Stay the course on pension reform

The front page of Tuesday’s Providence Journal tells the story of Rhode Island’s fiscal irresponsibility (“Mixed reviews on RI’s economy,” News, May 14). 44th in the nation in fiscal stability. Once again shortsighted policies by the latest weak political leader, Gov. Dan McKee, takes the place of leadership and fails to make the difficult but necessary decisions to strengthen the state’s future fiscal picture.

Our governor proposes using federal pandemic money to fund current operations. One more false step in a series of shortsighted decisions most glaringly exemplified by the nonstop hue and cry of pensioners to reinstate COLAs in spite of the continued weight of the state’s unfunded pension liability on the long-term stability of our government. Do people really think that a Democratic governor would make such an unpopular decision to halt COLAs, if it were not supported by responsible and thoughtful analysis of the economics?

Governor Raimondo had everything to lose and nothing personal to gain, other than being seen as an honest and smart leader who was trying to drag R.I. kicking and screaming into a healthy future, when she made the difficult but fiscally responsible decision to reduce the unfunded pension liability. But no, now folks want to walk back that decision and once again kick the can down the road.

Let the next generation figure it out. I for one would like the next generation to be able to look back and be thankful that we put the state’s long-term fiscal health above our own shortsighted concerns. Do not undo pension reform.

Kathleen A. Carey, Providence