May 13, 2008
Gilding the golden years
Count on the state Legislature to come up with new ways to enhance the golden years of retired government employees. As reported here yesterday, lawmakers are poised to pass a bill that likely will make it near impossible for the state and local governments to adopt cost-savings measures to control skyrocketing retiree health care costs.
As I wrote in an op-ed in today's Buffalo News,
The big losers would be property taxpayers. The winners would be public employee unions and legislators who court them for campaign contributions. These are the same legislators who promise to reduce property taxes.
At first glance, the union-backed bill might seem harmless. In reality, it's a Trojan horse. It would create a task force to study "retiree health insurance protection," whose 12 members include at least five pro-labor votes.
It also would impose a moratorium, through June 30, 2009, blocking efforts by local governments to implement cost savings for retiree benefits--unless the same changes are negotiated for current employees.
A one-year moratorium during the study might seem reasonable. However, history demands skepticism. In 1994, the Legislature imposed a one-year moratorium affecting school districts and has renewed it annually since then.
Currently, retired City of Buffalo employees can continue drawing city health benefits after they turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare. The costs are borne by Buffalo taxpayers. Currently, retired City of Buffalo employees can continue drawing city health benefits after they turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare. The costs are borne by Buffalo taxpayers.
Of the city's 2,437 retirees who are 65 or older, 415 of them are not enrolled in Medicare.
On the same subject, the RochesterDemocrat & Chronicle editorializes:
The Albany power brokers are at it again. This time, it's the public employee unions. They've devised a transparent scheme to protect retirees' generous health care benefits at taxpayers' expense.
Daily News columnist Bill Hammond calls the bill "the big kauna" of pension sweeteners as Albany legislators "dream up new and costly ways to make government workers even more comfortable when they retire.
The grab bag is open, and everyone's getting in on the action:
Should New York City workers be allowed to retire at 55? Sure!
Should nurses and midwives in city hospitals be allowed to collect pensions after only 20 years? Okay!
How about 20 years and out for bridge and tunnel workers or city correction officers? You got it!
« Previous |
Main
| Next »
|
