the summer.

“Put together a group over the summer to look at this problem. There are too many unanswered questions about the proposal and about the amendment that we have before us,” said Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks.

The proposal was controversial among Republicans, some of whom criticized it for not doing enough to shrink the state’s existing pension debt or offer relief to school districts hurting now because of pension costs.

Democrats say they oppose it because it wouldn’t provide enough retirement security for future workers.

The move to put off a vote was a blow to Corbett’s agenda. He supported the plan, and had previously said he wasn’t ready to sign the state budget without its passage.