Travis Rowley: “Hope and Change” for “Pension Reform”
Saturday, October 15, 2011
For the past several months public union bosses have braced themselves for the fixes that are coming to the state pension system. In disservice to their members – and to the detriment of their pensions – this is a moment that labor leaders have long resisted.
In 2006, Executive Director of the NEARI Bob Walsh mocked his political opponents’ longstanding warnings over a potential pension collapse after viewing a “Pension Reform Now” rally at the State House, where “most of the faces in the crowd were Republican” (Providence Journal). Walsh commented to reporters, “Republicans support pension reform. Well, yeah. Where's the story? Where's the news?"
The “news” was that Walsh’s union members were now in an even worse position than they were in 2003, when Walsh was defying a previous attempt to right the state’s pension system, this time by Republican Governor Don Carcieri. “This is really not a negotiable issue for us,” Walsh said at the time.
The day of reckoning for the reckless disregard public union bosses have long expressed for the severe underfunding of their members’ pensions is finally upon them.
Actually, it’s upon all Rhode Islanders.
It seems, however, that only the unions have been suffering from anxiety – making gestures of lawsuits toward the taxpayers, and creating propaganda videos that accept no blame, offer no solutions, and object to the most modest of pension changes.
There has been much less restiveness from taxpayer groups and other Republican-types in regards to what the details of Treasurer Gina Raimondo’s pension reform proposal might be – a proposal that she insists must be accepted in its totality. After years of warning of the looming fiscal breakdown, perhaps they’re just glad that union-Democrats have finally acknowledged the problem.
They’ll Sue. They’ll Sue. They’ll Sue.
Perhaps wisely, Treasurer Raimondo and Governor Chafee have kept the details of their final solution close to them, only releasing hints as to what the public can expect. Their articulation hasn’t been as confusing and formless as the Democrats’ “Occupy” movement. But vague enough to be annoying.
Chafee’s and Raimondo’s reserved responses to weeks of probing questions are cause enough for taxpayers to be uneasy over what will soon be proposed. With dozens of Democratic legislators already in their pocket, the public unions have been enhancing their negotiating position by simply becoming the squeakiest wheel. Their threats of “litigation” are a reminder of a complaint that a spokesman for New York’s private unions recently made about his public union counterparts: “They won’t take concessions. They’ll sue. They’ll sue. They’ll sue.”
Meanwhile, in contrast to the unions’ thuggery and negotiating prowess, conservative activists have ranged from Gina Raimondo’s silent back-patters to her most aggressive cheerleaders.
Who is Raimondo more pressured to appease?
The answer is simple when one considers the fact that Raimondo has made it explicitly clear that her worst fear is that “the temptation of the General Assembly might be to just water down the bill overall…[I]f you water it down too much it won't work and then we will be back here in a few years."
With Raimondo insisting that her proposal must not be altered, what are the chances of her offering up a plan that the unions will most likely consider to be inequitable?
Considering it crucial that her proposal be fully embraced, Raimondo is most certainly swayed by two historical factors: The taxpayers have always been the biggest pushovers. And the unions will sue.
Torturing the Taxpayers. Again.
Just weeks ago on A Lively Experiment, Raimondo did sympathize with Rhode Island’s overstretched taxpayers, saying, “The taxpayers now are baring quite a lot of the burden. Since 2003 taxpayer contributions into the pension have doubled…It would be my intention to not have taxpayers [do] much more than they’re doing now.” But she also said, “We are looking for everybody to participate. Young employees, active employees, retirees, taxpayers.” And when asked point-blank if taxpayers would “have to take something of a hit,” Raimondo responded, “Absolutely.” Governor Chafee seconded Raimondo’s sentiment more recently: "My preference is to make sure that everybody that's involved shares the sacrifice…retirees, existing employees and taxpayers.''
Conservatives, what will be the price of your decency, your patience, and your cooperation? Will Rhode Island taxpayers – your sacred constituency – be forced to help bailout a bankrupt pension system that they have not only been forced to fund against their will, but also one that many of them pointed to for decades as an impending disaster, only to have public union bosses smear them as “wealthy” and “greedy” and “anti-worker,” denigrations that helped them organize public employees into a Democratic voting bloc that would secure the collapse?
