Gov. Wolf confirms that he will veto public pension bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Gov. Tom Wolf is saying he will veto a Republican bill to overhaul Pennsylvania's public pensions.

The Democratic governor made his comments Thursday morning in a live telephone interview with KQV Newsradio in Pittsburgh.

Although he vetoed a Republican state budget plan and a GOP proposal to privatize state-controlled liquor and wine sales, Wolf has inexplicably held onto the pension legislation for more than a week. He has until Friday to sign the bill or allow it to become law without his signature.

Wolf says the bill on his desk is an improvement over previous pension overhaul proposals, but that it is not good for future state and school employees. The bill would close the traditional pension benefit for new hires and divert them into a "hybrid" style retirement plan.