Can Washington Craft a Better Retirement Plan?
Harkin’s proposal for a hybrid fund may lay the foundation for reform
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Senator Tom Harkin is fond of describing the U.S. system of retirement savings as a wobbly three-legged stool. Now, as the Iowa Democrat prepares to exit the Senate, he’s attempting to hammer on a fourth support.
Under a bill Harkin introduced on Jan. 30, the traditional three legs—pensions, personal savings, and Social Security—would be supplemented by a new kind of investment vehicle, called USA Retirement Funds. With no Republican support at present, the legislation has scant hope of passing. Even so, the approach may be a useful starting point for debate.