Friday, February 19, 2010

Illinois Worst When It Comes to Raiding Pensions

Illinois (and I'm sure California is neck and neck) has been rated the worst state in managing (read: looting) its public employee pension trust funds--to the tune of $54 billion (which pales in comparison to the Feds' $1 trillion, reported here yesterday).

At least Ahnold in California attempted to convert public employees to 401(k)s like the rest of us, but for that he was lynched politically by the unions. Since that time in 2005, the trust funds must've rung up another $10 billion or so in unfunded liabilities, but do you think the unions care that the voters are going to have to pay for this with higher taxes? Nah....

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Dems Continue to Loot Trust, Retirement Funds

In a startling post yesterday, it was revealed that Congress since 1983 has raided every penny--$2.5 trillion's worth--earmarked for the Social Security Trust Fund. Meaning that, starting in 2016 when Social Security taxes won't be enough to pay for those already drawing on their retirement, Congress will have to raise taxes, borrow more money, lower benefits, or end the program.

Worse, the Social Security Act grants Congress sole discretion to revise or cancel the program at any time, while the Supreme Court has ruled that no one is entitled to Social Security benefits.

Now catch this juicy bit of news.

Congress has likewise screwed federal government workers and military personnel out of their pension funds to the tune of $1 trillion. In the first three months of fiscal 2010, Congress looted $65 billion from these retirement trust funds while taking every penny of Social Security receipts as well. In all, in that one quarter the U.S. government looted or borrowed $400 billion.

All this, of course, is in the name of buying votes to stay in office.

Think you can retire? Think again. Uncle Sam wants you to die on the job.

Really.