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. Prior to that, held positions at the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
At Reason, Gassenberger has contributed to in-depth analysis of the Arkansas TRS, Florida FRS, Louisiana LASERS, Louisiana TRSL, Mississippi PERS, Montana MPERS, Montana TRS, New Mexico ERB, New Mexico PERA, North Dakota PERS, Texas ERS, and Texas TRS pension systems.
Gassenberger has also presented testimony in Montana, Nebraska, and Texas during state pension reform efforts.
His work has been published in The Wall Street Journal and Business Observer.
Gassenberger recently shared the stage at the Pelican Institute’s Solutions Summit 2.0 with Louisiana State Senator Barrow Peacock, Michigan State Senator Phil Pavlov, and Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist at The American Legislative Exchange Council in discussing “Fostering a Sustainable System for Louisiana.”
Gassenberger graduated from the University of New Orleans with a BA in international relations and received a MA in public policy from Tel Aviv University.
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Testimony: Legislation in Montana Would Use Marijuana Tax Revenue to Pay for Pensions
Dedicating marijuana tax revenues to pay down long-term pension debts can help improve a state’s financial position.
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Testimony: Texas Employee Pension System Considers Funding Change
Over $4.46 billion of ERS's pension debt can be attributed to the way the state systematically underfunds its public employee pension system.
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Testimony: Texas Pensions Would Benefit from Increased Transparency
A Private Equity Portfolio Performance report would make public specific information regarding the private equity holdings of TRS for third-party monitoring and evaluation.
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Montana Public Employee Retirement System (MPERS) Pension Solvency Analysis
The Montana Public Employee Retirement System public pension plan is only 74 percent funded.
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Testimony: Nebraska Taxpayers, Employees and Retirees Would Benefit From Pension Stress Testing
Stress testing can help stakeholders better understand the potential financial risks facing pension systems.
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Legislation in Nebraska Would Use Stress Testing to Assess Municipal Pension Sustainability
Stress testing would be a significant first step in identifying and addressing the challenges facing locally-run pension plans in Nebraska.
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North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System Pension Solvency Analysis
The public pension plan has only 68 percent of the assets needed to fully fund the system in the long-term.
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Contribution Increases Could Help New Mexico’s Teacher Pension Plan, But More Changes Are Necessary
Recently proposed changes would improve the pension plan's funded status, but still fall far short of helping the plan reach full funding.