Senator Anderson, Coalition for Secure Retirement hosted a press conference today to denounce attempt to shift pension costs to retirees

LANSING – Senator Glenn S. Anderson joined with the Coalition for Secure Retirement at the state capitol today to call attention to the most recent legislative attempt at eroding the middle class in Michigan. Anderson and the retirees spoke out against Senate Bill 1040, which would put current and already retired educators on the hook for pension costs.

“Last year Governor Snyder and legislative leaders built their entire budget on raising taxes for seniors and working families, and drastically cutting funding for public education” said Anderson. “This year, as school districts struggle to balance budgets after the cuts, the only thing Republicans think to do is dip further into the paychecks of our educators and retirees.”

Senate Bill 1040 would require educators to significantly increase their pension contributions or face the penalty of a decreased retirement multiplier upon retirement, would cap maximum compensation amounts, raise the retirement age for educators and decrease the amount of health coverage covered by the state. It is expected this legislation will be rushed through the legislative process, despite widespread opposition. Republican sponsors also included an appropriation in the bill that would block citizens from using a petition drive to reverse this action. This is a tactic they are using more and more frequently to stymie voters from using their constitutional right to petition for a ballot referendum to reverse unpopular actions of the legislature.

Elaine Miller, a retired Redford Union educator and 1990 WDIV Newsweek Teacher of the Year, joined the press conference and commented, “I am enraged by the endless stream of attacks on public educators from Lansing. The message that the Republicans are sending is ˜We don't care about having good public teachers educating our children.' It makes me wonder if they care about the kids themselves.”

“How can the public education talent pool in Michigan expect to attract and retain those best and brightest when all they see is a devaluing of teachers through this relentless attack from Lansing?” Senator Anderson remarked. “They demand our educators take on one of the most important jobs in Michigan out of one side of their mouths and ask them to give up their own future financial stability out of the other.”