Duluth Government Pensions Reveal Need For More Reform

By on April 17, 2012   /   Latest, Minnesota, Pension Reform  

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DULUTH—Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today revealed retired government employee pensions for Duluth and St. Louis County. Many Minnesota government employees are becoming pension millionaires when retired.
“Many government retirees make more in pension payments than private sector taxpayers make in salaries,” stated Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President and Founder and Chair of Free And Equal. “Both the economy and the pension system are in serious trouble. While taxpayers struggle to save for their own retirement and fund the pension system, government retirees have to be concerned that their pension payments will continue.”
“I have hand delivered a letter to Gov. Dayton and mailed the Legislature, calling for additional pension reform that will be both fair and sustainable. TUA is ready to work with legislators who want to do what’s in the best interest of their constituency and not the union bosses who fund their reelection.”
“Until pension plans eliminate the possibility of creative accounting practices and actuarial tricks that mask the critical level of unfunded liabilities, Minnesotans need to be very worried. The devastation of a system collapse will not discriminate between public and private sector citizens or party lines.”
“Robert Zeleznikar, retired St. Louis County government employee, collects an annual pension of $160,051. His estimated lifetime payout is $6,208,386. *”
“Thomas Kuzas, also retired from the St. Louis government, has an annual pension of $127,592 with an estimated lifetime payout of $4,949,291*.”
“Retired Duluth employee, Janet Schroeder, has a lifetime estimated payout of $4,418,020* based on her actual annual pension of $113,896.”
“Minnesota’s government pension systems are crushing middle class Minnesotans. Replacing defined benefit pensions for all new government hires with social security and 401(k)s would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions. If current government employees would just increase their pension contributions, they would preserve their pension benefits. We need a stable system that is fair to both taxpayers and beneficiaries or pension checks will just stop coming.”
“This is the time for political courage, to do what’s in the best interest of taxpayers, rather than the union bosses. Lawmakers seem to think they answer to unions and corporations. Let’s knock any politician out-of-office, who cuts deals with bad union bosses and bad corporations!
View letters to the governor and legislature below:

View pension amounts below:

*TUA submits FOIA requests for actual pensions. Since personal information is not available, lifetime pension payouts must be estimated based on retirement at 56, life expectancy of 85 (IRS Form 590), and 2% COLA.

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Minneapolis – St. Paul Government Pensions Revealed!

By on April 16, 2012   /   Latest, Minnesota, Pension Reform  

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St. Paul—Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today revealed retired government employee pensions for the Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, statewide government employees, and Hennepin and St. Louis Counties. Many Minnesota government employees are becoming pension millionaires when retired.
“Many government retirees make more in pension payments than private sector taxpayers make in salaries,” stated Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President and Founder and Chair of Free And Equal. “Both the economy and the pension system are in serious trouble. While taxpayers struggle to save for their own retirement and fund the pension system, government retirees have to be concerned that their pension payments will continue.”
I will hand delivered a letter to Gov. Dayton and will mail the Legislature, calling for additional pension reform that will be both fair and sustainable. Until pension plans eliminate the possibility of unfunded liabilities that crush taxpayers and threaten payments to the retirees counting on them, pension crises will continue to escalate. TUA is ready to work with legislators who want to do what’s in the best interest of their constituency and not the union bosses who fund their reelection.”
“Kenneth Young, retired Hennepin County government employee, collects an annual pension of $183,012. His estimated lifetime payout is $7,099,022. *”
“Edward Eberhart, retired from the St. Paul government, has an annual pension of $174,947 with an estimated lifetime payout of $6,786,191*.”
“Retired Minnesota teacher, David Landswerk, has a lifetime estimated payout of $6,865,788* based on his actual annual pension of $176,999.”
“Minnesota’s government pension systems are crushing middle class Minnesotans. Replacing defined benefit pensions for all new government hires with social security and 401(k)s would eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions. If current government employees would just increase their pension contributions, they would preserve their pension benefits. We need a stable system that is fair to both taxpayers and beneficiaries or pension checks will just stop coming.”
“This is the time for political courage, to do what’s in the best interest of taxpayers, rather than the union bosses. Lawmakers seem to think they answer to unions and corporations. Let’s knock any politician out-of-office, who cuts deals with bad union bosses and bad corporations!
View letters to the governor and legislature below:

View pension amounts below:

*TUA submits FOIA requests for actual pensions. Since personal information is not available, lifetime pension payouts must be estimated based on retirement at 56, life expectancy of 85 (IRS Form 590), and 2% COLA.

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Christina Tobin Testifies Against Proposed Chicago Speed-Trap Cameras, Receives News Coverage

By on April 12, 2012   /   Illinois, Latest, Pension Reform  

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CHICAGO–Christina Tobin, Vice President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA), testified against Chicago’s proposed speed-camera ordinance on Wednesday, April 11. Speaking before the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety in City Council Chambers at City Hall, Tobin urged the committee “To kill the proposal to add speed-cameras all over the city.”
Tobin made the following points:

  • Chicago politicians say speed-cameras will reduce juvenile pedestrian crashes and deaths, but, in reality, these speed-cameras would just be speed-trap cameras to fund city pensions. The proposal has nothing to do with safety. It’s all about money.
  • The newspaper Towson Patch reported that when Baltimore County officials rolled out a network of 15 speed cameras in school zones in 2010, they said the program’s success would be measured in two ways: less speeding and fewer accidents. While speeding was reduced, the report showed no decline in accidents in those zones.

Tobin pointed out that as early as 2008, the head of Mayor Daley’s pension reform commission recommended a plan in which newly-hired employees would be put in 401(k) plans favored by private industry instead of unsustainable pension plans. Tobin stressed that Chicago residents need tax relief, not new fines or new taxes, adding, “There is no need to bleed Chicago residents to death.”
“80% of city spending is for salaries & benefits. Most of the Speed Camera revenue will ultimately be used to fund city pensions. Unfunded pensions are the #1 budgetary problem in the United States.”
Tobin’s testimony received coverage from news outlets covering the hearing. Of particular note is video from ABC 7 and WGN TV.
The committee approved the ordinance 7-3. The full City Council will take up the ordinance next week, where Mayor Emanuel will need 26 votes to pass it.

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