Texas Legislators quietly boost their pensions

[splat@14]

For anybody from Texas that was worried about their legislators pensions after the United fiasco....the heat is off. They are gonna be okay!


Bill that raises judges' pay also helps lawmakers
By JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
RESOURCES
• Complete coverage: See more stories and resources on the 79th Texas Legislature from the Houston Chronicle.

AUSTIN - Legislators used a nonrecorded voice vote Tuesday to sweeten their retirement pay as they quietly passed a bill raising judicial salaries, the base used to calculate lawmakers' pensions.

Senate Bill 368, which raises state district judge's salaries by 23 percent to $125,000, received final approval in the House. It now goes back to the Senate with changes made by the House expected to be worked out in a conference committee.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3186959

[babylonsister]

1. I'll sleep better now - NOT! nt

But thanks for info!

[Solly Mack]

2. whew..what a relief!

I'm not from Texas but it's a burden off my mind that they won't starve in their old age. I was so worried!

(Gawds!) :banghead:

[Avalux]

3. So they're taking it from the teachers and giving to themselves?

Sure does seem that way:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA051805.9A.lege_teachers.284caf60a.html

Bunch of crooks.

[gratuitous]

4. Hey, a nod's as good as a wink

They saw what happened to the United employees who thought they'd negotiated a contractual obligation with their employer -- voided by a bankruptcy court! That could happen to any of them, so they'll need the backstop of their taxpayer-funded pension which no future legislature will ever mess with, and which no bankruptcy court can nullify. Smart move, really.

I just hope they don't forget that not everyone in Texas has such a guaranteed pension.

[splat@14]

6. First rule; look out for yourself. Second, do no harm..

Unless you have to in order to comply with the first rule. Makes ya sick. Uniteds the tip of the iceberg. This'll be worse than the savings and loan mess.

[mbperrin]

5. This is really nice! These hogs are trying to shrink pensions

for teachers, eliminate health care for teacher retirees, and then cut themselves a big fat pension INCREASE! (Also, their healthcare is not being cut at all!)


Can you say SOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!???

Thought you could!

[Deja Q]

7. Traitors.