Tom Curtis: Letter to Senator Wachtmann

From Tom Curtis, January 5, 2010
Subject: 010510 Curtis To Wachtmann, Public Pension Funds

Senator Wachtmann,

You seem to be so negative about defined benefit plans, when in fact, you pay into the OPERS? Do you realize the OPERS has every employee of all five pension systems paying into the OPERS? That is an inequity that I find alarming. The employees of the other four essentially have no loyalty to that system, because they do not pay into that retirement system, they pay into the OPERS. Therefore, the system you belong to has an added benefit that the other four do not have. Have you ever raised this question amongst your associates?

The STRS offers a choice for all stakeholders, a DB, DC or a combination of both. What does the OPERS offer? Which plan are you paying into?

Thank you in advance for a timely response.

Thomas Curtis, STRS stakeholder
N. Canton, OH