"Plaintiffs argue that Gadsden firefighters who have complied with the statutory requirements possess a 'vested' right to a 6% employee contribution rate. This argument relies on the assumption that there exists an implied promise not to raise the employee contribution rate once a firefighter becomes eligible for retirement benefits. We can find neither hide nor hair of such a promise.... [T]he City did not alter plaintiffs' pension benefits; instead, it altered their pension obligations. This distinction -- between pension benefits and pension obligations -- is warranted by the well-worn difference between earned and anticipated compensation under the Contract Clause." [Taylor v. City of Gadsden, No. 13-13885 (11th Cir. Sept. 16, 2014)]  MORE >>