Legislature approves bill to curb pension abuses

By Globe Staff

The Massachusetts Legislature has passed a bill intended to end some of the most egregious pension abuses that have plagued the state retirement system for decades.

The House and Senate voted unanimously this afternoon to approve the bill, which would eliminate sweetheart provisions, tighten the rules, and, lawmakers hope, improve the image of state government.

"Today we close the loopholes and abuses that have existed in our retirement laws for far too long. Today we begin a series of reforms … that I believe will begin to restore the public's faith and trust in their government," said Representative Robert Spellane, the Worcester Democrat who chairs the Public Service Committee.

Governor Deval Patrick has vowed to sign the bill, which was unveiled by legislative leaders Wednesday after being hammered out in a conference committee between the two chambers. Lawmakers in the two chambers accepted the conference report unanimously today.

More than five months into the legislative session, the pension bill marks the first significant legislation of any kind to pass this year, aside from a handful of emergency budget provisions, the Globe reports today.