Judge rules Florida pension changes unconstitutional
Source: Tampa Bay Times
Judge rules Florida pension changes unconstitutional
By Mary Ellen Klas, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Posted: Mar 06, 2012 02:15 PM
TALLAHASSEE — Leon County Circuit Court Judge Jackie Fulford ruled against the state of Florida on Tuesday, declaring unconstitutional a 2011 law that cut state worker salaries 3 percent, or $1 billion, and shifted the money into the state's pension fund.
If the ruling — which will be appealed — is upheld, lawmakers would be forced to repay state workers the $1 billion they started collecting July 1, 2011, and to plug a corresponding $1 billion budget hole.
Lawmakers would then have to cut an additional $1 billion from the $70 billion budget they are expected to pass this week.
In her ruling, Fulford said that she understands the "role of the judiciary is to interpret the law before it; not to make law" but to do that she would have had to ignore the law and added, "This court cannot set aside its constitutional obligations because a budget crisis exists in the State of Florida.
Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/civil/article1218591.ece
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