By Randal Edgar, Journal State House Bureau

If Rhode Islanders were asked to name one person who has led the charge on pension reform this year, it's safe to say that many would choose state General Treasurer Gina Raimondo. In her "Truth in Numbers" report and in her talks with retirees and state lawmakers, Raimondo has made it clear that the system is broken and needs an overhaul -- one that could affect the benefits of current employees and retirees.

But according to the latest edition of NewsLinc, a weekly email update on the activities of Governor Chafee, Raimondo is not the only politician who is out in front of the pension issue. The top headline on last week's NewsLinc read: "Governor Chafee takes Lead in Calling for Collaboration on Addressing Pension Reform."

According to the article, Chafee has "had numerous recent discussions" with Raimondo, House Speaker Gordon Fox and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed "regarding the serious challenges confronting our state and municipal pension systems."

The article also says that Chafee -- who during last year's gubernatorial campaign proposed pension changes that would have affected only the benefits of future workers and those with fewer than five years on the job -- believes the state must consider possibilities, including changes that would affect age, eligibility, cost-of-living increases, contribution levels and benefit changes.

Chafee attended the monthly meeting of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers last Thursday, but the timing -- just a few days after Raimondo released her report -- was a coincidence, said federation President Frank Flynn. Still, the pension issue did come up in the meeting, which was closed to the press.

Asked how the discussion went, Chafee said: "I'm being consistent through the campaign, and, as we go into this, that the best chance of success is to have everybody together in agreement, so that's my goal. It's not inconceivable that unions could agree on changes to existing retirees and existing employees. It's not inconceivable, and if that happens we're not in court spending money on lawyers ... We all want to have a solvent system. I'm not going to put words in their mouths, but it's not inconceivable that we could all come to agreement on changes that are positive for everybody."

Flynn said there are differences of opinion within the union, whose membership includes people at both ends of the spectrum -- new hires and retirees -- and as well people in between.

"I don't see it as a one-size-fits-all fix. There are so many variables," he said. "But it's a real problem and I think everybody realizes that."