‘Tis the holiday season. While most folks now have visions of sugar plums dancing through their heads, we at the National Public Pension Coalition are still focused on protecting a secure retirement for teachers, firefighters, nurses, and other public employees. But just like a certain jolly old man up north, we keep a naughty and nice list. Here’s a look at who’s been naughty and who’s been nice this year when it comes to public pensions.
Naughty:
- Like Scrooge, John Arnold continues his miserly ways, seeking to gut retirement security for hardworking families. However, Arnold recently suffered a defeat when the candidate he supported in the mayor’s race in his hometown of Houston was rejected by the voters. Perhaps a visit from the Ghost of Pensions Future will show Arnold the error of his ways.
- The Grinch could take lessons from New Jersey governor Chris Christie. After threatening to punch teachers in the face last summer, Christie recently called a decorated NJ police officer a “pension pig.” Christie’s heart must be “two sizes too small” if he can say such shameful things about New Jersey’s public employees.
- The Pennsylvania state legislature: Pennsylvania has now gone six months without a state budget because Republican legislative leaders are holding up the process with their insistence on forcing public employees into a 401(k)-style system.
Nice:
- Wyoming Governor Matt Mead strongly supports the state’s defined benefit pension system. Not only does Wyoming make its annually required contribution to the pension system each year, but Governor Mead participated in a video promoting the value of the system for public employees.
- Wisconsin State Senator Dave Hansen has introduced a bill that would create a pension system for private workers that is modeled after the highly successful Wisconsin Retirement System for public employees. His bill recently received a hearing in the Wisconsin State Senate.
- The nurses, librarians, firefighters, and many other public employees who do so much to strengthen our communities and keep the public safe. We are grateful for your service.
Everyone at NPPC wishes you a happy holiday season! Here’s hoping you don’t get coal in your stocking like John Arnold.
