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Teachers Union True to Form

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers, issued a statement that they would fight the passage of Senate Bill 7, filed by Senator Walter Boasso (R-St. Bernard), that would create a super board to oversee the state teachers retirement system and the state employees' retirement system.

Highly critized for overspending and numerous ethical failings, the teachers retirement system is a little fiefdom and the lords have called for the raising of the draw bridge.

The board of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana denounced the bill almost immediately after it was filed and the LFT doing the same just a few days later. The governing members of both the retirement system and the LFT are only looking out for themselves and not the actual teachers they are suppose to be representing, much less the taxpayers of Louisiana.

With current projections the retirement system will not have the funds to provide for the benefits they have promised to teachers within 15 years. And, as is all too typical of government agencies, they will be looking to the state taxpayers to bail them out of their own mismanagement.

I do have to give credit to the board of the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System. Although they have not come right out in favor of the bill, they have at least reserved judgement until they have had an opportunity to study the bill and assess how the bill will effect their current and future retirees.

I believe one of the problems with the boards of the teachers retirement system and the LFT is they are treating this bill as if it was filed by a career politician. Sen. Boasso is only in the second year of being a Senator with no prior political experience. He is doing what he believes to be right not only for the teachers, but also for the residents of Louisiana. What many may fail to realize is that any changes to the teachers retirement system will directly effect members of Sen. Boasso's immediately family who are current and retired teachers. He is not going to do anything that would harm their retirement benefits.

I urge everyone to call or write their State Senator in favor of Senate Bill 7. Talk to any teachers you know and make sure they know what is being done in their name by the LFT and the retirement board.

You can read more about the LFT's statement from the Times-Picayune.

You can download the bill from the Lousiana Senate web site.

Be good to yourself,
Westley Annis
westley@da-parish.com
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posted by Westley at 3/10/2005 11:25:00 AM