Governor Deval Patrick vetoed legislation that would have hiked pensions for state workers, delivering a veto message that pointed to the lack of a funding mechanism inherent in the legislation. From the Boston Herald:

The Democratic governor, who had at first supported the proposal, said in a message written to the Legislature to explain his veto that he was concerned about adding costs to the state’s already unfunded retirement liability.

The problem with the legislation has always been that there was no funding mechanism attached to it. The idea that we can just create a liability and then say let someone else worry about paying for it is not responsible. The retirees of the State deserve a modest increase, but in order to give that we must fund the benefit, not put off funding. The Governor made the right call.