Jackson Jambalaya

You misspelled PANDERING Kingfish.

So they, Retirees that could potentially be elected, can vote on bills that puts money in their pockets by increasing the COLA or up the % s that retirees get, like the legislature did in 90s, a la Hob Bryan, with no source of funding?

Yeah this is a GREAT idea, Hood. When Hood wants to raise taxes to pay for it you will know who to blame.

If they want to serve they can put their PERS on hold just like anyone that is elected and did business with the state. Period.

I agree with 1:41. Hood is pandering to State E'Es and retirees. This is disappointing.

So you don't think they should be able to run for office?

"Double dipping" is the American way.

I’m with the Fish on this.

If they are not accruing additional PERS benefits, then I have no problem with them serving while getting benefits.

Every member of the legislature already has the ability to "vote on bills that puts money in their pockets by increasing the COLA or up the % s that retirees get", 1:41. Or do you not realize that?

However, I believe PERS retirees are now required to stop receiving benefits if they enter another PERS covered position as an employee (not a private contractor), so, why should this be any different?

Hood's release helps prove that his 'official opinion', issued as he prepares to enter his first seriously contested statewide race, was nothing but a political ploy to gain the votes of state retirees, especially to tighten up his control of teachers' votes

But why should we be surprised? Everything Hood has done has been to benefit himself, either politically or financially. And before he and his henchmen jump in and complain about his financial benefits - check his campaign finance reporting. He has been living out of his campaign account for years - and where did those campaign contributions come from? The same trial lawyers that he was giving high paying contingency cases providing those firms (many from out of state, plus of course Mike Moore). Sweet deal. They make millions, give half million or so to Hood and he uses that to pay his ordinary living expenses during off years.

So this ploy with a raid on PERS, to be paid by tax increases, is not surprising.

Hood has the retirees back, Tater wants to take the shirt off their back. Why shouldn't Hood let retirees know this.

Most legislators vote on items that effect them. They are lawyers who write the laws that they will use to sue people, insurance executives who vote on insurance laws, health care people who vote on Medicaid reimbursement. Can’t be worse than the scammers there now.

@6:40, proof about Hood?

7:59; If it were not true, you'd see all those donations in a 'cash on hand account'. Look there, then come back.

The Legislature votes on its own taxes. The PERS exclusion is nonsense.

^^^^5:28 yep

Mr. AG
At the request of PERS in 2017 the Legislature changed the way service credit was awarded. From the beginning of time credit was awarded as follows

1-3 months = 1/4 year
4-6 months = 1/2 year
7-9 months = 3/4 year
10-12 months = 1 year.

Effective 2017 credit is granted at .0833 for each month of employment. Quarters are no longer relevant.

Now employees who had been able to retire May 1st of their 25th year are no longer eligible to retire.
They must now work through until July 1st.

School employees contracted for 10 months will have to work an additional 4 years to retire at .50% of their salary.

How is it legal for PERS to change the benefit calculation for all existing employees in 2017? it would have made sense if the change applied only to new hires only.

We entered state employment years ago with a certain benefit for retirement and now PERS has decreased that benefit,

will you please address this at the meeting?

thank you.








10

Current and former state employees should certainly be permitted to run for any elected office. It is a slap in the face to everyone to be treated like a criminal and not be allowed to run for political office. For retirees, it should be like any other state job in that you would have to enroll in the retirement program and would forego your retirement draw until you retire again.
Taking this a step further, state employee restrictions on forming a union and going on strike should be abolished. This would help give state employees enough leverage to get a raise they deserve. The cost of living has increased by about 21% in the past 12 years, but ZERO salary increase has been giving, but the taxpayers continue to fund projects for out of state corporations across Mississippi.

...Unless you are the powerful Mississippi Highway Patrol. You can retire from MHP and then pick up another state job that pays into PERS while collecting your MHP retirement.

Its been a bad week or two for Tate. According to the news, he's an old south general who associates with black face and he hates retirees.

He don't know who he's messing with in AG Good.

"How is it legal for PERS to change the benefit calculation for all existing employees in 2017?"

It's not. That's why they had the Legislature do it. Hello?

Kingfish Asks: "So you don't think they should be able to run for office?"

Who said that? I just don't think a special exception should be carved out for retirees who are elected to serve in the legislature. What makes them special? Well...other than being able to define and enhance their own retirement gratis.