Will paid health insurance for retired teachers eventually go away? Can state afford to maintain benefit?
With all the DeKalb news, I apologize for not getting to House Bill 263 — a bill requiring that retired educators in the future pick up their own healthcare costs — earlier this session since so many of you wrote to alert me to it.
The bill states: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 1 of Part 6 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to school personnel post-employment health benefit fund, so as to provide that any person who becomes eligible to participate in such fund on or after July 1, 2013, shall pay a premium which reflects the entire cost of such coverage; to prohibit the expenditure of public funds to subsidize the cost of health care; to provide for persons currently eligible; to amend Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the state employees post-employment health benefit fund, so as to provide that any person who becomes eligible to participate in such fund on or after July 1, 2013, shall pay a premium which reflects the entire cost of such coverage; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
I am not the only person who heard a lot about the bill, which is unlikely to advance this year.
“I guess I received more telephone calls about HB 263 than any other this year, so I went and talked to the author, Rep. Chuck Martin, about it,” said Herb Garrett of the Georgia Superintendents Association.
According to Garrett:
The content of the bill was extremely difficult to decipher, and it certainly led a lot people to believe that it would mandate that all retirees pay the full cost of their health insurance (no state funds to pay the employer’s share). Rep. Martin made it quite clear to me that he had no intention of his bill affecting any current teacher or current retiree; rather, he intended that the provisions of the bill only apply to newly hired teachers (those employed after July 1, 2013) and only at their time of retirement (30 years away). All the additional language about how the provisions of the bill might apply to educators who had a “break in service” were also quite confusing, and Rep. Martin agreed that the section containing that language needed a major rewrite.
Now, I don’t think he ever thought the bill would gain much traction, and he’s right. Rep. Martin does feel very strongly, though, that a conversation needs to begin about the financial obligation that the state has to continue to furnish the employer’s share of health insurance for retirees while, at the same time, they have put absolutely no money aside to do it.
For the uninitiated, this is referred to as a government’s OPEB (Other Post-retirement Employee Benefits) responsibilities, and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board has for years required governmental agencies, both state and local, to either put aside money to cover those benefits or make a public declaration that they are aware of them (but, are not putting money aside at this time). Georgia started to put some OPEB dollars away a few years ago (I think they socked away $100 million one year.), but the very next year they used that money for something else (Imagine that!), and the OPEB fund balance stands at zero. Rep. Martin views this as a serious abdication of the state’s responsibilities, and he thinks the issue ought to be addressed. That’s what HB 263 was actually all about.
“To his credit, the sponsor sheds light on a real problem — Georgia isn’t properly funding post retirement health insurance benefits for public employees. However, we disagree with the approach taken in this proposed solution to the problem,” said Tim Callahan of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. “At a time when our state is struggling to attract the best and brightest to the teaching profession–particularly in STEM fields in which young employees could make more in private industry — eliminating an attractive benefit sends a contradictory message about how state policymakers value the teaching profession.”
I asked Martin for a comment on his bill and he explained:
First, the bill on the web has a serious defect in that is says the state employees, including teachers, hired after July 1, 2013 would have to pay for the entire cost of the health insurance while “active” and in retirement – this was never the intent of the bill but instead a drafting error.
The intent of the bill as it was meant to be drafted was to have state employees, including teachers, hired after July 1, 2013, to pay for the full cost of their healthcare in retirement when they become eligible as currently defined in the system because, in my opinion, continuing to add people to an underfunded system endangers those currently in the system.
