Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2012-03-28

Duration: 00:57:59

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Louisiana -- Officials and employees | Retirement | Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Goidel, Kirby Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Evans, Michael Interviewee
• Moller, Jan Interviewee
• Jindal, Bobby Speaker
• Jobert, Frank Interviewee
• Guillory, Elbert Interviewee
• Landry, Judy Speaker
• White, Elton Speaker
• Atteberry, Philip Speaker
• Bernard, Kurt Speaker
• Depew, Shirley Speaker
• Daniels, Ben Speaker
• Frederick, Brent Speaker
• Jenkins, Rosalind Speaker
• Ray, Ronald Speaker
• St. Dizier, Paul Speaker
• Jobert, Frank Panelist
• Scott, Robert Travis Panelist
• Reynolds, Allen Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from March 28, 2012, features Kirby Goidel leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the Jindal Administration’s pension reform proposals for the state retirement system. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Michael Evans, state employee; Jan Moller of the Louisiana Budget Project; Frank Jobert of the Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana; and State Senator Elbert Guillory. The audience members then discuss their questions and concerns about the proposed changes to the state retirement system. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Frank Jobert, the president of the Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana; Robert Travis Scott, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR); and Allen Reynolds, the former director of the Louisiana Department of State Civil Service. They discuss: their concerns about the $18.5 billion unfunded accrued liability in the state’s retirement system; the proposed changes to the system, including raising the employee contributions by 3% and raising the retirement age to 67; the impact of the proposed changes on current employees; the constitutionality of the proposed changes; and the possibility of a high number of state employees retiring early if the changes are approved. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Kirby Goidel