Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on January 23, 2007

Click here to view bill details.

If only 46% of public school employees are teachers, how is changing the pension plan going to change that number other than to encourage intelligent professionals to pursue better compensated professions and soon lower the number and quality of incoming teachers? It seems that we should be looking at how the funding from the state is being spent from the top down and how those dollars are being lost before they reach the classroom. Cutting the bone to save the fat doesn’t quite make sense. A good place to start would be at the State Lottery. Some how the funds generated by the Lottery, despite the advertising to the contrary, are not finding their way into our classrooms. Dispersing funding more equitably among districts would help to even our spending forcing rich districts to cut the fat and keeping poorer districts from cutting into the bone. Teachers are the heart and soul of this state since, with the drop off of the automobile industry, our citizens are the best and quite possibly the only resource we have left. If we leave our citizens under educated what left do we have to rebuild an economy with?

It is ridiculous to assume that the school districts could not and would not garner qualified teachers because we ask them to assume the same responsiblities as the vast majority of taxpayers. Establishing 401-K's is the method for all in the educational profession should dedicate to their retirement, as well as having to contribute to their own health care. This socialist mindset that the taxpaying public should assume the burden of paying for retirement and health benefits for a select group of government workers -- AND, then pay for their own benefits as well is beyond reasonability and common sense. Michigan has a huge debt burden that was not created by the taxpayers. No, it was created by the socialist "share the wealth" mentality. Now Michigan is paying the price of lost jobs due to the closing or moving of many manufacturing corporations, home foreclosures beyond measure and many of our youth moving out of state, because their are no jobs. Should those on retirement incomes think of moving to more tax friendly states for their limited incomes -- because they are tired of paying the burden for government workers perks and benefits?

If it's good enough for the taxpayers, it's good enough for those that WORK FOR THE TAXPAYERS.