The bill raises issues that are worth discussing. Among the many emails and letters on House Bill 263:
<blockquote>I checked to see if your paper had written anything concerning HB 263 and found nothing. It is obvious that this bill will ensure that only the least talented educators will seek employment in Georgia. I foresee a time soon if this bill is passed that Georgia will have the lowest educational rankings in the United States. Could you please research this situation and write an article about it?</blockquote>
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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164 comments Add your comment
Brasstown
March 7th, 2013
9:34 am
The insurance coverage is part of my compensation package. It’s fine with me if they take it as long as we can negoatiate how they will make that up to me. The problem is I have no way to negotiate like folks in the private sector. It’s a different system that many can’t seem to grasp. We serve totally at the whim of the governor and legislature. Even if they set up a rewards system similar to private employment they have demonstrated that they are not good to their word on paying
us. Indivduals could always quit and find work elsewhere. That’s getting more tempting everyday. Problem is, I love my job. I can go back to the private sector anytime I want and make better money. How is that helping education in Georgia? Legislation like this shows a complete disdain for educators. Georgia can afford this. We have some of the lowest taxes around. We have a rediculous number of special tax loopholes for businesses. Just yesterday the AJC covered a $9 million loophole for GA aviation being reauthorized. We’ve got to raise revenue or we’ll continue to be a laughing stock. The reason businesses aren’t coming here is not because our taxes are too high, it’s that our “Quality of Life” issues are so poor-education, parks, mental health services, etc. All things that reasonable taxation could remedy. When I retire, I’ll be looking for a state to go to that has much better resources than Georgia. My family came here in the 1820’s, but it’s time to re-establish in a place where the leaders have some vision beyond just the business community.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
9:37 am
reality check, the school districts across the state are a patchwork of “social security” and “non social security” districts. It is utterly bizarre and completely not consistent. The only thing I can figure is that some “independent-minded” or “fiscally conservative” districts do not want to pay matching funds? Anyway, there are districts that basically prohibit their employees from paying into social security, or a worker there would have to have a second job or side business for them to be able to pay into social security. It does not make much sense to me and seems to be setting up the teacher-worker for a paltry situation when reaching non-work advanced age. There is also some two-step dance about funds cancelling out each other. There is so little known about this stuff. I guarantee to you that a new young teacher will no zero about the actual cost of their health care policy or about how retirement works or pay-out conflicts or cancellations between retirement pay and social security. It is crazy that the realities of this are so murky and unknown to the workers.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
9:43 am
My family came here in the 1820’s, but it’s time to re-establish in a place where the leaders have some vision beyond just the business community.
The problem is that rich foreign countries do not welcome Americans with open arms. And in the best circumstances, you’d have to learn their language. But if you can get in the EU system, the EU has healthcare provision across all of the member countries. If you’re Czech and you stub your toe in Austria, you’ve covered. You get professional medical treatment and leave with your wallet intact.
…But they do not seem to have the same problem with government vice as seems to be a standard now in Georgia. And can anyone please explain to me how school district superintendents are paid a higher pay rate than the governor, a U. S. senator, or the vice president of the United States? Maybe that is why school districts treat teachers as alien, they live in fear that someone will notice their pay structure.
Brasstown
March 7th, 2013
9:50 am
Doubt I’ll leave the U.S. I’ll have grandkids one day hopefully!
On Superintendents: Pay is too low (Many metro systems aside). They are much more like CEO’s than politicians. Their product is children, their safety and education. They also have thousands of “employees” and they are sued constantly. Senators and the rest don’t have that level of direct responsibility.
10:10 am
March 7th, 2013
9:50 am
@ Puerile Citizen:
As readers will note, your symptoms seem to ebb and flow as the day progresses. Is this related to a medication schedule?
James
March 7th, 2013
9:51 am
Healthcare business, system, lobby and anything related to that is totally corrupt, monopolized, heavily lobbied and stacked up against the country and citizens.
This is an expense that is breaking the back of everyone on the consumer end which includes government (with its programs) and private citizens.
Nothing has been done to change, it is like a business that cannot be changed. It is totally out of control (in terms of costs). This business unlike any other is that does not follow free market rules where competition can bring down the costs and it is because of the monopoly, cartel kind of unity.
Common people may not understand medical science but they do understand business and this is one such business where you can charge anything with immunity !
Starting from doctors crying foul despite making 10 to 20 times more than average citizen or even an engineer with doctorate degree !
Hospital execs and administration staffs and pharma companies churning trillions of dollars and still want us to be obligated for what they are doing ?
The industry threatens as if because of their cuts suddenly all the doctors will move to China !!
This industry and community is using blackmail and usual tactics without much coming out in open and being discussed among the general public to push for a change.
It is high time before people loose complete faith in the system and the results would be bad if not done correctly for consumers and providers at the same time !
Batgirl
March 7th, 2013
9:53 am
@Bob, I’m not sure where you got the idea that teachers don’t pay into Social Security. There are some systems, such as mine, that have opted out, but most still pay in. Also, those who never pay in will not receive any benefits. When I retire I will be eligible to receive SS benefits because I worked other jobs before I became a teacher, and I still have a part time job from which I pay into SS. However, because I am a government employee and will receive a pension (to which I also contribute), my pension will be reduced because I receive Social Security. I’m not sure if this applies to all government employees or just those of us who work for organizations that don’t pay in to Social Security.
The old folks definitely had it better. My father retired in 1972. After he died in 1993, my mother was allowed to keep his health insurance. When she died five years ago, she was only paying ten dollars a month for her premiums with a $400 deductible which she thought was really high.
