Rick Perry now third in Iowa ahead of Romney in new poll.

Kate wrote: How many of us could retire and still work full time, earning almost a quarter of a million dollars in the process?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- ... -benefits/

Texas Gov. Rick Perry boosted his gross annual salary by nearly $100,000 by formally retiring in January, which allowed him to collect pension benefits and his governor's salary at the same time, according to a story Friday in the Texas Tribune.

The 61-year-old Perry's state salary of $150,000 is now being supplemented by a monthly retirement annuity of $7,698 before taxes, or $6,588 in net income. That brings his annual earnings to over $240,000, the news organization estimated.

"The disclosure is sure to spark criticism of Perry, who has called for sweeping changes to Social Security for average workers and has railed against special 'perks' that members of Congress get," Texas Tribune reporter Jay Root wrote. Perry's communications director, Ray Sullivan, told the Tribune that the move was "consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules."

Er... anyone who is a Texas State Employee and is consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules. Your answer was in the article you posted. DId you miss that?

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Kate wrote: How many of us could retire and still work full time, earning almost a quarter of a million dollars in the process?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- ... -benefits/

Texas Gov. Rick Perry boosted his gross annual salary by nearly $100,000 by formally retiring in January, which allowed him to collect pension benefits and his governor's salary at the same time, according to a story Friday in the Texas Tribune.

The 61-year-old Perry's state salary of $150,000 is now being supplemented by a monthly retirement annuity of $7,698 before taxes, or $6,588 in net income. That brings his annual earnings to over $240,000, the news organization estimated.

"The disclosure is sure to spark criticism of Perry, who has called for sweeping changes to Social Security for average workers and has railed against special 'perks' that members of Congress get," Texas Tribune reporter Jay Root wrote. Perry's communications director, Ray Sullivan, told the Tribune that the move was "consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules."

Er... anyone who is a Texas State Employee and is consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules. Your answer was in the article you posted. DId you miss that?

Oh, I'm sure he is within his legal rights to do what he has done, it just seems a bit callous to be "double dipping" when so many are having such a hard time making ends meet.

Kate wrote:

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Kate wrote: How many of us could retire and still work full time, earning almost a quarter of a million dollars in the process?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- ... -benefits/

Texas Gov. Rick Perry boosted his gross annual salary by nearly $100,000 by formally retiring in January, which allowed him to collect pension benefits and his governor's salary at the same time, according to a story Friday in the Texas Tribune.

The 61-year-old Perry's state salary of $150,000 is now being supplemented by a monthly retirement annuity of $7,698 before taxes, or $6,588 in net income. That brings his annual earnings to over $240,000, the news organization estimated.

"The disclosure is sure to spark criticism of Perry, who has called for sweeping changes to Social Security for average workers and has railed against special 'perks' that members of Congress get," Texas Tribune reporter Jay Root wrote. Perry's communications director, Ray Sullivan, told the Tribune that the move was "consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules."

Er... anyone who is a Texas State Employee and is consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules. Your answer was in the article you posted. DId you miss that?

Oh, I'm sure he is within his legal rights to do what he has done, it just seems a bit callous to be "double dipping" when so many are having such a hard time making ends meet.

Really... how does him not double dipping make it easier for someone else. In the least I suspect he worked for those benefits. You wouldn't deny teachers or other union members their fine cushy benefits, why do you suddenly have some problem with a politician getting what's due them.

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Kate wrote:

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Kate wrote: How many of us could retire and still work full time, earning almost a quarter of a million dollars in the process?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- ... -benefits/

Texas Gov. Rick Perry boosted his gross annual salary by nearly $100,000 by formally retiring in January, which allowed him to collect pension benefits and his governor's salary at the same time, according to a story Friday in the Texas Tribune.

The 61-year-old Perry's state salary of $150,000 is now being supplemented by a monthly retirement annuity of $7,698 before taxes, or $6,588 in net income. That brings his annual earnings to over $240,000, the news organization estimated.

"The disclosure is sure to spark criticism of Perry, who has called for sweeping changes to Social Security for average workers and has railed against special 'perks' that members of Congress get," Texas Tribune reporter Jay Root wrote. Perry's communications director, Ray Sullivan, told the Tribune that the move was "consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules."

Er... anyone who is a Texas State Employee and is consistent with Texas state law and Employee Retirement System Rules. Your answer was in the article you posted. DId you miss that?

Oh, I'm sure he is within his legal rights to do what he has done, it just seems a bit callous to be "double dipping" when so many are having such a hard time making ends meet.

Really... how does him not double dipping make it easier for someone else. In the least I suspect he worked for those benefits. You wouldn't deny teachers or other union members their fine cushy benefits, why do you suddenly have some problem with a politician getting what's due them.

so you don't see an uncaring image problem with this. interesting.

Kate wrote: so you don't see an uncaring image problem with this. interesting.

What image problem? If he got up at some public venue and said something like "I don't give a f*k if I'm making all this money, I hope all the poor people just die" then I would suspect he would have an image problem. But why would he have an image problem doing something legal, not trying to hide anything, getting the benefits he worked a long time for as a public employee. There are all kinds of people who get early retirement plans, and continue to work, and pay taxes, and produce, and are giving worth for pay. I know teachers and professors and other public servants who "double dip" as you call it, and I don't see you whining about that? Hmmm... I see a lot of envy from you.... interesting.

Kate wrote: Oh, I'm sure he is within his legal rights to do what he has done, it just seems a bit callous to be "double dipping" when so many are having such a hard time making ends meet.

