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Wildfires prompt evacuation in the Carolinas as New Jersey crews battle their own blaze; Iowa town halls find 'empty chairs'; CA groups bring generations together to work on society's biggest problems; PA works to counter Trump clean energy rollbacks.

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Lawmakers from both parties face angry constituents. Some decide to skip town halls rather than address concerned voters and Kentucky considers mandatory Medicaid work requirements.

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Cuts to Medicaid and frozen funding for broadband are both likely to have a negative impact on rural healthcare, which is already struggling. Plus, lawsuits over the mass firing of federal workers have huge implications for public lands.

MS workers face retirement gap as state considers savings plan

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Tuesday, March 4, 2025   

For many Mississippians, saving for retirement feels out of reach. Nearly 48% of private-sector workers in the state lack access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, leaving them with little to no savings for their later years.

AARP Mississippi is advocating for a solution with Senate Bill 2861, a state-facilitated retirement savings program which could help thousands of workers secure their futures. The bill would create an optional workplace retirement savings program for private-sector employees. Workers could opt to contribute a portion of their paycheck into a Roth IRA, with the state treasurer's office managing the program.

Kimberly Campbell, state director for AARP Mississippi, said the program is designed to help those who need it most, particularly moderate to lower-income individuals.

"They are not saving, and then that sector is also the sector later on that financially struggles the most, and they can't afford health care, they can't afford to live in safe places, they can't afford healthy food," Campbell outlined. "This program would help them build a nest egg for the future."

Critics argued the state should prioritize incentivizing private employers to offer retirement plans rather than creating a government-run program. However, a 2023 report from the National Institute on Retirement Security found that 57% of working-age Americans have less than $5,000 saved for retirement.

The bill has gained bipartisan support and is part of a multiyear effort by AARP Mississippi to address the state's retirement savings gap. Campbell emphasized the program would be entirely voluntary.

"It is not mandatory," Campbell stressed. "Our bill is that people would be able to opt into this if they are so inclined because research has shown us that entities that have a retirement savings program, by and large, more people will save that way than if not."

Advocates warned Mississippi's low retirement savings and aging population, of which more than 16% of residents are 65 or older, make the issue urgent. AARP Mississippi is pushing lawmakers to act, as the bill must clear the House Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee today or it will die. Its companion bill in the House has already failed.

Disclosure: AARP Mississippi contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, Community Issues and Volunteering, Health Issues, and Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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