Really Bad Reporting in Wisconsin: Who 'Contributes' to Public Workers' Pensions?

[DearAbby]

When it comes to improving public understanding of tax policy, nothing has been more troubling than the deeply flawed coverage of the Wisconsin state employees' fight over collective bargaining.

Economic nonsense is being reported as fact in most of the news reports on the Wisconsin dispute, the product of a breakdown of skepticism among journalists multiplied by their lack of understanding of basic economic principles.

Gov. Scott Walker says he wants state workers covered by collective bargaining agreements to "contribute more" to their pension and health insurance plans.

Accepting Gov. Walker' s assertions as fact, and failing to check, created the impression that somehow the workers are getting something extra, a gift from taxpayers. They are not.



More: http://www.tax.com/taxcom/taxblog.nsf/Permalink/UBEN-8EDJYS?OpenDocument

[old mark]

1. K&R-Politicians have traditionally used public service workers as targets,

especially since the civil service act removed the granting of such jobs from political patronage. I believe the GOP wants to get rid of civil service completely and return to the dispensation of these jobs by politicians to their friends and supporters at their will. Here in PA, state workers contribute to their pensions through deductions from pay, similar to the income tax deductions. Out money goes into a huge fund that is invested and overseen by an independent committee, and all pensions are paid from that fund, NOT BY THE TAXPAYERS. All PA state workers including elected politicians are in the same fund, so there is not so much temptatin on the pols to raid it.


mark

[joneschick]

2. Excellent!

this is soooooo the point that is missed/ignored. :hi:

[Daphne08]

3. This is just one of the reasons teachers have tenure!

(Sorry, I meant to reply to old mark's comment regarding politics.)

[DearAbby]

4. Kick