Pennsylvania Proves Change is Possible
By Gina Diorio
Ten—even five—years ago, public pension reform was a pipe dream in Pennsylvania. Now, it’s reality. The state Legislature passed transformative reform with major 401(k)-style components. What’s more, Governor Tom Wolf—who vetoed pension reform in 2015—will sign it!
For more than a decade, Commonwealth Foundation has been relentlessly fighting for reform—when lawmakers were uninterested and government union leaders denied a crisis existed. But Commonwealth Foundation helped change the political culture. In 2016, a poll showed most Pennsylvania voters wanted reform, and over the last several elections, Pennsylvanians increasingly supported lawmakers who would make reform a priority—and now, a reality. If this kind of change can happen against all odds in a state of Pennsylvania’s size and influence, it can happen anywhere.
Photo Credit: Commonwealth Foundation
Read about the details of this remarkable reform here.
Gina Diorio is director of media relations at the Commonwealth Foundation.
