Iowa gov defends (his) state pension

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad is defending his decision to accept a $50,000 pension from his earlier time as governor as well as the $130,000 salary the job carries.

Branstad says Monday that he made a significant financial sacrifice when the left his job as president of Des Moines University. He says his current salary is less than half what he was making in heading the large medical school.

Democrats have accused him of hypocrisy for taking the salary and pension at a time when he's laying off hundreds of state workers.

The Iowa Democratic Party launched an Internet advertisement critical of Branstad on the issue.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110221/NEWS01/110229949/1004#iowa-gov-defends-state-pension

[liberal N proud]

1. Nothing like a little double dip

Meanwhile - they will tell the rest of the people there is a budget crisis and they will have to sacrifice.

[No Elephants]

2. Is it hypocrisy or heartless greed? When speaking of Rethugs, conflating the two is so easy.

[Robbien]

3. So, his sacrifice deserves to be compensated but teachers sacrifices do not

That is what he basically is saying, is he not?

[Mojeoux]

5. The outright GAUL of these people!!!!!

And he's firing teachers.

[ejpoeta]

4. niagara falls mayor went to jail for double dipping. i know he was just a piddly wny mayor

and not a big wig... i wonder how many of them are double dippers.

[madmom]

6. But it was his decision to make, no one forced it on him.

[theothersnippywshrub]

7. How very Republican. Let us prey. n/t

[HuskiesHowls]

8. One comment about his "significant financial sacrifice"...

Nobody MADE him make that "sacrifice"!!!!

And less than half the people are happy with him, 1 month into his term!!!

"Latest Iowa Poll: Branstad gets no honeymoon with Iowans"

<snip>
"47 percent of Iowans say the state is headed in the wrong direction, compared with 40 percent that say the state is headed in the right direction, according to the Iowa Poll. (13 percent aren’t sure.)"

<snip>
"...fewer than half of Iowans - 45 percent - approve of the job he's doing, according to the survey of 800 Iowa adults conducted Feb. 13 to 16."

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011102200336

[BenzoDia]

9. Poor guy, he only makes 130k at his current job. Must be humiliating being

in such a lowly tax bracket.

[Plucketeer]

10. I was thinking the same thing....

OH - the sacrafice!!! There's alot of Iowans living on ONE FIFTH of $130K that feel fortunate. Hey ASSHOLE..... welcome to OUR world! :grr:

[Wilms]

11. What? Hey Terry, you didn't know about the pay scale for the government job?

Stay in the private sector if you don't like it.

[DallasNE]

12. Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Nothing like having your cake and eating it too. Branstad will be eligible for another pension following this term as Governor too. $50,000 is a pretty hefty pension for the rest of your life, with a 2nd one on the way. My guess is that he paid even less for this pension than Wisconsin public employees paid before consessions that sharply increase their contribution to their pension fund. In that sense Branstad's timing is just awful.

Plus, it is like fingernails on a chalkboard to complain about how much less your salary as Governor is than in your old job. He was fully aware of this before he threw his hat in the ring then paid millions to secure this "low" paying job. Shame on Bradstad.

[WhiteTara]

13. boo hoo! Pukes either want to steal all the money

or keep others from getting any. How do they look in the mirror?

[yellowcanine]

14. Can anyone say political "tin ear"? Doesn't pass the "smell test"

Branstad can argue "what he is entitled to" all he wants. What people are going to look at is

a. He is getting a very good salary from the taxpayers, much more by far than most of his constituents make. Why does he need $50,000 more?
b. No one forced him to leave his other job and run for Governor - he did that voluntarily.
c. He is asking others to sacrifice but he apparently is not willing to himself. Leaders lead.

[CreekDog]

15. Sounds like he's against reforming his pension

:eyes: