GOP candidate on House pension vote: 'Too Little, Too Late'

Warren Kampf, the Republican candidate for the 157th state House District, issued the following statement Wednesday criticized the House for actions it took to address a looming pension crisis:

"With Pennsylvania facing a $1.5 billion deficit and state and local governments as well as school districts facing a pension crisis of the Legislature's making, the State House fell short yesterday in truly helping taxpayers," said Kampf. "Their efforts are too little, too late."

The House action delayed and equalized the costs looming over governments at all levels, as well as reduced some benefits for newly hired state workers and teachers. Ultimately, taxpayers will be on the hook for the massive costs brought about by past legislative action.

"When the politicians in Harrisburg increased their own pension and the pensions of state workers and teachers, they weren't thinking ahead to days like today where the economy is troubled, and they weren’t thinking about the cost to taxpayers," stated Kampf. "Instead they were thinking of their pocketbooks and thinking about how to garner political support."

"Now, when the opportunity for real change presented itself, the politicians in Harrisburg once again nibbled around the edges to gain a public relations bump for their re-election campaigns," Kampf continued. "This is another lost opportunity to show leadership and courage, and put taxpayers first again."

Kampf supports significant changes to the state pension system, including rolling back the pension increase for legislators and, most importantly, changing to a defined-contribution style pension system.

"We need to make Harrisburg work more like the real world – with 401k-type retirement systems for all workers and by forcing legislators to submit for legitimate expenses instead of taking per diems," said Kampf. "I would have fought for those changes yesterday in the House and I will fight for those changes as Representative."

For more on Kampf, visit his campaign Web site, http://www.warrenkampf.com/