Brasstown
March 7th, 2013
10:02 am
Batgirl,
Good info. Also the systems that opted out of SS had a one time chance to do that many years ago. It’s no longer open.
Brasstown
March 7th, 2013
10:04 am
http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/
Great info. on our healthcare woes. I hope we haven’t totally missed the boat on a chance at single payer.
Georgia
March 7th, 2013
10:06 am
Is it true that 90% of all healthcare costs are incurred in the last six months of a patient’s life? Trying to prevent the inevitable? That stat seems to chime in here. Someone google it. Oh, alright, I’ll google it. Gads. You lazy horrid people….. Lets see, how would I phrase the question…….duh……okay, got it, yes, here’s a study out of Ohio that proves it, oh, wait….the study was sponsored by people selling the Dr Kevorkian suicide machines.
Never mind.
What's Best for Kids?
March 7th, 2013
10:06 am
Tell you what: take away health benefits for the elected officials,too, and I will be okay with this bill. Make it for everyone or keep it as is.
James
March 7th, 2013
10:06 am
Look around in the world where ever teachers are paid less their education system is virtually dead.
This failure is so big that it leads to all other failures like a house of cards for entire country.
I am not an educator but I know enough to see what is happening to them.
Lot needs to done expectations are on both sides pay on side and quality on another. Responsibility, change, reforms and unions in cases not playing positive roles. System in GA is like 3rd world and I have witnessed this.
Private citizens (parents) should go and take a look at State government offices downtown and see how they are run. Ever changing policies, no rhyme or rhythm State is playing politics against the Federal and may be other way round too but that is all politics. Politics favor everyone (vested interests) but the ones being affected.
What I am saying above is no exaggeration, in fact if you can witness doing anything in a school, board or state level you will find that is mind numbing and stupid to nth degree.
Now among such dire situation if your kid reads, writes, does math in elementary level and if you as a parent are satisfied than thank your stars and before that the teachers !
Parents no matter what profession you are, if you had to be a teacher in this environment you will not want to do.
The result will be smarter people with real passion who cannot make their ends meet will not purse a teaching career.
The result we all know. If education system breaks eventually rest will all follow and we can see all those signs in our country right now.
Throwing good money after bad without grass root changes is not going to work and that is what is happening. This needs to be a serious discussion and honest effort from everyone including us parents to see a change. Leaving it to any one of the party thinking it is not my job will not solve the problem but may very well make it worst.
Bob
March 7th, 2013
10:06 am
Batgirl ,
“@Bob, I’m not sure where you got the idea that teachers don’t pay into Social Security. There are some systems, such as mine, that have opted out,”
Batgirl, I never said all and you just admitted some do not. And MOST are in a PERS type system along with most state and local pub employees.
Not being stuck in a PONZI is the best benefit one can have.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:07 am
Brasstown, In a friendly way, I’m going to have to set you straight on a few things.
On Superintendents: Pay is too low… They are much more like CEO’s than politicians.
You are committing a grave error by combining the two castes, government and business, and claiming government management should be paid similar to business. The two castes have different priorities. Business is supposed to earn profits through competition in a competitive business environment. Service work is something altogether different, the function is to serve all of the populace equally and fairly. Inflated salaries only lead to greater cost to the public. Need I reference an international comparison of rich countries, where government management are not paid in multipliers of the salary of functionary professional government workers? You have a basic confusion about caste and professional government activities. Goes like this, get a MPA, master’s of public administration, get your $100k salary and follow the rule book. No need for Moses on the mountains, glory, and cult.
Their product is children, their safety and education. They also have thousands of “employees” and they are sued constantly.
Really now, sued constantly? This is an American thing. Maybe someone needs to change the laws to that school systems and personnel can not be “sued constantly.” They’re not “sued constantly” anywhere outside of the United States. If you sued the school system in China, they’d switch your behind with a cane. If you sued the school system in any other rich country, the court would not recognise the suit. More needs to be looked into this. Here, they also require teachers to pay into a protection racket at the rate of about $50. per each teacher per month, for “insurance for legal counsel in case of being sued.” It is a complete racket. Teachers are told they have to do it, a condition of employment. It even applies to interns during training – must purchase liability insurance prior to interning in the schoolhouse.
Senators and the rest don’t have that level of direct responsibility.
That is completely absurd. Do you even know what you are saying?
