Gov. Branstad and IA General Assembly: Release Iowa’s Public Pension Numbers!

By on January 18, 2012   /   Iowa, Latest, News Releases, Pension Reform  

CHICAGO – Taxpayers United of America (TUA) Vice President, Christina Tobin, called on Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and the Iowa General Assembly to set the standard for transparency by releasing its government pension data.
“I have written letters to Gov. Branstad and the members of the General Assembly, urging them to change the culture of secrecy surrounding government employee pension benefit amounts. They can champion a culture of transparency to ensure honesty and integrity through unlimited public review of all taxpayer funds.”

“TUA is in Iowa this week, releasing pension estimates for government employees.  The first stop was the Iowa Capitol to hand-deliver the letters.  TUA held a press conference in Des Moines, releasing pension estimates for state and local government employees.”
“Iowa is one of a few states that interpret its Open Records Act exception regarding personal information to include pension payments.  But as long as taxpayers fund the pensions, they have a right to review them.”
“I have asked Governor Branstad to take the lead in making Iowa above reproach through complete transparency with public funds.”

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Cedar Rapids & Iowa City : Government Pensions Top Secret

By on January 18, 2012   /   Iowa, Latest, News Releases, Reports  

CEDAR RAPIDS—A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals salaries and top pension estimates for the government employees of the cities of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Linn and Johnson Counties,  and area government teachers.  These government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but as retirees, many will become pension millionaires. Iowa bureaucrats refuse to release pension figures, so total pension payouts were estimated* for this report.
“One really has to question why Iowa lawmakers keep individual pension information in a shroud of secrecy. Prohibiting public review of this information sends a message to taxpayers that lawmakers are more concerned with protecting abusers and double-dippers than imposing adequate reforms on a system that holds taxpayers hostage,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President.

“Cedar Rapids and Iowa City taxpayers struggle through this recession with average wages of $30,000 to $43,000, while government employees really rake it in for as many as 30 years of retirement.” (Click here to read the entire article…) →

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The Republic (Associated Press) | Group to release pension data for Iowa workers

By on January 18, 2012   /   Iowa Press, Press  

Findings from TUA’s pension project on Iowa are featured in this Associated Press article at The Republic.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — A national group campaigning to cut pension benefits for government employees says it’s coming to eastern Iowa to expose the workers who are expected to make the most in retirement.
Taxpayers United of America said Tuesday that its director of outreach, Rae Ann McNeilly, would hold a news conference in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday to release top pension estimates for government employees in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
Its study looked at salaries and pension estimates for city and county workers and teachers.
The group has released similar data for employees in Indiana and Kentucky in recent weeks, and is pushing for cutting benefits that it says are too expensive for taxpayers. It has advocated for ending pensions for new government hires and requiring employees to contribute more toward pensions.

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