In 2008, liberals swooned over the empty slogan “Hope and Change” (and we all know how that worked out). Have conservatives made a similar mistake by hastily celebrating such a nebulous term as “pension reform?”
Travis Rowley is chairman of the RI Young Republicans, and a consultant for the Barry Hinckley Campaign for US Senate.
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Comments:
Peter Cassels
7:16am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
If the economy continues on its merry way to Great Depression levels, Obama's 2012 slogan may very well be "Spare Change?", the mantra of the homeless ones begging on street corners. Needless to say, I'm disenchanted with O.
Peter Cassels
7:20am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
That also goes for folks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Democrats and Republicans alike, who can't seem to legislate their way out of a paper bag.
Michael Trenn
10:30am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
Face it liberals. Obama took a bad situation and made it immeasurably worse. His MONTHLY deficits are as bad as Bush's last ANNUAL deficit. I gues "This is what change looks like." Mr. Cassels, I was disenchanted with Bush. I want Obama outta here.
William Suffik
11:47am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
Everyone, just vote Republican. Sweep every Democrat out of office. Their allegiance to the unions has been a disaster for the state.
Bryan Sullivan
11:52am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
THere's no doubt about it. When it comes to public unions, Republicans were right and the Democrats were wrong. Shouldn't the people who got the question wrong rightfully be ousted from office? Time to give REpublicans a chance.
maria sowa
1:29pm on Saturday, October 15, 2011
The Unions get what they deserve! They supported a LIAR like Chafee. I attended all of the debates and Chafee PROMISED not to change the pensions - yet fast forward 9 months and he is killing us! I supported Caprio and so PROUD I did! His plan was better and HE told the TRUTH! Chafee can TRUST me to show EVERYONE I can the videos of his LIES!
guy smily
8:55pm on Saturday, October 15, 2011
I am no Chafee supporter, but Frank Caprio was not much better. He had 4 years to start pension reform and did NOTHING. He also spent the last 3 years running for Governor. He bragged during all the debates that our pension system was in fantastic shape! He lied in order to get elected. At least Raimondo is doing her job, CAPRIO DID NOT! He raised $3.5 million and still lost!
The obvious choice for Governor was John Robitialle, who was the only candidate to have a viable pension plan. It consisted of a freeze on the current pension plan and starting a defined contribution plan. The hybrid plan proposed by Caprio was too expensive. Of course he didn't propose it until late in the race because Robitaille came up with a plan first. No, Frank Caprio was far too busy visiting the "THOUSANDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES" to properly run the Treasurer’s office.
dave raymond
9:52pm on Saturday, October 15, 2011
Your hate of the unions that provided you with a decent upbringing is terrible. Your family reaped so many benefits. from the state of ri and you have the audacity to criticize the hard won benefits and deny someone else the same benefits. Ask your father if his benefits should be cut, and see how he responds. I am not sure but I don't think he even paid into the system before he retired.
Chris O.
1:36pm on Sunday, October 16, 2011
DAVE RAYMOND: Stop and THINK for a moment. Hate of the unions?? Denying others the same benefits?? Didn't pay into the system??? Who cares!?!? All the points you just made above are completely irrelevant. You are not THINKING. This is the same union mindlessness that has brought us to this point. Frankly, people are running out of patience for people who keep arguing like this, and then decide to support the unions, their defiance, and their lawsuits against the government. And then you keep voting for the Democrats who are in their pockets. Mindless. Mindless. Mindless.
Please do the math. Rowley's father's benefits WILL be cut if significant reform isn't finally enacted. And "Others" will be denied "the same benefits" if nothing is done. Go look at Central Falls for a glimpse of what is coming to the entire state. Stop talking about Rowley's "hate" of the unions. Who cares?! You call it hate. Others might just say he's telling the truth about what the unions have done.
Drew M
1:45pm on Sunday, October 16, 2011
Great argument, Dave raymond....Your dad was in the union, so you can't ever criticize the union. The union provided you with a "decent upbringing." Your family "reaped so many benefits." Even if the state of RI is crumbling as a result of those benefits, you should just shut your mouth and kiss the union's feet.
chris is right. You're not THINKING.
Real Clear
6:14pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wow "Pension Reform" or "You rob where the money is" presented by the liars Chafee and Gina, still isn't enough for Rowley. Crossroads and Family services already have their hands out.
Thank goodness troopers and judges are exempt.
Blah!