Steven Gassenberger
Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation
Steven Gassenberger is a policy analyst with Reason Foundation's Pension Integrity Project.
Prior to joining Reason, Gassenberger worked as a consumer advocacy manager for Xerox Corporation specializing in financial consumer regulation and compliance. He also worked as a senior associate for Stateside Associates, where he developed state-level management strategies for a variety of policy areas.
Gassenberger graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and received a Master of Arts in public policy from Tel Aviv University.
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Evaluating the Actuarial Soundness of Texas’ Largest Public Pension Plans
Reforms would move the state towards more sustainable and responsible retirement systems that better protect Texas' teachers, public employees and taxpayers.
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Florida’s Public Pension Investment Return Assumptions Are Too Risky and Driving Debt
Unrealistic investment return assumptions have been the largest contributor to the $30.3 billion in unfunded pension liabilities the Florida Retirement System has accumulated since 2008.
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Despite Budget Deficit, Texas Must Stay Committed to Funding State Pension Plans
The state needs to maintain consistent payments to the retirement systems and adopt more risk-averse plan assumptions to protect worker benefits and prevent Texas taxpayers from being on the hook for more debt.
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New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association Solvency Analysis
PERA administrators and stakeholders are likely to face persistent challenges made more pronounced by ongoing market and revenue volatility.
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Mississippi Public Employees’ Retirement System Solvency Analysis
Underperforming investment returns have been the biggest contributor to the growing unfunded liability, adding $6.8 billion in debt to the system since 2001.
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Answering Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Public Pensions
This resource, designed for state legislators and staff, will assist in answering crucial questions regarding how the pandemic and resulting market conditions have affected state sponsored public pension plans.
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Committee Staff Report on Teacher Retirement System of Texas Recommends Increasing Investment Transparency
The Sunset Commission staff recommendations are a positive step towards a more sustainable retirement system for current and future Texas public servants and taxpayers.
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Arkansas Teacher Retirement System Pension Solvency Analysis
Investment returns failing to meet unrealistic expectations has been the single largest contributor to unfunded liability growth, adding $1.9 billion in debt to ATRS since 2000.
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New Mexico Enacts Bipartisan Pension Reform to Improve PERA Solvency
Senate Bill 72 was a necessary and crucial first step towards improving the financial health of PERA and ensuring the sustainable delivery of public employee retirement benefits for state and local workers