SB1 Pension Reform Explained

Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania has a pretty good explanation of SB1, the pension reform bill passed, yesterday, May 13, by the Pennsylvania Senate. SB1 Pension Reform Explained

CAP notes the bill calls for new state workers and public school teachers to enroll in a defined contribution type plan similar to the 401Ks most of us have. They also have an option to enroll in a cash balance plan which are like savings accounts with a interest rate equal to a 30-year US Treasury Bond with a cap at 4 percent.

New employees would not be eligible for the existing defined benefit plan.

Existing employees would be prevented from spiking their average salary during their final years to hike their pension by maxing out on overtime. It would also change how future benefits are calculated for employees in the current system and require increased employee contributions.

It is estimated that the reforms would save the taxpayers $1.7 billion over the next four years and a total savings of $18 billion.

The bill is now before the House.

Kudos but why wasn’t this done four years ago when the GOP ran everything? Expect our Democrat governor, Tom Wolf, to do what he can to gut it as the unions basically own him.

And, really, the morality of someone making a $477,591 public pension must be addressed before asking the working class and those down on the luck to bail out the system.

Hat tip Lisa Esler.

SB1 Pension Reform Explained

Senate Passes Pension Reform

The Pennsylvania Senate, this afternoon, May 13, passed SB 1 which would change theĀ  plans forĀ  those in the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) into defined contribution ones akin to the 401Ks most of us have. Senate Passes Pension Reform

The vote was 28-19 with Stewart Greenleaf of the 12th District being the only Republican voting nay. Dominic Pileggi of the 9th District, who it was surmised would vote against the bill, wound up supporting it.

Not voting were Pat Browne (R-16) and Anthony Williams (D-8).

The bill was introduced May 8 with Jake Corman (R-34) as the prime sponsor.

It now goes to the House.

The reason for the need is explained in the bill’s first section:

Pennsylvania’s retirement systems, SERS for State employees and PSERS for school employees, together have an unfunded liability of $60,121,184,000. The level of payment by the Commonwealth and school districts required to annually address these amounts is staggering, particularly when other state revenues are reduced due to a struggling economy. The current condition of Pennsylvania’s unfunded system combined with the State’s structural deficit threaten the financial well-being of current and future public employees.

In order to fully fund State pensions systems, economists estimate that contributions will continue to require a significant portion of state revenues. In fiscal year 2015-2016, pension expenditures are expected to exceed $4,800,000,000 and $7,300,000,000 by 2025.

The tax increases that would be required to address increasing pension obligations would place a heavy burden on the citizens of this Commonwealth and hamper the ability to provide them with services vital to the public’s health, safety and welfare. Therefore, it is imperative that the Commonwealth adopt reforms that will maintain the financial health of the Commonwealth and its school districts.

Therefore, the reforms contained in this legislation are intended to use resources judiciously and enable the Commonwealth to provide retirement security for Commonwealth and school employees while reducing the burden on taxpayers.

The reforms of the retirement benefits of Commonwealth and school district employees contained in this act are prospective and will not impact benefits earned from services rendered prior to the effective date of this act

Senate Passes Pension Reform

William Lawrence Bonus Omnibit 5-13-15

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 5-13-15

Many Asians find it disgusting that Westerners wear shoes in the home. And using handkerchiefs to blow their noses. That’s also disgusting they say.

Iran Sanctions — No Bill Beats Bad Bill

ByĀ Robert B. Sklaroff Iran Sanctions -- No Bill Beats Bad Bill

No amendments.Ā  No anguish.Ā  No bill.

Congress must not pass any Iran Nuke Bill, for it could promote what some feel is Obama’s alleged goal – namely, making Iran into the Middle East’s hegemony.

Instead of pondering the improbable and/or reliving the tragic ignorance of the 1930s, there is a method by which President Obama’s failed foreign policy – promulgated for more than a half-decade – can be placed into a form of ā€œreceivership,ā€ even if he would profess that it has been successful.

