And so it begins: the war on Texas's public pensions

[alarimer]

I actually Texas has been a bit behind the curve on this one but it appears rich assholes are starting the war on public pensions here in Texas.

They can go to hell, every last one of these people.

http://www.tpea.org/news/newsarticle.php?id=146

Battle brewing over Texas public pensions

Texas could be gearing up for its own Wisconsin-style grudge match over public employee benefits.

A group of high-powered Houston business leaders is starting a statewide campaign to overhaul retirement for future teachers, firefighters, police officers, judges and other state and local government workers.

"I think the state needs to get the hell out of this (pension) business completely," said lawyer Bill King, who is forming Texans for Public Pension Reform with others from the Greater Houston Partnership, an über-chamber of commerce with business members representing $1.5 trillion in assets.

Taxpayers bear too much risk on behalf of public employees by providing them a guaranteed retirement that most private sector workers don't get, King said.

But advocates of the public pension system say there are ways to eliminate or reduce risk without doing away with the program.

"They don't have to destroy a system that works," said Keith Brainard, research director of the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.

He said government pensions provide retirement security for millions of Texans in a cost-effective manner for taxpayers. Research by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College shows that professionally managed pension funds produce better investment returns than 401(k)s and cost less to administer.

[plumbob]

1. Yes, they can go to hell. Really very tired of pampered rich assholes

thinking that they need a piece of a $17,000 retirement benefit.

They need to be kept busy with other things, like how about a state income tax of 75% on all personal income over $5,000,000 per year. See? They wouldn't like that, but after I retire next year, I believe I will form a group called Grab the Big Bucks, which will be solely devoted to separating too-rich assholes from their excess money.

[juliedoesnotgiveup]

2. I am new but wanted to comment

(hoping it is ok to jump in here.)

OMG. My dad is one of those who receive Houston city pensions! Will it effect The Public workers that are already retired?? He is already on a fixed income and they want more of his money?? That is some BS!

Besides that... I thought governor good hair saved texas from the depths of hell. If the state is supposedly doing so damn well, they SHOULD pay for the state workers benefits. Hell, the government should pay more.

BOOM winning! (someone should write that one down :) )

You know I read the part about the teabaggage, and I knew they were involved. :/

They can go to hell too. And take gov good hair with them

[alarimer]

3. I think they are jumping on the bandwagon.

I actually wonder what took them so long.

They are drumming up support now and it is time for us to take action to nip it in the bud.

[TxVietVet]

5. Get people to organize. Most municipal employees in Texas are not union.

The teachers have one, but I don't think the conservanazis deal with it. They've already started screwing over the teachers.

[TxVietVet]

4. I never wanted to work for any state agency because they don't pay sh!t.

However, they do pay benefits. In my area, we have lots of prisons. Most of the people I talk to hate working there. But, there are no other industries here and they get a modest pension and health insurance. Can't say much for wages. From what I'm told, the wages suck. But, to them, hey, it's a job with insurance. One of my friends can't wait for the economy to turn around so he can get out of there. He says it seems like he's doing time with the convicts. The only reason he took the job is because of the insurance. He's an electrical contractor that can't keep his business open because of the recession.

So, if these conservanazi thugs want to go after the Texas Public Pensions, they are not going to be happy with the results. What they probably want the workers to do is to contribute to ALL of their retirement.

It will make municipal jobs less attractive than they already are.

Believe me, the conservanazis have set up a structure here where the rich and powerful pay no taxes or minimum at least.

The conservanazis even have the pulpit pimps propagandizing for them. So, they've got this state sewn up tight. AS more and more people get more and more behind, maybe, just maybe, they will vote the bastards out. It's not going to happen fast enough.

[TxVietVet]

6. A man who works for a living has to be extremely stupid to vote for conservanazi republikans.

You only end up f*cking yourself.

:rofl:

[white cloud]

7. Here are some old numbers Terrible!!!!

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/01/31/2811814/legislators-looking-at-troubled.html