They like to berate the PERA system, because it applies to the disliked state employees and teachers.  But it s a guaranteed benefit provided by contract and by law.  It's people who have messed it up.  But do these same folks fault the social-security system equally?  It is in just-as-bad condition, and for similar man-caused reasons.  People who know nothing about retirement benefits (AKA legislators) keep trying to tweak the system.