Michigan Votes Forum

If this type of greedy thinking keeps up by our so called 'public servants', the only people employed and retired in this once great State will be State employees. The rest of us will be LONG GONE. Will the last one out please turn the lights out?

 bad idea; bad bill

I can understand the initial rejections and negative comments. I also have seen great waste in our civil Service over the years. I have also repeatedly seen and participated in going above and beyond any resonable call of duty to perform services and correct problems that prove to me the value of our civil servants. I think it is a dis-service to lump all of us in one bucket. I agree there is much waste and ineffciency in our government. However the majority of state employees are dedicated and hard working people who have extended themselves financially many times to assist in keeping our state solvent.  I myself have filed a "Whisteblower" letter making it very clear where my division was taking inappropriate and I believed illegal actions. The result was a requisite vindictive and hostile work environment. However, we must do what we believe right and just. Now , I find myself without a career after 25 years of exemplary service. Why, "Administrative Efficiency". A catch phrase where a state agency can eliminate anyone they want without cause for 'administrative efficency". A few years away from the ability to retire early , which I was going to do . Which would have resulted in cost savings to the State. I am no longer afforded that option and am unemployed. Nice. I am not crying in my soup , or even for one moment allowing myself to be victimized by the event. I have many talents and great faith! The issue for this topic is how would me being able to retire effectively help the state budget?  Well, first do not replace me, secondly  If you do, use with a lower cost worker, and thirdly they would be under the defined contribution plan vs the defined benefit plan offering a hugh savings. It is my belief that the majority of costs regarding retirement are associated with the the need to maintain funds related to defined benefit employees - us old timers:). Fourth and equally important is that there needs to be some enticement for state employees to take an early retirement. They are not being offered any where near thier full pay . There is no bonaza here for us. So it makes sense to say; "Hey we will sweeten the deal to get you off the pay roll " . Fifth , and lastly, If it is such a terrible idea , why did the auto companies do it? One last question and the billion dollar answer . Why is our Governor so opposed to this idea when it does make fiscal sense? Could it be the raiding of the retirement accounts and the knowledge we may not have enough to support this good idea?

Thank you for the opportunity to place my thoughts in this forum. Peace and blessings to you all

"I may not agree with what you say. But, I will defend to my death your right to say it" Voltaire

The idea of offering an enhanced pension to encourage public employees as an incentive to retire early is an expensive non-solution to budget woes, present and future, no matter how its legislative sponsors try to dress it up. 

This bill, like others before it should gather dust, dry up and blow away.

mbrenoel:

 bad idea; bad bill

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.

 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.

 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?