A change in retirement age could free up millions | Letter to the Editor

Published 12:29 pm Tuesday, April 3, 2012

I appreciate Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island) updating us regarding the budget struggles in Olympia and for protecting education, especially since my son is seeking a permanent position as a teacher.

I agree the Republicans should not be playing games by delaying $133 million in pension payments that must be paid in a future budget. At the same time, I am disappointed Nelson did not mention that the Democrats are trying to do the same thing by delaying $330 million in payments for K-12, which would be added to the next biennium.

I am surprised that Nelson and most of the Democrats oppose the one Republican budget proposal that has bipartisan support (including three Democratic senators and Gov. Chris  Gregoire) that frees up an estimated $1.8 billion over the next 25 years, while not affecting a single, current state government employee or teacher. This money could be used to improve education and reinforce the safety net.

The very modest proposal would move the full state employee retirement age to 65, from 62, the early retirement age from 55 to 62, and only apply to new state employees. So rather than support current programs, the Democrats want to provide benefits for state employees and teachers that do not even exist today.

Sharon Nelson has been a leader on Vashon, in the House and now in the Senate. It would be wonderful if she would boldly state, “It is totally unfair that state employees can receive full pensions five years earlier and reduced pensions seven years earlier than the rest of the population who relies upon Social Security. That is why I propose that 67, the Social Security retirement age, should be the new minimum retirement age for current state employees who are 48 years old or younger.” It would take guts, but anyone who can count to $1.8 billion knows it is the right thing to do.

— Scott Harvey