2009 House Bill 5197: Authorize enhanced pension “early out” for state employees

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Introduced by Rep. Gary McDowell (D) on July 14, 2009, to authorize early retirement benefits for certain state employees who retire between August 1 and November 30, 2009. These employees would be able to get full benefits if their age plus years on the job equal 70 (that is, a 50-year-old with 20 years on the state payroll could get a full pension), plus the cash benefits would be increased by 33 percent until age 62, and then by 16.7 percent thereafter.
- Referred to the House Labor Committee on July 14, 2009.
  - Reported in the House on August 26, 2009, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

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1) Re: 2009 House Bill 5197 (Authorize enhanced pension “early out” for state employees ) by wjn on August 27, 2009

Another example of special treatment for public sector employees. That the average pay for a Michigan public sector employee is greater than that of a private sector employee is obviously not good enough for these special people. Why not just confiscate all private sector money and turn it over to these over-worked, stressed out, and hard working people?

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2) Re: 2009 House Bill 5197 (Authorize enhanced pension “early out” for state employees ) by albaby2 on August 27, 2009

The Auto companies are doing it? For who-the executives or hourly people? Who is paying for this give-away? The auto companies are bankrupt and looking to the feds (us) to bail them out. The State is going to get the money from where? My company offered an early retirement, but with benefits reduced for each year you retired early. And the continuing benefits with automatic increases-who gets that in private industry? The only increase I have seen in 13 1/2 years of retirement are insurance premium increases. Above and beyond the call of duty? What a bunch of self serving crap. Everyone does a certain amount above what is required-except perhaps union members who are forbidden to do anything beyond their job description.

It's time we quit treating "public servants" like they are masters of the public and let them live (and retire) like the rest of us.

If they aren't needed, give them 6 months or a years severance and give them retirement benefits with early years deducted from their pension and no automatic increases. The non-government workers and retirees can't afford your luxury. We are becoming to few in number to support you in the style of which you have been accustomed.

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3) Re: 2009 House Bill 5197 (Authorize enhanced pension “early out” for state employees ) by RK on August 14, 2009

[quote user="mbrenoel"]

bad idea; bad bill

[/quote]

I have seen things that no ordinary person should ever have to see. My employment with the Department of Corrections and at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry spans almost 30 years. The average life expectancy for persons in my profession is considerably shorter than for those persons in the private sector, whether it is by natural death, suicide. accident or murder. And I have known far too many fellow employees who have died early. To think that this is a bad bill is a slap in the face of those workers who have been there to protect the safety of our citizens.

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