Don - another double dipper

[dagwud]

Don, awhile back we discussed the practice of public employees "double dipping" and thought you might be interested to see the latest double dipper in Iowa that has been catching flack from Dems for it.

Terry Branstad

[BA Deere]

What are the Dems going to do if Terry gives his pension back while he`s in office?  He has a chance at gaining some real high ground to make some much needed cuts in state spending 

[schnurrbart]

From your article, it looks like he gave up about a quarter of a million dollars to become gov.  It didn't really say but is the university a state run school that he was president of?

[kraft-t]

As uaual, I come down omn the side of the employee. The pension is rightfully earned for previous service. The job of governor offers compensation as well.  I don't think he is obligated to either legally or morally to refuse one or the other. In both cases I assume the governor is being paid what he is owed.

BTW you don't see any congressmen or senators cutting their own pay and benefits just because the government is fiscally in deficit. In fact two months ago republicans demanded tax cuts for the higher earners. No thinking man would propose that in times of budget shortfalls. Now would they?

[dagwud]

Don, there were a couple of interesting things in that news report.

More than 7,000 public workers were receiving both pensions and salaries as of June 30, 2010, according to the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System. Retired workers who return to public employment and are under 65 have their monthly retirement earnings reduced by 50 cents for every dollar they earn over $30,000 under Iowa law. 

But elected officials were exempted from that reduction under a provision included in an overhaul of IPERS that was passed with broad support in the Legislature in 1992, according to the Legislative Services Agency.

I had no idea there were 7,000 public workers in Iowa receiving both a salary and and a pension.   More then I would have guessed in a small rural state.  I'm sure the number is growing quickly and just don't see how a state can afford to continue this trend. 

Don't you love it how the politicians exempt themselves once again?

Bart, no it is not a state run university.

[schnurrbart]

Then it would seem that the gov. is NOT a double dipper.  He earned a pension from an employer and is now a paid public servant.  Why should he give up his pension from an outside source?  I could absolutely agree if he retired as some state paid job and was collecting a state pension and then was elected gov. that he would have to give up part of one so that his total compensation was equal to only his salary as Gov. for the time he was gov.

[kraft-t]

You will have less trouble bearing it if you conclude that in each case the employee is recieving wages and pension that he has earned or is earning.

How would it save the state any money if Branstad continued to live on his pension and someone else took the governor job. Also, I have trouble comprehending why people should take benefit cuts because their government body cannot afford it.  The economy is in the dumps. People are poiut of work.  Revenue stream has lessened, Government is running deficits and you want workers to [pay the cost of the shortfall. Not only that but you think they should relinquish benefits that they worked and paid for years ago.

Government has the obligation to raise the funds to honor their obligations. That p[robably means higher taxes for everyone.  Thus taxpayers including labor  in government and private will share the cost of the recession. It should not be placed on the backs of public or private employees that earned what they have and are legitimately owed what they are getting. 

[kraft-t]

Yes bart the governor is a double dipper as he earned his pension during hos previous term as the governor of Iowa. Now he has been elected again to the same office. Therefore he get a salay plus the earned pension at the same time.

[Iowa notiller]

This sounds like a great time to do away with all pensions for elected government employees.

[schnurrbart]

I thought they were complaining that he is drawing a pension from the University.  That is one thing I don't like even though it has been that way forever.  Why does a person get elected serves one or two terms and gets a "retirement" check.  I would think that they would at least have to be in the job for at least 15 years depending on how old they are and probably at least 20 years if younger.