Teachers or tax breaks?

March 30, 2012

The Washington Post reports, "A coalition opposed to a state pension overhaul is urging Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) to veto the plan, which was drafted and approved in the final hours of the Virginia General Assembly session. Contending that lawmakers did not understand what was in the '11th hour' legislation, groups representing current and retired teachers, firefighters and police said at a Capitol Square news conference Thursday that the plan would reduce retirement benefits for many current employees."

Progressive Point: Teachers, firefighters, and police officers spend their days improving and protecting our communities. Instead of honoring their lifetime of service, Bob McDonnell and conservatives in the General Assembly pushed through a last minute plan to make it harder for these folks to make ends meet in retirement. Community servants weren't to blame for the economic meltdown and Virginia's budget problems and they shouldn't be the scapegoat now.

We should honor those who protect our neighborhoods and teach our children every day, and the Commonwealth must honor the promise it made to them for their service. Our legislators have a choice: teachers, firefighters, and police officers or tax breaks, pet projects, and special interests. For Virginians, it's not a choice at all.

Get the Facts:

• One bill, SB498, would force new employees hired after January 1, 2014 to have a hybrid pension plan that would be part guaranteed benefit and part 401k-style contribution system. (Virginian-Pilot, March 30, 2012)


• SB497, would force teachers and local government works to begin contributing 5% of their pay to their pension and give them an offsetting pay raise. (Virginian-Pilot, March 30, 2012)


• Changes to the pension bills were made in the final hours of the General Assebly on March 10, giving lawmakers no time to read through and understand the details before voting on it. (Washington Post, March 28, 2012)


• State employees with less than 20 years of service as of January 1, 2013 will have their cost-of-living increases capped at 3%. "Those employed for fewer than five years by that date will have their retirement pay based on their last five years of employment instead of their last three." (Washington Post, March 28, 2012)

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