The vast majority of Arizonans don’t realize just how much of their tax money pays for the pensions of those who work for the government. Arizona has one of the most generous retirement systems in place. That’s why you will often see lawmakers retire from the legislature only to run for a judicial position like justice of the peace or a statewide office – both types paying more than the meager $24,000/year the legislature pays.
With the budget crisis continuing to loom over a return to economic prosperity, one Arizona lawmaker is taking a very personal and professional step in reforming the system of elected Arizona’s multi-faceted retirement system.
Meet Kirk Adams, Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Arizona Legislature. Speaker Adams has chosen to withdraw from this system and forgo receiving his pension. He believes that it’s time to send a message that those who work for the government need to sacrifice and set the example. Adams also believes that Arizona’s government pension system is sitting on a financial bubble and it’s only a matter of time before that bubble bursts.
We’ll let Fox 10 Phoenix show the interview that aired on Sunday:
GOP House Speaker Withdraws From Retirement Plan: MyFoxPHOENIX.com
Pension reform = necessary and good.
Even more important?
Rep. David Smith’s bill to OUTLAW PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS which is part of the pension problem but the source of SO MANY OTHER problems too.
Adams? = OPPOSED
Why? If he only diddles around the edges, but not really fix the underlying problem, then he’ll still get union support when he runs for Congress in 2012.
Adams financial status makes his state pension something of a minor aspect of his portfolio.
This is certainly theater because it involves NO sacrifice on his part.
As was noted above, public employee unions are the dirty underbelly of the beast – not Speaker Adams silly pension.
And he wants to run for Congress! Bet he doesn’t forgo that pension!!
If pension plans were private and managed by the individual instead of government bureaucrats and polticians, we wouldn’t be in this finanical messs, state or national.
Second is as noted above, today’s greedy unions completely distort the market system and individual freedom of choice and association.
AZ could be the national leader in privatized pensions and removing the oppressive union layer of taxation on employees, businesses and economic sectors.
AZ get its state economic act together and businesses fleeing taxzilla states like Illinois would rush to set up shop in AZ.
What a choice!! Illinois – cold, dreary, high cost of living and high tax, versus palm trees, sunshine and lower cost of living and low taxes, open shops, private pension plans.
There would be a stampede for AZ.
How HARD is it all ye legislators? Really?
wanumba, it’s hard for legislators like Adams and Pearce to support getting rid of public employee unions, because where do you think their money and support comes from?
First of all, Adams and Pearce don’t take money from public employee unions. That’s ridiculous.
This is a great move by Adams. He’s leading by example and putting his money where his mouth is.
Glad someone is finally taking this issue on.
Adams is Arizona’s Chris Christie!!
ConservativeAZ, you are absurd.
How can you justify Adam’s opposition to the bill to END public employee unions in AZ and call him (or yourself) a conservative?
RINO ALERT!
@Oberserve. Don’t know what bill you’re talking about. Would have to actually read it to know how I even feel about it. The devil is always in the details. All I know is that Adams is taking on the public employee unions right now by championing pension reform, which they oppose. He’s been very aggressive against them. You seem pretty uninformed about this whole issue, dude.
ConservativeAZ, listen to yourself.
A) you call yourself a conservative
B) you dont know how you feel about the complete end to public service employee unions in Arizona
in other words, you have no idea what you are talking about.
If Adams were taking on the public unions then he would be SUPPORTING this bill.
And, yet, he’s OPPOSING it.
Which means he’s NOT taking on the public unions except by diddling on the margin with them.
That’s not “taking on”, that’s “diddling.”
Listen to yourself, man! Sheesh. You’re no conservative! lol.
Adams should not speak for all 89 other members of the House and Senate.
Pensions on a lousy $24K job are not the same as pensions for Arizona Superior Court judges or County Supervisors. Have a look at the salary tables.
As I said, good theater Kirk, nothing more.
Observe:
How in the world do you know if Adams opposes that bill? Did he vote against it? Have they even voted on it? What basis of fact do you have? I have a feeling Adams could find a cure for cancer and you would blast him for not finding it sooner. I observe an agenda.
Yes, I have an agenda. It’s RIDDING THE STATE OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS.
You don’t share that agenda?
That speaks volumes about you (RINO) in itself.
Pearce and Adams get most of their support from the police unions which have the richest pensions of all — retire after 20 years, then enter the DROP program so you can double-dip and go back to work at the agency like Jack Harris and all of Arpaio’s top deputies. Of course Pearce is a triple-dipper himself — sheriff’s deputy (Public Safety Retirement fund), ADOT employee (Arizona Retirement System) and now the Elected Officials Retirement system. Sweet deal if you can get it!