Paterson vetoes pension sweetener for cops, firefighters

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

Gov. David Paterson is beginning to make good on his promise to cap New York spending with his veto of a pension sweetener for newly hired police and firefighters.

Paterson says vetoing the measure extended by the Legislature every two years since 1981 will save the state and local governments millions. It would entitle police and firefighters hired after July 1 to generous Tier II retirement benefits, a level shut to most public workers for more than 20 years.

Paterson says today the veto is part of his effort to change a public worker pension system that he says has become unaffordable for taxpayers.

The Legislature could still try to override the veto.