Because ofĀ existingĀ sanctions legislation, purposeful inaction should necessitate that a component of this ā€œdealā€ be submitted to Congress.Ā  Obama can waive sanctions only if it’s determined to beĀ necessary to the ā€œnational interestā€; his stated rationale would then be subject to litigation.

Therefore, those who perceive it as a treaty – invoking the precedent of all prior nuke-related agreements – would mandate that it be ratified by two thirds of the Senate (Article II, Section 2, ¶2), even as Obama’s apologists claim he could sign off on an executive order.Ā  Indeed, he has not ruled out issuing an executive order to closeĀ Gitmo!

Let’s call his bluff!

The trigger for this initiative was the bluster of Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who claimed that Obama ā€œwill have to stopĀ implementing all the sanctions, economic and financial sanctions that have been executive order and congressional. However he does it, that’s his problem.ā€

Indeed, the left-leaningĀ PolitifactĀ determined it to be ā€œmostly trueā€ that ā€œthe next president could revoke such an executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time,ā€ because ā€œa key portion of the 286-word [Cotton] letter says that the undersigned senators ā€˜will consider any agreement regarding your nuclear-weapons program that is not approved by the Congress as nothing more than an executive agreement between President Obama and Ayatollah Khamenei’.ā€

It is unnecessary to analyze the situation further, except to note that endorsement of this unamended bill by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) violates that group’s responsibility to advocate the position of the Israeli government as ā€œAmerica’s Pro-Israel Lobby.ā€Ā  Proof positive of this flip-flop is what happened a decade ago, when theĀ JTAĀ reported that ā€œthere never was any doubt that AIPAC would offer some measure of support for the Gaza withdrawal, since the lobby is committed to backing the policies of the Israeli government.ā€Ā  Mark Levin railed against AIPAC – along similar lines – on May 5 (podcast @ 47:49-49:13).

Thus, by ignoring PM Netanyahu and eschewing the gravamen of his ā€œState of the Worldā€ address, AIPAC has become compliant irrevocably to the Dems…exposing the myth of AIPAC power.Ā  In contrast, as per an exhaustive analysis byĀ Ted BelmanĀ on his Israpundit website and personal e-mail, the Zionist Organization of America endorsed amending the bill.Ā  Again, among national pro-Israel advocates, the Organization’s president, Mort Klein, stands alone against the forces of evil.

The amendment process, admirable as it should be, may apparently beĀ short-circuitedĀ by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who doesn’t want theĀ Cotton-Rubio initiativeĀ (requiring Iran to disclose the history of its nuclear program, to shutter all its nuclear facilities, and to recognize Israel’s statehood) to be subject to a vote.Ā  His supporters claim that this ā€œstuntā€ constitutes a ā€œpoison pill.ā€

Uncertainty abounds, such as the potential for the U.N. Security Council to remove sanctions independently.Ā  Danger abounds, noting the capacity of released billions to grease Tehran’s worldwide sponsorship of terrorism.Ā  Concern that a constitutional crisis looms abounds, for any clash of powers of allegedly co-equal branches may ultimately reach the SCOTUS in a fashion comparable to the current litigation promulgated by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) against unilateral Obamacare rule changes by the administration.

The alternative to standing firm is capitulation.Ā  Instead, as Netanyahu has repeatedly argued, it is necessary to maintain – if not to expand – sanctions until/unless a ā€œbetterā€ deal has been reached.Ā  Clarity is mandatory; Congress must not pass an Iran bill.

Dr. Sklaroff is a hematologist/oncologist in Montgomery County, Pa. and has served as a GOP committee-person for more than two decades. This article has appeared in American Thinker.

Ā Iran Sanctions — No Bill Beats Bad Bill

Gloria Gellman Gets Crest Award

Kudos to Chester County’s Gloria Seeburger Gellman who has received the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women’s prestigious Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award in honor of her community service.Ā Gloria Gellman Gets Crest Award

The award is presented annually to distinguished alumnae of Pi Beta Phi who exhibit excellence and outstanding leadership in their career or volunteer service to their communities. It is named for past Pi Beta Phi President Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg, who was instrumental in forming Pi Beta Phi Foundation during her term from 1985 to 1991.

