FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2011
Contact: media@luckettforgovernor.com
Cut Politicians’ Perks to Fund Kids Reading
CLARKSDALE, MS — At tonight’s WLBT debate, Bill Luckett unveiled his plan to fund programs like Reading is Fundamental.
“Career politicians who have been on the public payroll for decades don’t deserve any better retirement program than do our teachers, law enforcement and other state employees,” Luckett said. “The game of climbing up the ladder of political offices election after election looking for a ‘high four years’ pay grade before retirement is a clear-cut example of why we need a governor who approaches the job as a public service, not a career goal to insure a cushy retirement.”
As reported in the Clarion-Ledger on July 18, the Reading Is Fundamental program is in danger of ending due to a lack of funding. Bill Luckett, candidate for governor, joins those who fear cutting programs like these will continue keeping Mississippi’s children at the bottom in education. However, the taxpayer money spent on career politicians’ special retirement accounts could help save programs like Reading Is Fundamental.
Luckett continued, “If I am elected governor, I’ll cut the SLRP program entirely. Career politicians have no business getting a bigger retirement then our school teachers, law enforcement and government employees. One year of SLRP could fund Reading Is Fundamental. We should be investing in our children, not professional politicians.”
Phil Bryant enjoys a preferential pension that 50% more rewarding than what state employees get. The Supplemental Legislative Retirement Plan (SLRP) allows Bryant to pay into PERS at a rate 50% higher than for regular employees. At the same time, the state contributes to the SLRP at a rate 50 percent higher for legislators than it does for regular state employees.
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