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:15 am
These culty school systems have some of the public conned to the point that some of the public think that school superintendents have more responsibility than a U. S. senator. This is playing out like a Shakespeare play where the bad people are wearing masks of nobility and the public goes along with it.
bootney farnsworth
March 7th, 2013
10:23 am
basically, it boils down to this:
-the State of Georgia entered into a contract with us. give us 30 years, and we’ll compensate you with us picking up a large percentage of your healthcare upon retirement.
-the reason this is in place is because overall, the State of Georgia is a historically a low pay employer. to counteract this, the benefits package (which has been steadily watered down and cut)
was highly competitive
-the State of Georgia takes a large hunk of our paychecks to pay for this
-the State of Georgia then takes this money and spends it anywhere and everywhere it wants, except where it was supposed to go. they created the bulk of this mess.
-in large part, the State of Georgia has engaged in fraud with us. in any other business, they would be guilty of major violations of the law. side note: where is the Southern Poverty Law Center now?
a large amount of the people damaged by this are under $50,000 a year black employees.
-the State of Georgia is now looking for ways to dump this mismanagement mess on its workers and citizens.
-instead of coming to us and working with us on working out a solution, the State decides the best thing to do to keep its secret is to threaten us with a severance of contractually obligated support
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:24 am
Brasstown, Ask any member of the U. S. military, or service people returning from Afghanistan, who has greater responsibility, a school system superintendent or a U. S. senator. Go ask those folk in Baghdad about all of the responsibility a school superintendent has for them. Go ask the people who run the nuclear reactors that make your electricity, and the people who manage the interstate highway system about all of the responsibility a school superintendent has for them. Go ask the people who regulate food inspections so that you can buy groceries without getting sick, go ask them about all of the responsibility a school superintendent has for them. Go ask the people who make it so that thousands of jets can land and take off without colliding into each other at the busiest airport in the world in Atlanta about all of the responsibility a half-wit poser highly paid school superintendent who could not write a computer program to save their life and has no idea how to operate radar or radio frequencies has for them. Why not go ask the medical staff who operate the MRI and CATscan machines at the hospital, many of the best which are made outside of the USA, ask them how vital a school superintendent is to them. Go ask the finance people on Wall Street, where 50% of the Harvard graduates go to work, how vital a school superintendent is to them, they’re probably start laughing and spill their coffee.
James
March 7th, 2013
10:26 am
Just like students, teachers, schools, districts have a score card based upon the grades and improvement a SENATOR OR CONGRESSMEN OR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL who thing they are in a crowned position should have score card based upon things he achieved in real terms and things he failed or hurt to be achieved. People should vote for his re-election based on solely on this. Does not matter what party he is from, how he looks and whether he believes in which church or God.
His first job is to serve us. What is happening is completely opposite. These elected officials pass all the tests of faith, community religion, party and rhetoric (thanks to media) stroke our emotions get our votes but guess what they FAIL TO THE MOST SCARED DUTY OF THEIR JOB.
Teaching lessons of Democracy to our citizens in worlds oldest democracy (that is what we like say ) is ironic though ! Sorry about that but we have to go back to our roots and do what is actually needed to be done.
Very easy to just look at our interests and loose the big picture but that is what is happening. If our community is getting affected but we doing o.k. sooner or later it will affect us. Can’t hide and run away from run down communities if you are lucky for too long. There won’t be too many safe heavens for the lucky or privileged part of the population.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:27 am
where is the Southern Poverty Law Center now?
They’re making poverty. Where did you think they’re at? Can’t you read?
bootney farnsworth
March 7th, 2013
10:30 am
now the basic questions:
Q: why does the State not deal with us in good faith?
A: I’m not sure they know how anymore. moreover, it would require them to come clean. something they will not do.
Q: would we be willing to work with the State?
A: yeah, but it would be a very strained relationship and require an outside mediator. simply put, we just don’t trust anyone at the gold dome. I would not negotiate a car sale with Fran Millar, much less my healthcare and security. but we would do it, because we have no real choice.
Q: can this be fixed?
A: sure. it the State wants to. I’m not convinced they do.
Q: will this pass as is?
A: no way in hell. this is a scare tactic, same as the USGs threat to raise tuition 77%
James
March 7th, 2013
10:35 am
Neglecting, overlooking, shunning small sores and ulcers have become cancerous. This feed back of negative cycle is race to the bottom.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:36 am
bootney, you left out the part that the USA is slowly crawling toward universal health care and teachers losing their special health-care bennies is a part of it, which is a good thing.
hmmm. I wonder what is going to happen for Act 2, when it becomes evident that no one can afford the Obama-Feeds-His Buddies-the-Corporate-Profit-Structure health care act. Hey, but that guy will be out of here in 3.5 years, him and his “race to the top” employee thinning harassment ritual.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:40 am
James, If you get in a car wreck, they’ll send a helicopter “Life Star!” for you. If you have pre-cancerous bumps, forget about any care. If you get an appendicitis, prepare to have you world turned upside down and lose your home due to required paperwork to sign before the operation.
