Is this sick or what? Leg gives themselves a $6000 raise in pension.

[johncoby2]

Texas Legislators decided to give themselves a $6000 raise in their pensions. For a legislator what serves 12 years on a part time job that meets 140 days every two years, they can start drawing $34,000 a year at age 50.

For the rest of their lives.

This is more than some of their constituents make in a full year working full time trying to raise a family.

This is just plain sick. Most workers don't get a pension. Some lost it all during the Enron fiasco. Yet these part time civil service law makers are guaranteed to make more than the poverty rate for doing absolutely nothing after the age of 50. And using our tax dollars to do it.

This is sick. It makes me want to protest. (But then again I like to protest)

[Double T]

1. We need citizen oversight on all elected officials at every level...

of government. All of these politicos have no ethics when it comes to shoveling OUR money and benefits into their coffers. This abuse of power must STOP!!!!!

[NoPasaran]

3. I thought we had that already

Something called "elections".

[tk2kewl]

2. I hate the idea of pensions for elected officials PERIOD

the fuckers jump at the opportunity to help corporations liquidate pension funds and then take your tax dollars so they can sit on their ass. :banghead: :grr:

[alarimer]

4. I don't get retirement benefits unless I meet

the rule of 80 (age + years of service). And it certainly isn't 34,000 a year (more than my current salary). It would be about 20K or so. These are part-timers! This just makes me mad. State workers get a 4% pay raise this year.

[sonias]

5. That's why Chris Bell called them on it

Legislator's pensions should be tied to teacher's pensions not the judiciary.

http://www.chrisbell.com/blog/071305_teacher_pay
(snip)
Here's a radical idea. Instead of tying lawmaker pensions to judicial salaries, let's tie the formula to teacher salaries. Let's take a cue from Sen. Steve Ogden, the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. "If I were king," he told reporters yesterday, "we'd pass a bill that says our pay and our retirement is the same as a classroom teacher." Now that's a bipartisan idea that we can all get behind. If his own pension was on the line, maybe Rick Perry would think twice about supporting a school finance plan that provides no new money for education.
(/snip)

Rick Perry says it best about himself "Adios, MoFo".

Sonia

[acmejack]

7. Here's an even more radical suggestion!

Tie their pay to the mean pay of a resident of their district. I favor this for all legislative seats, both State and National. It darn sure would make them a little more concerned about the average citizen that they supposedly represent, don't you think?

[sonias]

8. That is radical acmejack

I'm not sure I like the fact that some Representatives would make a whole lot more money than others. I'm thinking of our Valley reps whose mean pay would be poverty level or below. And I like some of those Reps on both state and National level. Lloyd Doggett represents Hidalgo county and I'm sure their mean pay is close to poverty. Aaron Pena is one of the House Reps from the same area, and he's a good man. Keep in mind that were talking about pensions. Texas House Representatives only make $600/year. Hardly a salary anyone can live on. So they all have real jobs in addition to the legislative work they do.

Sonia

[ThJ]

9. They actually make...

about $7200/year, which is still not much, but they are part-time legislators, and there isn't a one of them who is using this money to live on.

During session, they receive about $600/month for various expenses uncurred.

[sonias]

11. You are correct THJ

I meant to say $600/month in salary. They haven't been part time for the past couple of years with 4 special sessions. And frankly I don't see them staying away until '07 either. With the problems Texas has, these are pretty much full time problems. And it's obvious that we get what we pay for. We pay these people pretty low wages to do the people's business, so they take lobby money to do the corporations' business.

Sonia

[ThJ]

6. They shouldn't tie their pensions to another salary...

If they want to increase their own pensions, they should have the testicular fortitude to vote on it all by itself - on its own merit - and end this sneaky BS.

[tibbir]

10. Assholes.

They make me absolutely sick.