[Clemenza]

I have close family who are state employees in Trenton and Newark. They love to brag about their generous retirements and their healthcare for life. Its just as bad with the local school districts.

Anytime I see a state with budgetary problems, the culprit is always the pension crisis. The states started giving away the store back when actuarial tables showed that the typical employee would live for only 10 years after retirement. With the continued flight of high earners out of state, it is only a matter of time before the goose is effectively sterilized and unable to lay golden eggs for state and local employees.

As a taxpayer in the most overtaxed locality in America, THIS is what makes me angrier. We had welfare reform which was a success here in NYC, we know need pension and benefit reform, which will be an even tougher fight, as the public employee unions have a stranglehold on both major parties, and have total control over the largest third party (Working Families).

[Clemenza]

I have close family who are state employees in Trenton and Newark. They love to brag about their generous retirements and their healthcare for life. Its just as bad with the local school districts.

Anytime I see a state with budgetary problems, the culprit is always the pension crisis. The states started giving away the store back when actuarial tables showed that the typical employee would live for only 10 years after retirement. With the continued flight of high earners out of state, it is only a matter of time before the goose is effectively sterilized and unable to lay golden eggs for state and local employees.

As a taxpayer in the most overtaxed locality in America, THIS is what makes me angrier. We had welfare reform which was a success here in NYC, we NOW need pension and benefit reform, which will be an even tougher fight, as the public employee unions have a stranglehold on both major parties, and have total control over the largest third party (Working Families).

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I left the satate due to a medical condition and they screwed me out of a pension so I have nothing. I have no love for the state government and i know first hand how corrupt it is and how overpaid the workers are. They get raises when no one else does because of the unions.

If I had not left, I could have retired with 25 years in at age 44 with the huge pension every month. I know what happens there.

[Reeses]

With the continued flight of high earners out of state

The government pensioners often go out of state too, taking a steady stream of property tax money out of the local economy. About 25% of property taxes just go poof, creating no jobs for young people, nothing locally to show for it.