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New York State lawmakers are weighing changes to the Tier 6 pension system with significant long-term fiscal consequences. The debate reflects a familiar pattern in Albany: expand pension commitments now and pay later.
The politics are not hard to grasp. Public sector unions are among the best organized and politically engaged forces in Albany. They show up — literally. On March 8, more than 15,000 members from the UFT, NYSUT, PEF, AFT and other unions rallied at the Capitol for more generous pensions. Gov. Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and Attorney General Tish James have all expressed support. Republican lawmakers are on board too. The only opposition comes from a handful of budget watchdog organizations.
Near-universal agreement to expand benefits should invite skepticism rather than confidence. It is a signature feature of pension politics: when the political reward for pleasing unions is high and the cost is deferred, partisan divisions dissolve.
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Daniel DiSalvo is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and professor of political science at the City College of New York-CUNY.