PRS Students Testify Before NH Special Committee on Public Employee Pensions Reform

Policy Research Shop members Michael Altamirano ‘13, Brandon Debot ’14, and Steven Cheung ’13 (left to right) present their findings on cost of living adjustments to members of the NH Special Committee on Public Employee Pension Reforms on Friday, February 10, 2012.
On Friday, February 10, 2012, three Dartmouth students from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center Policy Research Shop, Michael Altamirano ‘13, Steven Cheung ‘13, and Brandon Debot ’14, traveled to the NH Legislative Office Building in Concord, NH, to testify before the NH Special Committee on Public Employee Pensions Reform. 
Researchers Steven Cheung ’13, Brandon Debot ’14, and Michael Altamirano ’13 (left to right) field questions from members of the NH Special Committee on Public Employee Pension Reforms after presenting their findings
At the invitation of Chairman Ken Hawkins, the PRS team presented their analysis of policy options for reforming the way in which the state of New Hampshire awards cost of living adjustments (COLAs) to its retirees. The students discussed the ways in which other states and the federal governments issue COLAs, including detailed analysis of various measures of inflation, and presented the likely cost/benefit outcomes for NH should it choose to move away from its current system of awarding COLAs on an ad-hoc basis. After a fifteen-minute presentation, the students responded to detailed and highly-technical questions from the committee. The team enjoyed a tour of the NH State House before heading back to Dartmouth.
The Policy Research Shop is supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program.