Ohio Senate leaders urge support for pension bills

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio Senate leaders say proposed changes to the state’s five public pension funds might not be popular with everyone, but they’re necessary.

Republican Senate President Tom Niehaus and Senate Democratic Leader Eric Kearney have sponsored a package of bills aimed at shoring up the funds. They submitted testimony today to an Ohio House panel that’s having hearings on the funds’ fiscal health.

The Senate has passed the pension package, but House leaders delayed acting on the measures as they awaited a study released in July. A House vote on legislation is being eyed for September.

The pending legislation include requests by the funds to raise premiums, lower payouts and tighten eligibility requirements for affected teachers, police and other workers in order to keep funds serving 1.7 million Ohioans solvent.