David Pepper on State Representative Phil Plummer's proposal that would give politicians complete control of the STRS Board
From David Pepper
July 11, 2024
Make. Him. Famous.
Ohio State Rep. Proposes Stripping Retired Teachers of Their Democracy
DAVID PEPPER
July 11, 2024
It just never ends. It comes in so many forms, at all times. And—it’s happening again.
Ohio Republicans attack democracy on the front end: by gerrymandering, endless voter suppression and other tactics.
They attack it mid-stream: by trying to change the rules even as campaigns are taking place (like Issue 1 last year, or a new law this year, trying to undercut ballot initiatives when initiatives they don’t like are gaining momentum).
They attack it at the back end: by ignoring the results of referenda; by changing rules for the next election (as with Ohio Supreme Court races, when—after losing the majority—they changed the rules and defied court rulings until they got a new/friendly court); and by stripping power away from elections after candidates they don’t agree with prevail (the Ohio state school board).
(For those of you in other states, pay close attention to this—because this non-stop attack on democracy is either already happening or will soon.)
Amid all these attacks on democracy, NONE has been more aggressive and disturbing than what’s happened over several years of elections to the Ohio teachers pension board. (Reminder: that board oversees a $90B pension fund, and is made up of seven members elected by teachers and retirees who pay into the fund; and four appointees by statewide Ohio elected officials).
The Ohio politicians in Columbus don’t like how frustrated pension voters have been voting of late (they want more transparency and their COLA increase restored), so the politicians keep trying to undo the outcome of pension board elections. And the effort is so aggressive, its combined front-end, mid-stream and back-end attacks all at once.
BREAKING: yet another front-end/back-end attack is already being floated—which is why I write this today… So we can stop it. Read on….
Amid all these attacks on democracy, NONE has been more aggressive and disturbing than what’s happened over several years of elections to the Ohio teachers pension board. (Reminder: that board oversees a $90B pension fund, and is made up of seven members elected by teachers and retirees who pay into the fund; and four appointees by statewide Ohio elected officials).
The Ohio politicians in Columbus don’t like how frustrated pension voters have been voting of late (they want more transparency and their COLA increase restored), so the politicians keep trying to undo the outcome of pension board elections. And the effort is so aggressive, its combined front-end, mid-stream and back-end attacks all at once.
BREAKING: yet another front-end/back-end attack is already being floated—which is why I write this today… So we can stop it. Read on….
Brief Background
First, last year, Governor DeWine illegally terminated the swing pension board member on the eve of an election outcome being announced. His illegal action nullified the result of that election (the majority would’ve changed hands but for DeWine’s act.)
Then, a few months ago and a year after his first interference (DeWine lost that legal battle when two courts found he broke the law), and days before the next election results were announced, DeWine suddenly revealed that a confidential memo emerged alleging impropriety against two board members, and called for an investigation. The Attorney General immediately sued to remove those two members. In the meantime, another “reform” candidate they don’t like won the actual election. So just as the year before, Ohio politicians are targeting the exact number of seats they need to nullify the outcome of an election they don’t like.
So far, though, these last-minute and blatant (in one case, illegal) antics haven’t been able to stymie the will of the retirees from changing the board majority and getting far more transparency about how their funds are being managed.
But…at least not to my surprise…Ohio politicians are STILL looking for ways to attack the election outcomes they oppose. In a truly brute force way. (But those paying close attention will recognize the latest tactic from the Governor’s and Jon Husted’s state school board takeover after they lost the majority of that board’s elected membership in 2022.)
Who’s making the proposal?
It’s clear that all the powers that be are lined up against the retires, but the face of it, at least, is this guy:
And what did State Rep. Phil Plummer (from the Dayton area….there’s no reason to list his district number, since that district, like all others, is in violation of the Ohio Constitution) propose?
His proposal is to remove at least some of the pension board seats that are elected by teachers or retirees, and presumably replace them with more political appointees. Doing this with just two members (and the number of seats alluded to is in the plural— “some”) would mean that the board majority would thereafter be made up of the politicians’ appointees.
And that would mean that the very public servants who pay into the system that exists for their benefit would have their voice turned into a permanent minority voice of the board. Permanently on the outside, looking in, over the management of their pension fund, that they built with their hard-earned service and their hard-earned funds.
Of course, this change to the board makeup would accomplish the exact same goal as the undemocratic, illegal attack that DeWine has been attempting for an entire year—removing the majority, elected by the voters, they don’t like. It’s also a classic Jim Crow maneuver.
How’s that for undemocratic?
And how’s that for arrogance?
How arrogant?
Here’s how this state rep, Plummer, justified his proposal to the media: ““We need retirees' input but people need to have logic and common sense.” (My emphasis).
Note the “but”—contrasting the retirees’ input with “logic and common sense.”
Plummer even elaborated more: “Let's get people that have the knowledge, the background, the expertise involved to watch who is investing our money, how much they're investing where.”
Think about these statements!
Not only is this a direct insult of the current, duly elected members of the pension board, it’s an insult to the teachers and retirees who have voted again and again in these elections, with the same basic demands. Apparently Plummer doesn’t think these teachers and retirees, who directly rely on the fund for the rest of their lives (they don’t get Social Security), are capable of choosing knowledgeable members. Yeah—teachers just aren’t smart enough to figure it out, Phil!? Teachers!?!
And lastly, what a slap to democracy itself. (Ironically, coming from an elected state representative from the most corrupt statehouse in America. Look in the mirror, dude!).
(Plummer also floated the idea of merging all of Ohio’s pension funds).
What to do?
Folks, don’t let another attack on democracy even get started in Ohio.
If you’re a teacher or retiree in Ohio, it’s TIME to make Phil Plummer famous!
Here’s his office phone number: (614) 644-8051.
Call his office! Send him a message!
Then spread the word to every retiree and active teacher and family member so they know to do the same:
And tell him: “Don’t you dare touch our democracy. Our hard work and contributions built this system, and you will NOT take our voice or our vote away.”
Add whatever else you want to share.
Remember: these are officials who aren’t used to hearing from the people. So a whole lot of calls can make a difference.
Then, Prepare for More
And folks, if Phil and his gang dare try to do this, I want to see thousands upon thousands of us outside the statehouse, making more noise than they’ve ever heard in their political lives.
Up to 500,000-strong rely on this pension one way or another. It’s YOUR fund. And that is an army far bigger than they’ve encountered before. If they dare attack the votes and voices of a group that size, it must rise up larger and louder than ever.
And if we are forced to do that, I know where I’ll be: standing right there with you.
It will only end when we hold these people accountable.
I’ll keep you posted on what happens….
More..... (not from David Pepper)
Want to see why Montgomery County was no doubt very happy to get rid of Phil Plummer? Read on!
From 91.3 WYSO, February 15, 2017
"Another lawsuit alleging misconduct has been filed against the Montgomery County Jail. On Tuesday, Charles Wade of Englewood claimed in his suit that the actions of jail employees were inappropriate and a violation of his civil rights. This is the eighth active federal case citing wrongdoing against Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer’s office."
David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021.
posted by Kathie Bracy at 11:53 AM
<< Home