So sorry I've been away from this for awhile. I've been spending most of my time sparring with public union mouthpieces on comment boards whenever there are articles of interest, usually citing pension abuses of one form or another. I promise to continue on with this shortly. In the meantime, check out my Facebook page: Facebook.com/stoprunawaypublicpensions. I post articles of interest and cartoons all the time. And look for my comments, mainly on Newsday.com fending off offensive comments of public sector union trolls. See ya!

Today's homework is about "Pension Pickups"

Today's homework lesson: "Pension Pickups"


"So it can serve to make teachers' compensation appear smaller than it actually is."


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-teachers-pension-pickup-cps-perspec-0515-20150514-column.html

The Pension Sweeteners in Albany Continues Unabated!

Check this out!
http://cbcny.org/http%3A/%252Fwww.cbcny.org/cbc-blogs/blogs/big-decisions-albany-do-not-deter-sweeteners

Here's a tidbit if you don't have time to read the entire article. But you need to make time!!

UPDATE - June 22, 2015

Since our last update, four bills featured in CBC’s Benefits Sweetener Scorecard 2015 are just a signature away from becoming New York State law. One bill, A. 6771/S. 4907, passed the legislature last year, but was ultimately vetoed by the governor. If Governor Cuomo chooses to sign these benefits sweeteners, State and local costs will increase.

The bills that passed both houses are:

• A. 7490/S. 3010 would enhance retirement plans for certain State and local police and firefighters, increasing employer costs by 3.2 percent to 6.8 percent of salaries.
• A. 6771A/S. 4907 would enhance retirement plans of uniformed court or peace officers at a cost of $1.8 million.
• A. 5327C/S. 3948B would allow deputy sheriffs in Nassau and Suffolk with police officer training to receive the retirement service credit awarded to police officers without proving at least 50 percent of activities were for criminal law enforcement.
• A. 7547/S. 5785 would allow members of the MTA police retirement system to transfer membership to NYS and local police and fire retirement systems.

In addition to the above, six bills on the CBC Benefits Sweetener Scorecard passed one house before the end of session.

Here's your homework for today. Look up the "13th Check" or "Variable Supplement Fund" as it is sometimes known and be prepared to bust a gut. Here's one article to get you started! Have fun.

http://thephiladelphiacitizen.com/2015/02/phillys-13th-check/


Okay, here's another. Couldn't resist. NYC police, fire & sanitation get a $12,000 a year bonus. (Yes, those sly sanitation workers glommed on to this because, well after all, they are in uniform too!)

http://www.cbcny.org/cbc-blogs/blogs/christmas-bonuses-uniformed-retirees-weaken-city’s-pension-funds

From "Thechiefleader.com:"

Strike Back At ‘Empire’Fire Unions: Members Earned Their Pensions

Posted: Monday, June 22, 2015 5:00 pm | Updated: 5:02 pm, Mon Jun 22, 2015.

By SARAH DORSEY | 0 comments

Uniformed Fire Officers Association President James Lemonda last week heartily defended the pensions of his retired members after the amounts—which averaged more than $100,000 a year for those who retired in 2014—were published online by the non-profit Empire Center for Public Policy.

The fiscally-conservative watchdog group was granted access to the data by a State Supreme Court Justice in April after a four-year tussle with the UFOA, which sued to keep it private. The union claimed the release would violate members’ privacy.

Great Letter that tells it like it is!

This is a terrific letter about the greed of public sector unions. I couldn't have said it better myself!
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/04/27/letter-public-workers-driven-greed/26462281/

So, once we started to spend time with the other public sector workers, we became privy to all sorts of information that has been going completely under the radar of all those poor suckers in the private sector, like the ones flying up and down, or standing still, on the LIE or Sunrise Highway, trying to get to and from work so they can pay their outrageous taxes and get very little in the way of services in return.

These poor suckers have no idea that there exists an alternate universe of highly paid workers, who can rarely be fired, and who have nothing but raises and benefits in their future. They don't really want you to find out about them, because if you knew, you would be OUTRAGED! But I am going to help you to become OUTRAGED, because OUTRAGE is the first step in your education, and you must be educated, if you want a future for yourselves and your children!

Every week I will pick a topic, a story, or an all important explanation in the litany of terms known only to those fortunate enough to be basking in the largesse of the public sector. These are things they don't want you to know about. If you're ignorant, they can continue to pick your pockets. If you are are aware of it all, you will be OUTRAGED, and won't stand for it anymore!!!

Tune in later this week for your first lesson. And please, make sure you are sitting down. This is not for the faint of heart, or pocketbook. Do you have the nerve to open the "Pandora's Box" and look at the beast that is the public sector? After all, some of them might be friends or family and you will never look at them the same way again, my friend! Beware!!!