Many reports online from American travellers abroad, Wow. No hassle. They treated me without asking any questions. And then the bill came to $5.45.
If you have any doubts, do a web search for “cost of appendectomy.”
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:44 am
“Appendectomy can cost $1,500 — or $182,955″ “he went to the hospital emergency room closest to his home in San Francisco. The diagnosis was acute appendicitis, and doctors removed his inflamed appendix… Hong had health insurance, so he wasn’t too worried…In all, Hong was charged $59,283, including $5,264 for the doctors.”
http://seattletimes.com/avantgo/2018054596.html
bootney farnsworth
March 7th, 2013
10:49 am
what are the solutions:
-require the State, by law, to lock box (I know, I’m laughing too) healthcare and pension money. it can be securely invested, but cannot be used to pay anything else but healthcare/pensions.
-if the State wishes to make these changes, create a step down program.
—anyone within 10 years of retirement, honor them in full
—anyone 10-15 years away, pay for X amount
—anyone 15-20 years away, pay for Y amount
—anyone 20+ years away, welcome to the new world.
-the State can require patients to go to a managed care program as part of the package, or cap the costs at x level and the rest are up to you. provided there is a built in exemption for under treatment pre-existing conditions.
-the State can require all RX be generic unless no generic is available.
-the State can partner with us to create an oversight board 1/2 them, 1/2 us. but us is not just the presidents and HR wonks, but Joe average too. any and all increases/decreases/alterations must be approved by this committee before showing up in our mailboxes.
-the State can raise the retirement age to 70. not for those who don’t know. if you reach your 30 before you turn 65 (maybe a bit earlier) you can not collect most benefit until then.
-the State can charge a higher premium for covering spouses than it currently does.
-as a show of good faith, the State can sell Sonny’s Fish Camp – t market value – and dump the proceeds into the retirement fund.
bootney farnsworth
March 7th, 2013
10:51 am
I didn’t overlook Obamacare, I chose to ignore it. I remain hopeful (not optimistic, but hopeful) the nation will come to its senses in 14 and dump it.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
10:53 am
The comparable cost of the same surgery in Germany is $3,093.
Cost of Appendectomy:
India – $254.
Argentina – $1,030.
Spain – $2,615.
Germany – $3,093.
France – $3,164.
Australia – $4,926.
Chile – $5,509.
Canada – $5,606.
Switzerland – $5,840.
USA – $7756. (lowest price); $13,003 (average price); $27,797. (95th percentile price)
http://ww.ifhp.com/documents/2011iFHPPriceReportGraphs_version3.pdf
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
11:00 am
Drug prices – Nexium
France – $23.
Germany – $56.
Switzerland – $69.
USA – $193.
Tell me again, about how much responsibility a “school superintendent” has.
bootney farnsworth
March 7th, 2013
11:04 am
lastly, what will happen if the State acts on this as presented
–lawsuits, and a lot of them. the State will be in breach of contract and the usual suspects like SCLC, NAACP, ACLU, ect will be lining up to eat the States lunch in court. it’ll cost the State more in court costs than it will to amend the system
–brain drain. the most qualified will bail with the rising sun. they may end up in a state with no retirement bennies, but the pay will be better. this includes charter schools. frankly Georgia is really lucky we keep what we have. don’t like the quality of education now…..just wait.
–teachers unions. real ones. yup, unions. if Georgia summarily voids the contract with us, social and legal, it will be the final straw. there are a lot us, and when motivated we can vote as a hard block. just ask King Roy. do not assume the legal restrictions can’t be voted out – they can with a large enough percent of voters – and we can gather a lot of voters.
there are reasons Georgia has the fastest growing union membership in the nation.
bootney farnsworth
March 7th, 2013
11:08 am
to be fair in matters of healthcare costs:
we get a whole lot better care here than nearly anywhere else in the world. its paying for quality. I’ve seen this firsthand. plus a lot of the costs are driven by the need to recover costs of uninsured hospitals are no allowed to turn away.
and most cutting edge drug research is done here, not Europe.
the problem is nowhere near the cost of healthcare as the states incompetence in managing it.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
11:15 am
I’d like a real teacher union for one reason only, so there would professional labor management instead of a bunch of deeply rooted local folk running around acting like they’re have a sororiety party at everyone else’s expense.