You have a problem with this?

Wisconsin Teachers Double Dip, Receive Pension and Pay

Just last week, the Associated Press reported that teacher retirements had doubled as a result of Gov. Scott Walker’s new law requiring increased pension and health contributions by state and local government employees. As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, many public workers feel “under attack” by the measure that required them to pay more for their health insurance and pension benefits and took away most of their ability to collectively bargain.

Yet, as the newspaper reported today, plenty of teachers are apparently willing to weather Walker’s “attack,” as many of them are returning to the classroom with different pay arrangements. The new collective bargaining law gives districts the flexibility to hire back recently retired teachers at similar or reduced salaries, without the districts having to pay the rehired teachers’ health or pension benefits. Teachers feigned offense when retiring, but now they are willing to work in these supposedly oppressive jobs while collecting both a current salary and generous pension benefits.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/27 ... -schneider

I'll wait for your feigned outrage... interesting.

Kate wrote: Oh, I'm sure he is within his legal rights to do what he has done, it just seems a bit callous to be "double dipping" when so many are having such a hard time making ends meet.

And I'm sure you'll be all over this...

Double-dip retirees get jobless pay - Who knows how many Americans have been pushed into retirement by layoffs? As the US economy struggles, the government is supplying some with 2 income streams.

Can you be unemployed and retired . . . and collect benefits for being both?

One New York woman who was laid off in 2009 after a 40-year career in philanthropy filed for unemployment while continuing to look for a new job. A year later, at age 65 and jobless, she applied for Social Security retirement benefits. She now collects both a monthly Social Security check and weekly unemployment benefits totaling nearly $3,000 a month, as well as a pension she earned during her career.

With the nation's fragile economy leaving millions of older workers unemployed, growing numbers of these Americans are double dipping -- collecting unemployment insurance benefits, which extend for 99 weeks, and Social Security benefits. Or, in the case of government workers, collecting unemployment benefits and state, local or federal pensions. Double-dipping is not illegal. And many would feel like suckers if they didn't take advantage of all the benefits that are available to them through the federal and state governments. But, is this any way to run a country at a time of fiscal crisis?

http://money.msn.com/retirement/double- ... times.aspx

Gee... I wonder who extended all these unemployment benefits to 99 weeks? I'm shocked... I tell ya... shocked! Kate... quick... stomp and scream... outrage.

This long-term change in public policy regarding Social Security pensions and UI -- which enables double-dipping -- has occurred because "unemployment policy experts assert that it is good for the economy for older workers to stay in the labor force, qualify for unemployment, and be encouraged to go back to work," Hoskins said.

I say let's stop this right NOW!!!!! These poor people don't deserve to double dip any more than Perry.

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Kate wrote: so you don't see an uncaring image problem with this. interesting.

What image problem? If he got up at some public venue and said something like "I don't give a f*k if I'm making all this money, I hope all the poor people just die" then I would suspect he would have an image problem. But why would he have an image problem doing something legal, not trying to hide anything, getting the benefits he worked a long time for as a public employee. There are all kinds of people who get early retirement plans, and continue to work, and pay taxes, and produce, and are giving worth for pay. I know teachers and professors and other public servants who "double dip" as you call it, and I don't see you whining about that? Hmmm... I see a lot of envy from you.... interesting.

You really don't see an image problem? He's taking in all this money, albeit legally, while others are having trouble putting food on their families and you don't think people might be a little upset?

He has every right to the money, but it projects an image of not caring about others, while taking money from two separate government sources.

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Kate wrote: Oh, I'm sure he is within his legal rights to do what he has done, it just seems a bit callous to be "double dipping" when so many are having such a hard time making ends meet.

You have a problem with this?

Wisconsin Teachers Double Dip, Receive Pension and Pay

Just last week, the Associated Press reported that teacher retirements had doubled as a result of Gov. Scott Walker’s new law requiring increased pension and health contributions by state and local government employees. As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, many public workers feel “under attack” by the measure that required them to pay more for their health insurance and pension benefits and took away most of their ability to collectively bargain.

Yet, as the newspaper reported today, plenty of teachers are apparently willing to weather Walker’s “attack,” as many of them are returning to the classroom with different pay arrangements. The new collective bargaining law gives districts the flexibility to hire back recently retired teachers at similar or reduced salaries, without the districts having to pay the rehired teachers’ health or pension benefits. Teachers feigned offense when retiring, but now they are willing to work in these supposedly oppressive jobs while collecting both a current salary and generous pension benefits.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/27 ... -schneider

I'll wait for your feigned outrage... interesting.

I am outraged! Outraged, I tell you!

Kate wrote:

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Kate wrote: so you don't see an uncaring image problem with this. interesting.

What image problem? If he got up at some public venue and said something like "I don't give a f*k if I'm making all this money, I hope all the poor people just die" then I would suspect he would have an image problem. But why would he have an image problem doing something legal, not trying to hide anything, getting the benefits he worked a long time for as a public employee. There are all kinds of people who get early retirement plans, and continue to work, and pay taxes, and produce, and are giving worth for pay. I know teachers and professors and other public servants who "double dip" as you call it, and I don't see you whining about that? Hmmm... I see a lot of envy from you.... interesting.

You really don't see an image problem? He's taking in all this money, albeit legally, while others are having trouble putting food on their families and you don't think people might be a little upset?

He has every right to the money, but it projects an image of not caring about others, while taking money from two separate government sources.

Read my comment above your last one... oh my, poor people doing the same thing... image problem.