Here's our Texas Legislature at work: they've voted to approve a big increase in their own already lucrative pensions while voting to reduce benefits for teachers entering the Teacher Retirement System.
[Retired teacher Edlyne] Dickson, who as a Texas teacher is not eligible to collect Social Security, is not alone in expressing outrage at the Texas House for approving, on an unrecorded voice vote, a bill that increases pension benefits for members of the so-called elected class. That includes all elected officials who retire from the Legislature or who serve in statewide offices.The state Senate approved the legislation unanimously on March 30. To become law, the bill must be approved again by the Senate and signed by Republican Gov. Rick Perry -- who would see his own retirement package increase substantially under the legislation. Senate approval is expected; Perry has not said whether he will sign the legislation.
Under the legislation, a state senator or representative with the same 26 years of service Dickson put in would be eligible to collect $74,500 a year, or about $6,200 a month, and receive health insurance from the state.
By contrast, Dickson gets $2,043 a month after paying her taxes and a $100 health insurance premium, she said.
Meanwhile, the Texas Senate approved legislation aimed at shoring up the Teacher Retirement System, effectively reducing benefits for future retirees. There's not even any serious discussion about a cost-of-living increase for current retirees, meaning they're not expected to get one for at least another two years, if then.
Texas teachers have been slammed over and over by the Texas Legislature and our mediocrity-in-chief, Rick Perry.
It occurs to me that teachers and soldiers (and their families) are among the most obvious examples of people for whom Americans like to verbally pour out their respect and support, but who get short-shrifted every time when it comes to compensation. As Bob Dole once said (in a different context), "Where's the outrage?" Reality bites.
Posted by Alan at May 20, 2005 05:57 AM