House bill may leave police officers paying more to retirement plans

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1/19/2011: Radio Story - The House Urban Issues Committee passed HB 71 to give St. Louis local control of police department.

1/26/2011: Radio Story - The Senate Progress and Development Committee heard testimonies of proponents and opponents of the St. Louis Police Control Bill.

Intro:	St. Louis police officers could have to pay more to their retirement plans with a Missouri House bill.
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Wrap: The House Retirement Committee debated a bill that would increase the amount St. Louis police officers pay to their pensions.

The 2 percent increase would raise the total to 9 percent out of their salaries.

David McKracken, a registered lobbyist for St. Louis Police Officers Association says he needs to see a financial statement of this bill before a decision is reached.

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Description: "We have not taken official position on this bill yet, we may or may not."

The bill needs committee approval before it goes to the House.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Emily Kissee.

Intro:	St. Louis police officers could have to pay more of their salary to pension plans under a Missouri House bill discussed in committee today.
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Wrap: The House Retirement Committee heard a bill that would require members of the St. Louis police department to pay 2 percent more for the same pension.

Executive Director Steve Olish of St Louis' Police Retirement System says the pension needs to be sustained, seeing as members of the police department do not receive social security.

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Description: "I think it is important to understand that St. Louis police officers are not covered by social security. They have their pension system and that's it."

Members would now have to pay 9 percent out of their salary.

Olish says some member organizations, such as the Police Officers Association and the Police Leadership, came together to agree on this bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Emily Kissee.

Intro:	The Missouri Retirement Committee heard a bill that would increase the amount St. Louis police officers pay to their pensions.
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Wrap: The bill's sponsor St. Louis Republican Representative Mike Leara says this bill keeps the formula for pension the same, but increases the amount police department members pay to their retirement plans.

The increase is 9 percent up from 7 percent.

Leara says police officers and political parties are in somewhat of an agreement with this bill, but the process will take time.

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Description: "I would like to say that we wanted to begin this process, we didn't expect to complete this today, we just wanted to begin this and hear what the Police Board had to say."

The bill needs committee approval before it goes to the House.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Emily Kissee.