HARRISBURG, Pa. — Dozens of advocates and lawmakers gathered at the State Capitol East Rotunda on Tuesday, to call for a ‘cost-of-living-adjustment’ for thousands of pre-Act 9 public sector retirees.
The General Assembly hasn't passed any COLA legislation since 2002, meaning that state and school employees who retired before then have no increase to pension benefits. The average pre-Act 9 state retiree is living on less than $20,000 a year.
“For two decades, we’ve seen budget after budget neglecting the need for a COLA," said Rep. Steve Malagari (D-Montgomery County).
“These folks worked hard for many years. And I think we can all agree that they have earned their retirement," said Aaron Chapin, the president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
Scott Brown, who was a high school math teacher before retiring in 2000, says many people are struggling due to inflation.
“It’s painful talking to friends of mine, who may have been aids in the school district, may have been bus drivers, or worked in the cafeteria and they have to go to the food bank to get some help, when they did what they did to serve their communities," said Brown.
House Democrats have introduced two bills, House Bill 1415 and House Bill 1416, which would increase pension benefits for 69,000 state retirees. Two corresponding bills have also been introduced in the Senate.
Brown said many impacted retirees joined public sector jobs to serve their communities. He argued that it's on state lawmakers to properly assist those who are struggling in retirement.
“It’s only fair that the legislators in this building take care of me the way we took care of them, their parents, and their grandparents," said Brown.