PERSI COLA bill to get hearing tomorrow

Here’s a news item from The Associated Press:  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate plans to debate a plan to block Idaho government retirees from getting a 1 percent pension increase in March. Sen. John Andreason, the Commerce and Human Resources Committee chairman, plans to take up the measure Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. The resolution, which has already passed the House, must clear both chambers by Wednesday to take effect. Majority Republicans in the House argued against expanding payments to retirees, on concern the pension fund should be protected because there’s no guarantee the economy — and investment returns — will improve. Democrats argued GOP lawmakers are shortchanging retirees and ignoring professional fund managers who said in December the increase was prudent. Andreason will hold the hearing in the Legislature’s auditorium, on expectation retirees will attend in force to oppose the resolution.