Posted on 12/16/2011 9:58:43 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Yes, he’s still governor. He’s “retired” only for benefits purposes, which means he can start collecting his pension while he’s still collecting a salary. It’s perfectly legal. Just … unhelpful.
Perry makes a $150,000 annual gross salary as Texas govenor. Now, thanks to his early retirement, Perry, 61, gets a monthly retirement annuity of $7,698 before taxes, or $6,588 net. That raises his gross annual salary to more than $240,000…
[T]he disclosure is sure to spark criticism of Perry, who has called for sweeping changes to Social Security for average workers and has railed against special “perks” that members of Congress get.
“Perry was legally able to begin collecting the employee class annuity under the ‘rule of 80.’ The combination of his U.S. military service, state service and age exceeded 80 years and qualifies him for the annuity under Texas Government Code 813.503 as amended in 1991,” Sullivan said. “Perry continues to pay into the Employees Retirement System with a 6.5 percent withholding from his state salary.”…
“I do advocate totally rethinking the safety net, personal security programs completely,” Perry said in a November 2010 interview. “Why is the government collecting your tax money for retirement and health care programs? That’s not a stated constitutional role.”
He “retired” back in January, months before he decided to run for president. Had he known he was going to jump in and take withering fire from Romney on his entitlements rhetoric, I assume he’d have waited to start collecting. But it is what it is, and it’ll be thrown in his face every time the subject of Medicare or Social Security reform comes up. I don’t blame him for his logic: He paid in, he worked hard, he followed the rules, and now he wants his money. Problem is, that’s the same attitude seniors take towards federal entitlements, and if Perry beats Obama, he’ll suddenly be the guy tasked with convincing them to relax that attitude a bit in the name of our common fiscal good. How does he rally them to take one for the team and wait until, say, age 68 to enroll in Medicare if he couldn’t wait until finishing his term as governor to start taking his own pension? When I tweeted that a few hours ago, Perry fans jumped on me by answering that Democrats will smear him and attack the GOP viciously no matter what. Which is true, but how does that mitigate the potential damage here? An enemy armed with artillery is more dangerous than an enemy armed only with rifles, and this represents a bit of artillery for them insofar as they’ll use it to try to galvanize resentment against Perry’s supposed hypocrisy. Why do you think Gingrich couldn’t resist digging at Romney’s track record at Bain? Voters remember details to which they can relate personally, like pensions and layoffs. It’s not a liability that’ll sink Perry, but yeah, it’ll be used against him. Texas Democrats are already using it, in fact.
Exit question via Ace’s co-blogger Drew: “You think Chis Chistie might show up at a few events to talk about Perry’s pensions?”
(VIDEO AT LINK)
If he wasn’t Governor for eleven years he would have had to have had another qualifying job in State Government to qualify for the money.
True, that.
And the sun will rise in the morning even if I quit breathing in the small hours.
So I'm going to do my part, and leave the results in God's hands.
And not stress about it.
/johnny
Sage advice.
Perry, however, should stress about it. That is if he ever really wanted to be president.
Point me to the source for that, please.
/johnny
‘“Perry was legally able to begin collecting the employee class annuity under the ‘rule of 80.’ The combination of his U.S. military service, state service and age exceeded 80 years and qualifies him for the annuity under Texas Government Code 813.503 as amended in 1991,” Sullivan said.’
Why? It could be a lead-in to how much better Texas manages it's retirement system than other states. Something to hammer back with after attention gets raised.
Nah. Man that shoots a coyote that's attacking his dog... shoots and kills the coydog... I'm betting he's a pretty calm fellow.
/johnny
Because if he wasn't governor now... He would still get an annuity payout. He just hit the top end and triggered a rule.
Seems like we're getting a slanted or partial story.
/johnny
I have scene him respond in real time and it ain’t pretty. I would suspect this is something he wishes he hadn’t had to defend.
An annuity, to me, sounds like an insurance instrument that one would contribute to..as opposed to a state funded pension. That sounds like a good thing, imho.
In my previous posts, I have indicated, I don’t have a problem with Gov. Perry drawing these funds,even if were a state funded pension. It is due to him.Many people work for the state (and private industry for that matter) for the benefits. No crime in that. I don’t see that it “looks bad” at all.
I did find it unusual that the article said he “retired”. As far as I know he is still the Governor of Texas.
This is a tempest in a teapot..to make Perry look bad, imho.
Sorry pal, but you’re the one blowing misinformation all over this thread. Pension payments are a form of annuity. The TRS is a regular state guaranteed pension system.
The average voter is Stupid. They do little research and even less critical thinking, yet they vote.
Got to hit the hay. finally got the last baby to fall asleep.
Sorry pal, but you’re the one blowing misinformation all over this thread. Pension payments are a form of annuity. The TRS is a regular state guaranteed pension system.
Perry’s retirement payments are due to his filing for them and not some sort of automatic system.
And land grant colleges are neither unique to Texas nor relevant in this discussion at all.
So who's blowing misinformation?
/johnny
So? has he started collecting? It’s due to him in any case.
Hey clown, there are all types of annuities, pension payments are just one form of annuity. All annuities are not pension payments. Is elementary logic in short supply in Texas?
Dang! Mo’s getting her large ass kicked...
No.
Are manners in short supply where you come from?
The ERS is the TRS.
They tend to be set up in trusts. Real trusts, not like SS.
But the ERS is separate from the TRS, where his retirement income (guaranteed pension) will come from, when he retires.
But I'm just a cook.
/johnny
I have to ask...whether it is an annuity or pension, and Gov. Perry eligible to collect, is that wrong?
I can draw Social Security and continue to work if I choose to do so.
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