Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on April 8, 2008, to grant a full pension to some employees of the Department of Human Services juvenile justice division who will be laid off under a plan to privatize a portion of the division’s operations, even if they retire earlier than allowed under current law. Also, to increase the pension benefits of some of these employees with greater seniority or age, and also for certain Department of Corrections employees

The vote was 100 in favor, 7 opposed and 3 not voting

(House Roll Call 658 at House Journal 65)

Click here to view bill details.

Quit pandering to the stupid unions. You get laid off, go job hunting like the rest of us poor saps.

I'm confused -- won't this bill cost the state money instead of saving? I understand the concept of most early out plans, a lot of money is saved just by hiring lower wage workers. But why offer it to people who are going to leave anyway? I'm all for helping laid off workers, but is this the best time to spend money this way? Maybe it should be combined with a traditional early out plan so that it ends up saving more than it will cost.

Rep. Bieda, having reserved the right to explain his nay vote, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: I voted ‘no’ on this amendment because it would most likely create a substantial unfunded liability to the state retirement system. In addition, the expansive broadening of the bill contemplated by this amendment has never been subject to any actuarial or fiscal analysis.”

What are pension benefits? (A non-government employee (taxpayer) wants to know)