"Rhode Island was slower than most other states to fund its pension system.... [W]orkers -- many not covered by Social Security -- contributed more toward these benefits than their counterparts in other states. While workers shouldered most of the cost of current benefits, employers failed to pay even their full (smaller) share, leaving ERSRI among the most underfunded plans in the country. Between 2005 and 2010, three rounds of cuts reduced pension benefits for a prototypical 30-year employee by 23 percent."  MORE >>