It was a benefit Milwaukee County’s employee unions never asked for, but now they are fighting to keep it unchanged. Three public employee unions, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, and the Association of Milwaukee County Attorneys are suing Milwaukee County to try to reverse the decision by the County Board last year to limit the infamous pension backdrop payments. Read More Chris Abele Fighting Labor Unions Over Massive Milwaukee County Pensions
Pension Reform
The Public Pension Crisis
From www.milkeninstitute.org – A new report from MacIver contributor Kevin Nicholson. Along with Tom Healey and Carl Hess, Nicholson surveys the mess created by unfunded public pension liabilities that may exceed $4 trillion. “This is a situation that urgently calls out for leadership on the part of both elected officials and public employee unions,” they argue. “A handful of states and localities have already shown their mettle, reforming public pensions without leaving an enduring legacy of bitterness. We hope that others will follow.” Read More The Public Pension Crisis
State Employees Keep Collecting Double
[Madison, Wisc…] An audit released last week by the state’s Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) confirmed that “double dipping” by state employees continues to be widespread. Read More State Employees Keep Collecting Double
Lansing, Meet Madison
Our neighbor to the north and east, Michigan, is about to enter some rough times–and not just because the Detroit Lions cannot win a game. The state legislature votes Tuesday on whether to make Michigan a Right-to-Work state, and the labor unions are planning on storming the Capitol. Read More Lansing, Meet Madison
Nerenz: Welcome to Later
But we are where we are. In the short term, there are three ways to close the funding gap and avoid cutting pensions: a) force current employees to contribute more (fat chance), b) force the taxpayer to pay more (fatter chance), or c) invest in stocks and allow corporations to increase profits and generate higher returns. Read More Nerenz: Welcome to Later