And he was vested in that retirement long ago or he couldn't retire today.  And new hires into that Tier One golden system haven't happened since it  was killed off in 1996.   By following the laws since 1988,  he gets to retire now.  The bill for that system was unpaid by all the Legislators and Governors since and now it is due.   

Just like the bill for Social Security keeps getting unpaid by the Congress and Presidents and will also come due.