Senate Republicans on Monday advanced legislation to overhaul benefits in Pennsylvania’s two major public employee pension systems — over the protests of Democrats who say they have not had a chance to even read the bill.  The 410-page bill was passed the Senate Finance Committee along partisan lines less than 72 hours after it was publicly unveiled. No hearing has been held on the bill or is even scheduled, and Senate Republicans aim to pass it by the end of the week.  Their hope is to make it a central part of negotiations with Gov. Tom Wolf, as the Democrat seeks approval for a tax increase to wipe out a massive projected budget deficit and to underwrite the biggest-ever one-year increase for public schools. Wolf opposes a key element of the GOP’s bill — the end of the debt-ridden traditional pension system that covers about 370,000 workers.  Democrats said a constructive discussion about addressing a $53 billion pension debt can happen only when there’s a chance to debate different ideas or plans.

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Source: Morning Call, By Marc Levy of the Associated Press, May 12, 2015; PA Ed Policy Roundup, May 12, 2015.