Citizens protest state pension changes

Firefighters, nurses, social workers, teachers and other state employees plan to gather at the state capitol tomorrow to protest changes to public employee pensions.

There will be a press conference on Monday, February 17, 2014, starting at 11 a.m.

Legislators have two proposals to change the state pension system, House Bill 2630 and Senate Bill 2120.

Both bills got through committees last week.

The changes will only affect new state workers.

Current state workers are under a pension format, but the two bills will force new state workers to go to a 401(k) retirement savings plan.

The press conference will take place on the steps of the state capitol.

According to people against the changes to the state pension system, it will cost Oklahoma taxpayers billions of dollars.

After the press conference, state workers and their supporters will visit their legislators to give them new research on how much the change will cost workers and taxpayers.