[Stayfree]

Mike Huckabee said on his show that for every $1 that teachers put into their pension plan that the state of Wisconsin puts in $57. If that is true, that is obscene!!!

[Crooked Constituent]

Can someone help me post a pic to this thread from yesterday’s tea party rally?

[ReverendJames]

This is from NYC:

• Teachers — "the city puts in $15.50 for every $1 they contribute," says the Post.
• Firefighters — the city's taxpayers contribute $10 for every $1 contributed by firefighters.
• Police — they get $9.13 from taxpayers for every dollar they supply.

[chicken head]

Huckabee Said That For Every $1 WI Teachers Put in Their Pension Plan, the State Puts in $57

dang, no wonder the protesters are mad— thats insane

[Texas Eagle]

....for every $1 that teachers put into their pension plan that the state of Wisconsin puts in $57.

.....for every $1 that teachers put into their pension plan, Wisconsin taxpayers put in $57.

There. Fixed it.

[bcr100]

No wonder these union members are so irate. Who wouldn’t want such deals like that? But they want nonunion members to pay higher taxes so they can keep getting their benefits and pensions, which is disgusting and morally wrong to say the least.

[muawiyah]

I thought the employees didn't put in anything at all ~ that the deal was full finding through a direct transfer from WI to the account.

What that did was AVOID federal income tax.

If the state had recomputed the way their rumuneration was to be handled, they'd been paying that fund out of their own pockets ~ and that is NOT TAX FREE.

You have to remember, this is simply a tax dodge ~

[NoLibZone]

Links to such data would be great.

[freekitty]

That’s a little more than overmatching.

[nascarnation]

I certainly don’t find this surprising.
Wis has been a progressive “paradise” for a long time.
UW Madison was one of the epicenters of 60s radicalism.

What shocks me is that some Republicans got elected.

[Cicero]

Huckabee pretends to be irate about this, but he was a very big spender when he was governor. How much do the taxpayers put into teachers’ pension plans in Arkansas?

[buccaneer81]

Not a chance. So if a teacher puts in $100 every two weeks the state adds $5700? That's $11,400 a month or $138,800 per year.

Huckabee is an idiot and he makes Republicans look like idiots.

[Lurker]

Dear Huckster,

It's not "the State". It's the taxpayer. Get it right.

L

[sonofagun]

Here is Wisconsin's retirement plan in detail. It's a little more complex than I can deal with, but I'll bet one will be hard pressed to squeeze Huchabee's numbers out of it.

Calling any Freeper accountants that would like to provide insight.

[Mr. K]

!!!EXCEPT!!! That the state does not actually put any money away- It just promises to pay that amount at some time in the future. It puts away an IOU.

Well NOW is the future for some retirees and they have to borror billions each year just to pay retired people.

When you have to BORROW money just to cover operating expenses you are in serious trouble.

In the private secotr, when income does not cover AT LEAST operating expenses, you shut down immediately -because it is costing you more money to stay open than to close.

[Twinkie]

They are elevated to the level of gods and goddesses in this culture; cause nothing is too good for little Alexandra and little Fauntleroy’s education. Thing is WE’RE BROKE! It’s painful to have to finally say it, but we’re all going to have to either get real or face the fact that debt is an addiction.

[Lancey Howard]

I saw that Huckabee show. He did a nice job with his commentary and, in fact, runs a very good television program. It was great to see the Nuge, too! It seems Huckabee has found his niche, and I hope he continues with his show for many years to come. I enjoy it.

[napscoordinator]

And what did HE do to change the educational system and pensions while he was governor of Arkansas for 10 years or was it 12? He needs to shut up unless he did what he is insisting in Wisconsin. I love how people can shoot the crap when they are not in the position. I guess that is why I don’t like the Huckster.

[Daffynition]

Calm down.

Facts are your friend. An amount of money is taken from teacher wages every month and placed into the fund. Over time, interest and investment growth accrues. The money will then be paid to the teacher in installments upon their retirement; not unlike a 401K except a teacher has no *say* in what and where their funds are invested.

The assets are invested in mutual funds and money markets by the *State of Wisconsin Investment Board,* as in most states. In 2007-8 these *invested funds* were in the negative.