Comments about ‘Utah Legislature: Senate committee approves retirement legislation’

is the world we live in is very competitive and getting more so all the time. The times of easy growth (the halcyon days) are over in America as we are in a dogfight with the rest of the world economically speaking. Now the shortsighted legislature is going to make it so the State of Utah will not be able to compete for talent in the teaching ranks so we will be in even a worse position than other states in terms of creating or attracting innovative ideas/companies due to the sub-standard (caused by are GOP legislators) education system. I've talked to my friends out of state and they would not bring their families and jobs here (even though the scenery is “nice”) because they fear it would hurt their children’s educations/competitiveness. This is why I fear for Utah's economic future as much of the legislation is not very strategic in terms of economic competitiveness and in my opinion though it may seem penny wise to many in the short term it is really a pound foolish as the impacts will be far reaching and I dare say economically devastating.

Why will anyone come into firefighting as a career now? You can work 56 hours a week for 30 years as a firefighter or 40 hours a week in another state job.

I want to take this opportunity to apologize to my daughter for encouraging her to be a science teacher. I'm sorry Alison. Please forgive me. Love MOM

Firefighting career lasting 30 years - only if you want it to. You can retire at 20 years, earlier than every other government pension except police. By the way, of the 56 hours per week that you "work" you can sleep, on the job while being paid, for up to 24 hours of that 56 hours per week. Who else can sleep on the job AND get a retirement at 20 years? Who? No one. Quit complaining, it's sickening.

Being a government employee they are biased with their testimony and should be given little consideration. Retirement is not a job benefit as an income, its a benefit for when you permanently leave your job at the nationally recognized age of 67 or with permanent disability.

The real major issue is defrauding the tax payers and falsification of government documents with the intent to defraud. By defraud I mean they say they want to retire and leave their job but in reality they intend to defraud the retirement system and tax payers and still keep their full pay jobs.

No state government employee that retires should be allowed to be re-employed by any state agency for at least 5 years after they start drawing retirement. And on retirement be put at the bottom of the list after the 5 year wait period. Only after all the eligible new job seekers are employed can a retiree be hired again. What is unfair about this kind of retirement plan?

Double dippers are infringing on the rights of others seeking jobs and doubling the cost of government services by fraudulent retirements.

Rant and rave all you want, but fraud is fraud.

Retiring and being rehired does not cost the state any more than hiring a new teacher. Get a clue.

I somewhat agree with your post. However, it typically does cost a "little" more for a double dipper, as they usually come in at a higher starting wage. It also impacts the URS as they receive no contributions to iveste, from the double dippers......

I plan to "retire" from state government in the next 3 years. I will get my pension but in order to keep it I can not work for the state again without losing some of it if this bill passes. Therefore, I plan to leave the state and take my 30 years of experience and education with me. The state I move to will be the beneficiary, NOT UTAH. Be prepared Utah, you will not be able to stop the brain drain. Be prepared to have a less educated and qualified workforce than other states.

Goodbye state employee, don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. Shouldn't let people double dip period, no matter what state they work in after they retire. Looks like they missed a loophole.

Elected politicians ARE double dippers - most all work in the private sector but collect benefits paid by the State - yes, health paid for life after 10 years service AND retirement!!! They vote themselves raises almost yearly but I have never ever in 16 years received one raise!!! The average State caseworker who works with children and families at risk make less than $15.00 per hour. Why are elected politicians entitled to State paid benefits? They are NOT employees of this State!!!! There is nothing ever in the news about this. Are they going to take a hit as well? Hotels rooms even if they live 5 miles from the capital, meals (breakfast must be included with the hotel) mileage, daily pay....who is getting the money? It's not the state employee! Address this!!!!!! The only thing we look forward to is retirement. Elected politicians will get it. Dave Clark took our health benefits away but he gets FREE state paid health benefits for LIFE. Do I hear the public complain about that?

Allowing anyone to take retirement pay for more years than they worked, which is what would happen if a 25 year old firefighter retired after 20 years at 45. Chances are he'll live past 65. The private sector doesn't have the luxury of getting retirement pay and pay from working another job. We have to work as long as possible and sometimes past 67 to put food on the table. Could be the size of our tax bills that pay for cushy government jobs that keep us working forever. The citizens and their taxes will run out before all you government workers bleed us dry. Think about that. Guess you have and are willing to take the risk and yell your heads off about how mistreated you are to get every last dime from the taxpayer.