Mayor Turner's chances of getting Houston Pension Reform accomplished

[HouTxn]

I'm sure if most of you guys money was in jeopardy, you would not go down without a fight. I find it funny that the word "greed" is used to describe what these men and women busted their butts for 20*+ years just to live well in the end.

[Kiovo]

Originally Posted by HouTxn

I'm sure if most of you guys money was in jeopardy, you would not go down without a fight. I find it funny that the word "greed" is used to describe what these men and women busted their butts for 20*+ years just to live well in the end.

Couldn't agree more. And let's be real, they're not even living "well'' in the end. The endless health problems most of the firefighters have to deal with; from cancer to going deaf, there's a lot of underlying issues they have to deal with. But according to some, they should just lay down and take it because they need to do their part in saving this city money.

[HouTxn]

Originally Posted by Kiovo

Couldn't agree more. And let's be real, they're not even living "well'' in the end. The endless health problems most of the firefighters have to deal with; from cancer to going deaf, there's a lot of underlying issues they have to deal with. But according to some, they should just lay down and take it because they need to do their part in saving this city money.

Agreed. Whatever side of the issue you fall in, this is not going away. It is now being left up to the folks of Houston. Let the Voters Decide.

[Mandres]

I thought this was a done deal? It passed the legislature and the Governor signed the bill. What do you two hope to accomplish in shilling against it now?

-edit- Ahh of course, there's a lawsuit pending. Yea, good luck with that ...

[Kiovo]

There's always a fight going on. It got passed this time, but it can be bought back up to the legislature again in 2019.

Those greedy firefighters...always trying to fight what was promise to them. And for what it's worth, they did do their part saving the taxpayer and city money but giving up higher wages and raises. One side kept their promise and did everything that was asked of them and the other side reneg on it but yet the side that kept their promise is made looking like the bad guys.

[PinkLadyK]

I'm not opposed to reform, but the people who are already vested should be grandfathered. If a private company promised you a retirement package and then changed their mind once you were 20 years into employment with them (or worse, already retired), we'd call them immoral or even criminal.

[Mandres]

All city employees took a haircut on the pension reform plan. That's what happens when plans are designed around un-realistic expectations and kicked down the road until GASB rule changes force them into the light. Nobody's being mean to the firefighters - their union was complicit in creating this mess along with the plan designers and administrators.
Would you'd rather it not be cleaned up, and the can just kicked further down the road?

[crone]

Every city council, school board, county commissioner's court, etc. uses consultants when they talk of raises and pensions. Most of these consultants pull figures from goodness knows where and tells the group they can afford whatever it is they want to do.

Unless and until these consultants can be held accountable for their mistakes these pension crisis will continue.

Trouble is, by the time it is public knowledge that the prognostications are wrong, the consultant has retired or moved or works for somebody else.

Pink Lady, check out how many people are screwed over when the company just goes bankrupt to avoid paying out what they promised?

[PinkLadyK]

Good point. I don't think that should happen either. I just want a perfect world. What's the problem here?!?!?!

[Kiovo]

Originally Posted by Mandres

All city employees took a haircut on the pension reform plan. That's what happens when plans are designed around un-realistic expectations and kicked down the road until GASB rule changes force them into the light. Nobody's being mean to the firefighters - their union was complicit in creating this mess along with the plan designers and administrators.
Would you'd rather it not be cleaned up, and the can just kicked further down the road?

I agree reform needed to happen, but the firefighters negotiated in good faith over their salaries because they choose to keep their pensions. That is now being taken away, I see nothing wrong or greedy about them fighting for it. And you said ALL city employees..your council members and mayor are still getting their fat pensions, and they work a lot less then firefighters and police officers.

Someone commented earlier about the firefighters getting to determine their pension and its like a kid in a candy store...what do you think council members and the mayor are doing? Cutting every budget/pensions/salary but their own.

Private company or government employees, either way it's wrong. No one should take it lying down, every one of yall would fight for something you worked hard for.