Comments on: Special Report: Public worker benefits under scrutiny http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/ Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:31:23 +0000 hourly 1 By: KG-1 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-5216 KG-1 Wed, 26 May 2010 20:44:42 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=3730#comment-5216 <i>"It was an inevitibility, we've seen this coming for 70 years. The problem is we don't have an exit strategy to get out," he says. Getting out of the retiree health care business is exactly what major institutions — from MSU to state government – are starting to do." When Pres. B.O. nationalized the auto industry, getting out of this was one of the first things he did. Why is this such a problem? Just follow <b>his</b> example. “It was an inevitibility, we’ve seen this coming for 70 years. The problem is we don’t have an exit strategy to get out,” he says.

Getting out of the retiree health care business is exactly what major institutions — from MSU to state government – are starting to do.”

When Pres. B.O. nationalized the auto industry, getting out of this was one of the first things he did.

Why is this such a problem?

Just follow his example.

]]> By: Frank http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-5215 Frank Wed, 26 May 2010 19:59:46 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=3730#comment-5215 Our ancestors, starting with the WWI generation, decided they didn't want to pay for retirement, health care, etc. so they came up with schemes that made the next generation pay for it. The load has gotten so big now that it will eventually collapse and it may take our state and federal governments with it. We need to take our medicine and make major cuts...from current retirees on down. If we don't act now there won't be a country to leave to our kids. Moral of the story, you don't get anything for free. Our ancestors, starting with the WWI generation, decided they didn’t want to pay for retirement, health care, etc. so they came up with schemes that made the next generation pay for it. The load has gotten so big now that it will eventually collapse and it may take our state and federal governments with it. We need to take our medicine and make major cuts…from current retirees on down. If we don’t act now there won’t be a country to leave to our kids.

Moral of the story, you don’t get anything for free.

]]> By: Bob http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-5214 Bob Wed, 26 May 2010 19:41:24 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=3730#comment-5214 BW You should live in Greece. You'd fit right in. BW

You should live in Greece. You’d fit right in.

]]> By: Bob http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-5162 Bob Wed, 26 May 2010 15:42:37 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=3730#comment-5162 We should force all state employee's and teachers into a plan that mirrors the Oakland County plan. Daddow and Patterson are the only executives in Michigan that can do math ! We should force all state employee’s and teachers into a plan that mirrors the Oakland County plan. Daddow and Patterson are the only executives in Michigan that can do math !

]]> By: BW http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-5161 BW Wed, 26 May 2010 15:26:45 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=3730#comment-5161 I say to all people enough is enough stay strong do not let them cut your health benefits or make you pay more for them. These are the same people who stopped Universal Health Care for all. The Feds should have done a simple 2 to 3 percent on payroll taxes and a tax to the private sector for the Federal Government to run the Health Care system.The Bureaucracy, software is already in place with military and federal employees, and elected officials health care benefits. These people work all over the world and our country. It would have saved us all money. HOW HAS WORKERS PAYING MORE FOR HEALTH CARE AND TAKING CUTS IN WAGES SAVED JOBS OR GENERATED REVENUES. Its time the workers of our Great Nation walk off their jobs and said enough is enough. Sincerely, BW I say to all people enough is enough stay strong do not let them cut your health benefits or make you pay more for them. These are the same people who stopped Universal Health Care for all. The Feds should have done a simple 2 to 3 percent on payroll taxes and a tax to the private sector for the Federal Government to run the Health Care system.The Bureaucracy, software is already in place with military and federal employees, and elected officials health care benefits. These people work all over the world and our country. It would have saved us all money. HOW HAS WORKERS PAYING MORE FOR HEALTH CARE AND TAKING CUTS IN WAGES SAVED JOBS OR GENERATED REVENUES. Its time the workers of our Great Nation walk off their jobs and said enough is enough.
Sincerely, BW

]]> By: R Bond http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-5160 R Bond Wed, 26 May 2010 14:49:32 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=3730#comment-5160 It should be mentioned in all this talk of reducing retiree healthcare that it really only applies to those under 65. A big mistake in figuring legacy costs was that 70 years ago, retirement at 65 was the norm. Now people get to retire with 30 and out, even if the pensioneer is only 48 years old. For anyone 65 or older, Medicare supplements with drug coverage can be had for only $1,800 per year. So if you want to fix the system, put a requirement in that anyone who wants to retire must be 55 or 58 or some such number. And also eliminate retirement medical benefits. It should be mentioned in all this talk of reducing retiree healthcare that it really only applies to those under 65. A big mistake in figuring legacy costs was that 70 years ago, retirement at 65 was the norm. Now people get to retire with 30 and out, even if the pensioneer is only 48 years old. For anyone 65 or older, Medicare supplements with drug coverage can be had for only $1,800 per year. So if you want to fix the system, put a requirement in that anyone who wants to retire must be 55 or 58 or some such number. And also eliminate retirement medical benefits.

]]> By: Annette Guilfoyle http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/special-report-public-worker-benefits-under-scrutiny/comment-page-1/#comment-5159 Annette Guilfoyle Wed, 26 May 2010 14:44:05 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=3730#comment-5159 I spoke to a payroll adminstrator for a local school district who is in a frenzy trying to calculate and execute the retirement packages under SB 1227. The superintendent has the latitude to make each deal custom, leaving it open to favoritism. The fact that each deal needs to be in place by May makes for hasty bad public policy. This is not the cure that we need. I spoke to a payroll adminstrator for a local school district who is in a frenzy trying to calculate and execute the retirement packages under SB 1227. The superintendent has the latitude to make each deal custom, leaving it open to favoritism. The fact that each deal needs to be in place by May makes for hasty bad public policy. This is not the cure that we need.

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