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| Legislators Choose School Employees Over Taxpayers | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 18 2012, 09:45 PM (396 Views) | |
| LPS Reformer | May 18 2012, 09:45 PM Post #1 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Link Commentary: Legislators Choose School Employees Over Taxpayers on Retirement Benefit Reform By James M. Hohman and Jack McHugh | May 10, 2012 Imagine that a politician asked you to lend him some money, for which he would give you an IOU with a footnote allowing him to unilaterally cancel or reduce the debt at any time. If you lent the money anyway, you could hardly claim to be surprised if the politician exercises his option to drop the payment. This example roughly describes the situation public school employees find themselves in regarding politicians’ promises of post-retirement health benefits. Michigan’s arrangements in this area are unique. Unlike regular pension checks, nothing in law obligates taxpayers to honor these retiree health benefit promises. The politicians never set aside any money to pre-fund them, and implicitly reserved the right to trim or even eliminate them should the cost become unaffordable. Considering that benefit costs increased by $366 million since 2000, an 85 percent jump, these costs are prohibitive. Given the growing burden these optional benefits place on taxpayers, plus the fact that few in the private sector receive such benefits (and that everyone is entitled to federal Medicare coverage at age 65) — it’s good news that reform legislation is now being debated in Lansing. Among other things, the bill would eliminate those “politicians’ promises” of retirement health benefits for new school employees, and require current retirees to share more of the cost. Unfortunately, the school establishment empire has struck back. Almost every day brings new reports of proposed reforms being weakened or gutted. For example, one removed provision would have provided the benefits only when a retiree reaches age 60. This is hardly radical: Why should anyone collect an optional, taxpayer-funded retirement benefit in their 50s? By giving in, lawmakers are placing school employees and their unions first, and taxpayers second. This despite the fact that Michigan can no longer afford to give a protected class of school and government employees benefits far richer than what their private sector neighbors get. Legislators should start remembering who deserves their primary loyalty. |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| Vanna White | May 19 2012, 03:18 PM Post #2 |
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Veteran
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This is just infuriating. Who can retire at 50 and have medical benefits? Most of us have no retiree medical benefits at all and must wait to be medicare eligible to retire. This must stop...we cannot afford it anymore. This money belongs in the classroom. |
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| LPS Reformer | May 19 2012, 10:35 PM Post #3 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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When did we decide that teachers are so wonderful that the rules the rest of us have to live by just don't apply to them? For that matter, why do we still tolerate it? |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| n73pm | May 20 2012, 01:10 AM Post #4 |
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Advanced Member
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I've been asking that same question for decades. All we hear is ...crickets....or backtalk from union members. |
| I support Global Warming cuz nothing grows in ice! | |
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| LPS Reformer | May 20 2012, 03:54 PM Post #5 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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A letter to the editor from days gone by. ![]() What is MEA thinking? The MEA wants us to accept their new plan to reform education. Ever wonder just what they are thinking when they hear our questions? Q&A with the MEA The People: What's your plan to reform education? The MEA: Raise taxes. The People: What is a fair wage for a teacher? The MEA: More. The People: When should we use pay for performance? The MEA: Never. The People: What about falling grades? The MEA: It's your fault. The People: Should parents have the right to home school? The MEA: It takes a union to educate a child. The People: What about vouchers? The MEA: Are you a teacher hater? The People: Why should we give you what you want? The MEA: Because, it's all about the kids. Loyd Romick Livonia |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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