pensions just passed the senate

The Alaska Senate just brought pensions back.

The State Senate passed a bill this week that would bring back guaranteed pension checks for public workers for the first time in 20 years.

Teachers, troopers, firefighters, and state workers would get the option to stay on the current 401k style plan or switch into the new pension. Anchorage and the Mat-Su would feel this most since that's where most state workers live. The price tag on this is up to 89 million a year, depending on how many folks actually choose the pension side.

Alaska shut down the old pension in 2006 and replaced it with a 401k. That move pushed a lot of skilled workers out of state because retirement here got too risky.

Now the bill heads back to the House, then to the governor for a signature or a veto.