[Mariner]

"The average residential homeowner likely will pay an additional $385 in property taxes in 2012"

No, they won't.

The good citizens of PA will vote out the politicians who propose such and will reneg on the pension plans.

You will see the same actions in every state and municipality, eventually.

Yes, the unions will raise hell...and yes, there'll be innumerable lawsuits. Still, it'll happen.

[doosee]

PA citizens opted for Arlen Spector over a fiscal conservative, Pat Toomey, then voted out conservative Santorum, then voted in Tax and Spend Fast Eddie Rendell. PA is doomed from what I see. I think the pols there think if the taxes are lower than NJ, there is no problem.

[cherry]

poppycock...there will be tears and sad news conferences and will hear about John who has diabetes and only one arm and was a Vietnam vet and there is no way he can take less than 80% of his pay as retirement...I mean, he'd have to sell the ocean property and the Bmw....

no my friends..the pensions will never be cut ever...

the only hope I see is states TAXING the hell out of these pensions to recoup a little of the excess...