June 16, 2009 Broadside: Is pension reform bill enough? Play video

(NECN) - Michael Jonas of Commonwealth Magazine joins Jim Braude on this segment of Broadside to discuss the pension reforms signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick.

The bill limits the definition of "compensation" to just wages and salary. It also bans the use of housing benefits, car-related costs and other bonuses to inflate pensions.

The changes would apply to both current and future state workers. The bill won bipartisan support in both chambers.

Jonas applauds that lawmakers have taken on the most outrageous use of state pension reforms, but calls those the "low hanging fruit." He says, "the question now is are they ever going to reach for that fruit that is a little higher up on the tree, or are they just going to let it sit there."