House and Senate lawmakers are expected to reach agreement as early as today in negotiating provisions of a pension bill that would replace the 30-year Treasury bond for calculating liabilities. As part of the pension package, lawmakers have agreed on a compromise that would give contribution relief only to the 20% of multiemployer plans with the worst investment performance in 2002, according to a Capitol Hill staffer.
Still up in the air is whether companies outside the steel and airline industries with underfunded plans would be able to get relief from making "deficit reduction contribution" catch-up payments. Another sticking point is a requirement by Republican lawmakers for a two-year hiatus in benefit increases during the temporary relief.
