Retirement anxiety is affecting voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania, complicating the 2024 election picture. Many retired public employees in Pennsylvania, including Jacqualyn James, have not received a cost-of-living adjustment on their pensions for over 20 years, causing financial hardships. Additionally, around 2 million private sector employees in Pennsylvania have no access to retirement plans, leading to concerns about inadequate retirement savings. The shift from pensions to self-directed savings plans like 401(k)s and IRAs has left many Americans without any retirement savings. The share of households with people 65 and older and annual incomes of less than $75,000 is expected to increase in Pennsylvania. The lack of access to retirement plans in the workplace and the complexity of setting them up for small businesses contribute to the problem. Some states have passed legislation mandating government-run automated savings plans to address this issue. A bill called Keystone Saves was proposed in Pennsylvania but has not yet passed. The bill would allow workers to voluntarily forward payroll deductions into a retirement fund overseen by the state. Legislation is also being proposed to provide cost-of-living increases to retired state pensioners in Pennsylvania. The retirees' privation is contrasted with the fees that investment firms have generated advising the pensions. Efforts to help the retirees have been hindered, and their numbers are decreasing as beneficiaries pass away. The situation in Pennsylvania is seen as a broken promise by the state to provide pensions that rise with inflation. [2b8941b6]