RH Jones comments on: Fw: Tim....100,000+ retirees want to know something.....

From RH Jones, January 23, 2011

John Curry, Tim Myers and all:

No matter how anyone may look at HC/Rx benefits (democratically negotiated delayed compensation), it is tax free income for retirees. It makes the OH STRS payout go further for retired members. The approximately $4,000 per year that some retired members pay out for spousal, dependent, or both, loses out. It is anti-family in that these retirees would be better off financially if they were single or without dependents, or both.

Most certainly our OH STRS officials and state office holders are pro-family. Therefore, our employer contribution needs to be put back to 4% for the HC/Rx fund. Educating the public is a necessary expense to move Ohio competitively forward. Legislators need to "bite the bullet" and cut somewhere else rather than in that is an investment in Ohio's forward progress.

RHJones
[Note from John Curry: Bob...that $4,000 per year you mention is really $15,600 (annual payments) to some retirees to cover both their spouse and themselves and not the smaller sum of $4,000.]