[Cincinatus' Wife]

From my calculations, Gov. Perry was eligible 5 years ago to receive this.

And with a bit of research, Speaker Newt Gingrich was eligible to collect his government pension beginning when he left office in 1999. [possibly $120K X 12 years = $1,440,000.00 + a gold-plated Congressional medical plan] If someone has better numbers please link that information.

[Catsrus]

And, big deal. Is this really an issue? I don’t think so. He’s entitled to it and so, he’s taking it. Not a one of us would do anything differently, including those making a big issue out of this.

[trumandogz]

They don’t even mention Perry’s income from his years of private sector work.

[ontap]

Actually for a career politician he doesn’t have that many assets! Usually they can steal much more than that!!

[TexasFreeper2009]

I am not a Perry supporter, but I don’t blame Perry for this, I blame the system which allows it.

No one should be getting any money meant for retirement when they are still young and working (unless there is some sort of fixed limit on how long they will recieve it)

[mkjessup]

My take on it?

Governor Perry earned it, he is entitled to it.

Contrasted with the Pretenda from Kenya, whose life is now lavished with excessive vacations, golf courses, dinners (not to mention the largesse the First Wookie is marinading in), the difference is that 0bama-lama-ding-dong hasn’t earned ANY of it, he’s a slacker and a parasite.

If Governor Perry ends up taking on the job of the ‘Orkin Man’ to fumigate the White House, I’ll be on board.

[Mr Rogers]

I think Perry OUGHT to be trying to reform this, as Gov.

I find the idea that he deserves retirement pay of $92,000 annually bizarre. I know politicians make sure they have huge retirements beyond the dreams of almost anyone in the private sector...but 92K? Based on being “a state House member, state agriculture secretary and lieutenant governor”?

Sorry, but I don’t think being a politician is “service”.

And BTW - my retirement pay for 25+ years in the military is about $50K. Given the conditions I lived under much of the time, I would have quit the military after about 8 years without the promise of retirement. So - how many state House members quit because their job means they spend much of each year living in tents away from their family? How many Lt Govs quit because they are tired of being shot at?

I also find this comment of yours obscene for a conservative:

“Gov. Perry is the executive of the 13th largest economy in the world, a state of 25,000,000 (and growing).”

Really? He is the CEO of all Texas? I thought he was responsible for the Texas state government...not the entire Texas economy.

When are the Board meetings for the Unified Texas Private Economy?

[Vermont Lt]

Is it illegal? Nope.

I hate this crap. If what they are doing is not illegal, then STFU.

If you do not like the law, change the damn thing.

[muawiyah]

Sure, it's very easy to figure out Gingrich's retirement. His high 3 was pretty much whatever the Speaker of the House received at the time. Easy to look up ~ you do that ~ I'm just providing the formula.

He got TWO YEARS SERVICE TIME for EACH ONE YEAR IN CONGRESS.

He was in office before the FERS system became mandatory, so he probably has the CSRS system.

With CSRS there's a fairly complex percentage system depending on how many years you've spent in government, or how that time was counted. This website is where you get the whole enchilada ~ a href="http://www.opm.gov/retire/pre/csrs/computation.asp">http://www.opm.gov/retire/pre/csrs/computation.asp

Have fun!

[elpadre]

and Perry's annual income compared with the others??

[catfish1957]

Guv’s a living breathing PR disaster. Too bad, because he is probably one of the most conservative of the lot.

[muawiyah]

Gingrich is 68 now. He was 56 then. You have to have attained minium retirement age of 55 to get your retirement pay, so he made that. Otherwise, he'd had to have waited until he was 60 years of age.

The federal retirement system, even for Congress-critters, is generally not nearly as lucrative as being a school superintendent anywhere.

[circlecity]

As long as Perry is following the same rules that are there for everyone else this is NOT an issue. Only a lib or RINO would fight tooth and nail to give someone something and then criticize them for taking it.

[rfreedom4u]

And where did all Obama’s money and tuition come from?

[shield]

Perry Ping....

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Per SD
This is just how Rick Perry is. After Hurricane Ike devastated my community, he came here to survey the damage. He did not just walk through here surrounded by security and news cameras and then make a speech. That's not Perry. He showed up in jeans and a work shirt, no cameras, no press conference, and he walked among all of us who had been hit. A hug, a pat on the shoulder, a listening ear, and an encouraging word. He saw to it that emergency shelters were being set up and food and water were available to everyone. When Obama/FEMA refused to help us, Governor Perry set up state funding to help us rebuild our homes and our lives. My home is at 'ground zero' where Ike came ashore. We all took tremendous damage. FEMA sent me a check two months later for $600 dollars. Governor Perry set up the Recovery Fund to help us all rebuild. That is what a true leader and a true Christian does. That's my Governor! I can't wait to see America under the caring wing of Rick Perry.

[Dudoight]

But, with the Texas budget surplus this year of $1.6 billion:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/13/3590023/16-billion-surplus-projected-for.html

does someone want to complain about his ‘retirement’ compensation? LOL!

[upcountryhorseman]

So what?

[Lib-Lickers 2]

if you compare the way Texas has been run over the last ten years with other states Perry ought to get a raise..

[Quicksilver]

About ERS

ERS administers retirement, health and other insurance benefits, TexFlex, a tax-savings flexible benefit program, and 401(k) and 457 investment accounts as part of the Texa$aver Program. We also manage and invest the ERS Trust for the sole benefit of retirement system members.

Funding for retirement benefits provided under the GBP is determined every two years and is paid for through member and employer contributions. The coverage offered through the GBP is not a constitutionally guaranteed benefit and ERS is not required to maintain funds to pay future benefits.

http://www.ers.state.tx.us/about/

[takenoprisoner]

I guess well all should have gotten high paying, major benefited, govt jobs. I could have retired 24 years ago.

Instead, here I am still trying to scratch out a living as a small biz owner. I’m the last one to get paid. If it all these days. But the govt entities, and the required by law to have ins companies, employees, utilities, vendors, etc, all get paid before I do. I’m last on the list. Some folks don’t get this. Especially those dipsh!ts in govt “service.”

Next time around I will know better. Get a govt job. Retire at 38. Get another job in govt, collect my retirement, and my salary from the 2nd govt job.