Posts Tagged ‘benefits’
The benefit package of politicians
Yesterday in the “Poway Chieftain” Newspaper (http://pomeradonews.com/), there was a column titled “Viewpoint” (I’m sorry, but the paper doesn’t allow me to bring up the article for posting) in which the author made a comment regarding the free healthcare and reimbursement policies (including their retirement package with PERS) that members of the Poway City Council receive. Of course the fact is that pretty much all elected officials have a very sweet benefit package. It’s been said that the only way to bring in qualified people to run for office is to pay them well and to provide a nice benefit package. Of course, that excuse doesn’t even pass the laugh test. Somehow, we’re still in messes created by those politicians. I mean, you can’t always blame everything on Sacramento and Washington!
Lawmaker pay cuts legal, commission boss insists
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/026853.html
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2309392.html
I’m in utter amazement reading that there are elected officials (“Legislature’s top administrators”) in Sacramento that are protesting the 18% pay and benefit cuts that have been proposed by the California Citizens Compensation Commission. First off all, if these elected officials can’t handle this cut, then resign or don’t run for reelection. No one is forcing you to stay. Second, look at the fiscal mess that Sacramento is in. These elected officials are the ones that can’t solve it (“Borrowing” from cities and counties and making them suffer so Sacramento can balance their budget isn’t leadership). Third, I’d like to suggest at least an 18% cut in pay and benefits for all elected officials, starting from Congress, down to the local school board. Just look at the perks and benefits they get. Do they REALLY deserve it????
A few years ago, a friend was getting ready to make a run for the Poway City Council. He started to tell me about the benefits of holding office, and as a small business owner, trying to scrape by, I saw one of his needs to want to run for office was for the benefits. On a side note, maybe one reason that Betty Rexford is fighting so hard to stay in, is for the benefits. Just a thought.
But this blog isn’t about the benefit package offered to the Poway City Council, but to most elected officials in general, and we will direct most comments to our friends in Sacramento and Washington.
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