Gloria is among the founders of the Humanities Associates, the annual giving society for the School of Humanities at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and has played a major role in fundraising for Opera Pacific, which operated for 22 seasons in Orange County, California, before closing in 2008.

She was also a longtime board member for Orange County’s Pacific Symphony, helping organize fundraising groups such as the Symphony Supper Club and the Symphony 100, an exclusive group offering adult music education classes and unique field trips.

Gloria now lives in Chesco and serves on the Chester County Women’s Commission. Ā She is also a leader for the Mainline-Pennsylvania Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi and the Jeptha Abbott Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the largest chapter in the state of Pennsylvania.

ā€œWhen I was widowed at the age of 32, my dear mother encouraged me to go out and do something for my community,ā€ she said. ā€œThat led to an active career as a volunteer. It brought me joy and satisfaction. It feels good to have done work that is providing ongoing support for many groups.ā€

Gloria Gellman Gets Crest Award

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 5-13-15

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 5-13-15

The great scientist Isaac Newton was also a detective.

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 5-12-15

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 5-12-15

Carrots aren’t better for one’s eyes than any other root vegetable. In World War II, the British had a surplus of carrots and were using radar with great success aganst the Nazis so they spread the tale that eating carrots were good for your eyes. This encouraged people to eat carrots instead of harder to get food items and helped make the Nazis think their planes were not getting shot down with a secret weapon.

Pileggi Mask Comes Off On Pension Reform

Pileggi Mask Comes Off On Pension Reform
A switch by Sen. Dominic Pileggi on pension reform would certainly explain why the PSEA is pushing for him for Delaware County Common Pleas Court judge in the DEMOCRAT Primary.

State Sen. Dominic F. Pileggi is now actively opposing pension reform, we have been told.

The former Majority Leader who represented the 9th District since 2002 had long given lip service to the need but as he is now on the outs and looking for a Common Pleas Court judgeship, the mask has been removed.

Why?

Was it sour grapes at those who removed him from power? Or was it a a ploy for the registered Republican to win on the Democrat primary ballot for his judicial race hence obviating a campaign for November? Judicial candidates are allowed to cross file in Pennsylvania.

If the latter, it appears to be effective.Ā  He has gotten a rousing endorsement from the PSEA, the teachers union that is biggest obstacle for real reform. The union is asking Democrats to vote for him.

But does it matter? To fail to see the need for drastic changes to our public pension system is political malpractice at the highest level. It is the very definition of injustice to ask a working class homeowner to ante up another thousand or two so someone can keep a $477,591 public pension.

How can anyone be so callous as to be unwilling to fight this corruption?

Pileggi Mask Comes Off On Pension Reform

 

Pedro Cortes Ignored Gosnell

Gov. Tom Wolf’s nominee for Secretary of the Commonwealth will face the Pennsylvania Senate’s State Government Committee at 11:30 this morning, May 12 and Pedro Cortes has serious baggage. Pedro Cortes Ignored Gosnell

Among the agencies for which the post is responsible is the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs which certifies doctors and makes sure they maintain standards.

Cortes had been Commonwealth Secretary under Gov. Ed Rendell from 2003-2010. He pointedly looked the other way while Kermit Gosnell committed his atrocities despite being fully empowered to step in and stop them. He does not deserve a second chance.

The Delaware County Patriots note that the 9th District’s Dominic F. Pileggi, who represents much of Delco, is the committee’s vice chairman and is expected to be a swing vote. They ask that he be contacted and encourage to deny Cortes a second chance.

He can be reached at 717-787-4712 or by email here.

Pedro Cortes Ignored Gosnell

 

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 5-11-15

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 5-11-15

Iran charged 14 squirrels with espionage after they were found near a nuclear power plant.