House takes up ‘compromise legislation’ on judges’ retirement plan

The House is now debating HB 660, the judges’ retirement plan bill. Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, said legislation to address funding and structural problems in the plan has failed in the House on close votes twice in the last five years. He called this year’s bill “compromise legislation .. that we can all sign onto.” It both increases contributions and trims benefits for new judges. Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, said, “The changes that were made back in 2000 had left the plan … being drained.”