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You all crack me up! Do you think it will be easy to cut current retired city employees pensions? Do any of you understand how long and costly the legal battles are?

Just so you all know in Rhode Island pensions are considered a contract and to change without a vote by the unions will result in a whole bunch of breach of contract law suits, Meaning in RI pensions are Contractually-protected.

There have also as of late been a series of law suits stating that pension reform is a violation of the 5th amendment of the constitution which (prohibits a governmental “taking” of property without just compensation. Thus, once a property interest in a public employee pension is found to exist, any changes to a public pension plan must comply with due process and, where property has been “taken,” the property owner must be justly compensated. Where a challenge is brought under the takings clause, the court will consider three factors: (1) the economic impact of the change; (2) the extent to which the change interferes with investment-backed expectations; and (3) the character of the government action.)

As for Mr. Cushman being allowed to speak in front of city council (he is not qualified at all) other than the “open to the public” time spot if the answer is yes why only him on this topic? Where do you draw the line?

Let’s be honest here pension reform is nothing new to any City, Town, or State in the USA and nothing is hidden here Mr. Cushman was able to find the data so anyone who wants to look can find it and apply it to how they see fit.

As for Ms. Stacia and Mr. Dempsey go AWAY you lost and will never get elected you want to run a city but will argue your points with a writer of a local new paper in the comments section. If any of you want to do some useful work come up with a solution that fits within the law don’t point out what is wrong. Anyone can point out what is wrong what we need from politician’s is a plan to fix what is wrong which neither of you did….