Public Pensions: How Much is Owed? An Interview with Lawrence McQuillan
Posted: Thu. June 18, 2015

Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan, author of California Dreaming, appears on WNWS radio in Jackson, Tennessee to discuss the financial crisis growing in a number of cities and states across America: their underfunded public pension systems. The problem threatens cities and states with bankruptcy because the money that should be in the pension funds isn’t available and retirees have been promised benefits. Bankruptcy judges have already ruled that pensions for public employees can be cut to pennies on the dollar. How to we reform the system? McQuillan has a plan to move to 401k-style pensions that will keep the funds solvent and continue to pay benefits promised to retirees. Nationally, state and local governments are in the red, or in deficit $4.7 trillion, which is money that should be in the bank, ready to pay pension benefits.

Morality of Public Pension Debt—An Interview with Lawrence McQuillan
Posted: Tue. June 16, 2015

Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan, author of California Dreaming, appears on WEBY radio in Florida. McQuillan discusses the implications of leaving future generations saddled with debt owed to public employee pension systems. His simple idea is to switch now to a defined contribution plan, similar to a 401-k, rather than a defined benefit plan, such as a pension plan. Private companies long ago did away with defined benefit plans. Across the United States, cities, states and counties have pension plans for public employees that are underfunded. Recent bankruptcies have shown that if the trend continues, judges will cut the payments to retirees in bankruptcy rulings.

Challenge of Liberty Student Seminars—An Interview with Mark LaPrairie
Posted: Tue. June 16, 2015

Associate Student Programs Director Mark LaPrairie appears on KLZ radio in Denver to discuss Independent Institute’s Challenge of Liberty Student Seminars. Mark discusses topics including free markets, liberty and economics. Mark will be a senior at Hillsdale College in the fall and was one of the presenters at the seminar.

The Unfunded Public Pension Crisis—An Interview with Lawrence McQuillan
Posted: Tue. June 16, 2015

Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan, author of California Dreaming appears on Radio America’s “Made in America” to discuss the public pension crisis in the US. How did public pension funds become so depleted and why haven’t politicians made good on their promises to fully fund pension systems? The city of Detroit went bankrupt and the judge ruled that pension benefits to current retirees can be cut to pennies on the dollar. McQuillan explains how to fix the system and make good on promises to retirees while keeping future public pension systems solvent.

The Unfunded Public Pension Crisis—An Interview with Lawrence McQuillan
Posted: Tue. June 16, 2015

Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan, author of California Dreaming, appears on the Pete Kaliner show on WWNC radio to explain how California and other states and cities have gotten into the situation with massive public pension deficits. Promises were made to public employees, but the pension funds are less than what was promised to retirees. McQuillan has a plan to switch these pension plans to a defined contribution plan, similar to a 401-k, which could not be underfunded. If private sector companies did this to their pension funds, they would be in prison. McQuillan explains how pension funds around the US have gotten to this crisis point.

How to Fix the Public Pension Crisis—An Interview with Lawrence McQuillan
Posted: Tue. June 16, 2015

Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan, author of California Dreaming, appears on the Pete Kaliner show on WWNC radio to explain how California and other states and cities have gotten into the situation with massive public pension deficits. Promises were made to public employees, but the pension funds are less than what was promised to retirees. McQuillan has a plan to switch these pension plans to a defined contribution plan, similar to a 401-k, which could not be underfunded. If private sector companies did this to their pension funds, they would be in prison. McQuillan explains how pension funds around the US have gotten to this crisis point.

Public Pension Crisis—An Interview with Lawrence McQuillan
Posted: Tue. June 16, 2015

Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan, author of California Dreaming, appears on KCAA radio and talks about the $4.7 trillion unfunded pension debt crisis in the US. Some states are worse off than others but California has the largest pension debt at $750 billion. That money should be in the bank to pay pension benefits, but it is not. Over decades, politicians have promised pension benefits and counted on big returns on investments, but returns on those investments have not materialized. Large cities also face the same problem. How do we fix the situation? McQuillan offers a plan to fulfill promises to retirees and keep pensions solvent.

Independent Publishing and Independent Institute—An Interview with Acquisitions Director Roy Carlisle
Posted: Mon. June 15, 2015

Independent Institute Acquisitions Director Roy M. Carlisle is interviewed by IBPA Executive Director Angela Bole at the Book Expo Book Convention in New York City. Roy talks about two new books from the Independent Institute: A Better Choice by Senior Fellow John C. Goodman and California Dreaming by Senior Fellow Lawrence McQuillan. Both books were highlighted at the conference and the authors signed copies of the books for attendees. Carlisle is a former board member of the Independent Book Publishers Association and the conversation touches on the Independent Institute’s powerful scholarly book program offering solutions to today’s public policy issues such as water markets, healthcare and education.