"The underestimation of how long people would live and the medical expenses has created the soaring liability."

These variables also affect private sector retirees too.  For these increased expenses to not affect public retirees makes no sense.  We are all Alaskans.  We all need to feel the pain.  Tier 1 retirees don't deserve a pass on facing Alaska's economic reality.  Their pension and health benefits need to be downsized.  The Supreme Court will rule differently given our new economic paradigm.  Public employee pension "obligations" can and should be cut to levels that match the private sector.