Critic of RI pension overhaul taps crowd funding for probe

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A critic of Gov. Gina Raimondo’s pension overhaul when she was Rhode Island General Treasurer is investigating the pension system with money raised in crowd funding.

The Providence Journal reports (https://bit.ly/1DRLKyo ) that Edward Siedle posted a column on Forbes.com that says his investigation is the first-ever to be crowd funded.

He says that For a “mere pledge” of $25 participants in retirement plans can band together to get an independent, expert review that can be used to improve pension funds’ structure, investments and performance.

By Friday, his campaign page said he had $5,150 in pledges from 96 people. His goal is $20,000.

Siedle produced a critical report in 2013 for the largest state employees union about Raimondo’s pension-cutting and pension-investment strategies.

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Information from: The Providence Journal, https://www.providencejournal.com