HARRISBURG (AP) - Gov. Tom Corbett is getting specific about possible pension cuts while a number of constituent groups are asking for specificity on expansion of Medicaid.
Corbett says any rollbacks in pension benefits for current Pennsylvania state employees and teachers should be applied across the board to include lawmakers and judges.
Corbett made the comments Thursday as the Republican governor considers ways to slow the growth of pension costs that have become a $41 billion unfunded liability.
Despite case law barring reductions in benefits for tens of thousands of current employees, Corbett says he believes it is legally possible to change the formula used to calculate their future benefits.
The governor acknowledged that it may be impossible under present law to reduce the pensions of judges and Corbett says any such change would most likely have to be settled in court.
The AARP, Pennsylvania Council of Churches and Pennsylvania's chapter of the National Association of Social Workers are among dozens of public health and advocacy groups that are asking Corbett to pursue a federally funded expansion of Medicaid.
The 64 groups wrote a letter to Corbett this week, saying the move would save the state on costs for uncompensated care, behavioral health and immunizations.
Under 2010's federal Affordable Care Act, states can expand income eligibility limits under the nation's health care program for the poor to cover more adults.
They say expanding the state's coverage could cover up to 500,000 Pennsylvanians who lack health care while strengthening hospitals, health clinics and medical professionals.
Corbett, a Republican who is critical of the law, hasn't said what he will do.
