Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on February 16, 2011

Click here to view bill details.

As a member of the City of Pontiac General Employees' Retirement System, I am writing to urge your OPPOSITION to SB 153.  This legislation, as proposed, significantly increases the Emergency Manager's authority over this Retirement System.  Publis pension plans may be well-operated and well-funded, even if the local unit of government is not.  This Bill proposes to unfairly give control of a well-funded retirement system to an outsider.

This Retirement System has been well-funded, since even before I retired...and we were always assured that our pensions would be protected.  I believe that decisions regarding our Retirement System, and control over it, should remain in our hands the the hands of the Board of Trustees who represent us.

I am highly opposed to having an Emergency Manager take control over our Retirement System and I strenuously object to passage of the Bill.  I hope that you will OPPOSE SB 153 so that myself and other members will continue to have control over this Retirement System.  I look forward to hearing from you regarding your views on this Bill.

 

 It is insulting that Senators and State Reps who do not pass any laws or bills that impact their benefits or salaries can turn around and go after elected local officials. Where is the money coming from to hire the emergency managers? What are the brilliant things that the managers are going to do?  The reason the local governments and schools are in a bind is because schools are not allowed to run themselves like a business.  Businesses don't get their budgets changed every few months and additional stipulations added without financial assistance.  If the elected officials are not allowed to run for office for 10years; neither should any of you since the State of Michigan does not have a balanced budget.  Passing this SB makes everyone in Lansing a hypocrite!  So year after year; State Reps and Senators get pay raises; get no changes to their health care coverage; but vote that any new legislators will have changes; but no changes to the existing crew.  If you pass SB 153; please pass a SB that says it is mandatory that we have a part time legislature that is paid part time wages and no benefits. It is a joke to pay past legislature who served their terms such major benefits when the rest of the state can barely afford to live.  Make another SB that forbids the state from paying legislators any lottery winnings.  It is a joke that any elected official can win $2M while serving in office.  If you want to increase the power of schools; pass legislation that will allow districts to implement 20% health care contributions and a minimum of 10% pay reductions and you can eliminate half of the financial managers that will be needed.  Make it equitable and fair across the board on what each district gets per student. Change the way the budget is set up and implemented in each district.  It is challenging to meet a budget that changes frequently and unknown.  SB153 is not well thought out!

If it is well managed, you will most likely not be effected at all. I am in full support of this bill. It protects state funding and taxpayers dollarsby being a checks and balances against the poorly managed and wasteful. It doesn't sound like you fit that description :)

 I wonder how the State would like the Feds to take over the State.

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