08-25-2010, 05:19 PM
C(-)ris wrote:
I'm not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, they are getting ridiculous pensions at the expense of the taxpayers. On the other hand, they were promised these pensions and earned them following all the rules and it seems completely wrong to take away what they have earned.
I agree. But look at the Bell scandal; would it be completely wrong to base their pension on what their salary was before it was doubled in their last year?
As I mentioned, I live in Ventura. Two of the Bell employees that are hoping to get gigantic pensions once worked for the city of Ventura. Bell Police Chief Randy Adams spent twenty years working for the Ventura PD. At Bell, his salary as Police Chief was $200,000. Before retiring, they upped it to $457,000, so his pension will be $400,000. And because he spent most of his career in Ventura, Ventura will be on the hook for 60% of his inflated pension. Our own police chief makes $200,000 per year, but we'll be paying $240,000 out to somebody who quit as Assistant Chief.
On the other hand, there are millions of Americans who agreed to work for less money in return for a better pension. Reducing their benefits is just plain wrong.