But “a real teacher union” would inevitably be connected to a bunch of bogus stuff at the federal level, at 10:10 repeatedly and correctly points out. The best thing would be for Georgia to have a single in-state teacher union without connection to the national schemes.
Right now there are several fake “professional organizations” siphoning money off from teachers, I can name 5 of them. It is such a mess. As Indigo said about another issue, I have no hope in this matter. And these local jerks will continue to marauder public education, like they think it is a party all set up for them to pay themselves and their friends, and treat real pro’s as aliens who threaten them by teaching real opportunity to the poor kids. Do that and you’ll be identified, stalked, harassed, undermined, and slow-motion fired through spamming your work file and causing dangerous life-threatening levels of stress – ask my friend who was carried out on a gurney and is now a principal at an extremely selective high-end district in another state, and they’ll call it “professional development” in Georgia.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
11:21 am
That’s it. I’m mooving to France to get some of that $23. Nexium and $30./month highly regulated internet/ tv/ telephone triple-play package.
Brasstown
March 7th, 2013
11:27 am
Private,
Senators are clearly more important than school superintendents. They are also more important than the CEO of Coke, but their compensation varies.
No one should wait for any of them to rescue you on the battlefields of Afganistan. That kind of help has no pay grade.
Brasstown
March 7th, 2013
11:40 am
You started the morning hypo-manic and you’re becoming more tangential and grandiose. Stop now and call your doctor. You are obviously very intelligent, but not so smart that you can compensate.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
11:53 am
Hey Brasstown, A decade ago, at the start of the school year, French students each received a usb drive with their software and programs on it. Which reminds me, February 14th passed and I forget to send to send a valentine to Minister of Colonisation Arne Duncan. I wonder what he’ll come up with in the following year to merit some collective love from the teachers?
The problem is that the Georgia and U. S. system is so far off the balance scales, that any observation seems just as imbalanced. Steinbeck wrote about barefoot students circa 1923. You’d thing we would have gotten somewhere. Instead, they replaced his books with “Newberry Award Winners” like Bridge to Terabithia coordinated distribution with a follow-up Hollywood movie that at least had the dignity to add “chasing Bigfoot Sasquatch” to the story line, even feature it on the movie poster, something you will not find in this “award winning” simpleton’s book. I used to doubt my observations and then the implements “SLO” testing on elementary school students. It’s like they must come up with this stuff and laugh about it. And the state goes along with every bit of it, like agreeing to snipe hunt, and the local districts play along, occasionally bothered to issue a press release about their “star school” where the local political caste attends (portfolio application optional, unless you just happen to be a bright poor kid).
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:01 pm
back in 2007, http://www.emtec-international.com/en-eu/cp_equip_secondary_school
That would right about the time… the French national police dumped Microsoft, and right before the EU charged Microsoft a billion dollars in fines for refusing to obey the law, and then the EU made them pay on appeal, in other words, “Yes, we mean it.” Meanwhile, in the U. S. everyone is so brainwashed they do not know any different, much less even know what an operating system is. Ask anybody, they don’t know. -In the land where “Henry Ford invented the motor car” (not) (40 years too late, wrong country). Ford invented the assembly line, though, which is an entirely different concept, perhaps just as incomprehensible to the current incoherence-trained logic-deranged students. -And Arne Duncan smiles before he goes to bed each night. Mission accomplished.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:11 pm
Brasstown, Special present just for you, US K12 curriculum edition http://www.soundtrack-covers.com/images/bridge-to-terabithia-poster-big.jpg
OriginalProf
March 7th, 2013
12:13 pm
I think that some facts are needed for context here, for it sounds as if this retiree benefit for teachers of paid healthcare premiums is simply another free “perk” by the state. That is not true.
For decades, state public school teachers had the option of making monthly premium payments into the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), and this was their health insurer. I should point out that this was not generally an option chosen by USG employees since the Regents have paid 75% of their regular healthcare insurance premiums. So HB 263 really applies only to K-12 public school teachers in Georgia.
By 2009, SHBP had reserves of $238 million. In 2008 when the Great Recession began and Georgia tax revenues went into a severe decline, then-Governor Sonny Perdue shifted $220 million of the SHBP reserves into the state’s general funds. By 2010, SHBP had reserves of $18 million, and stopped allowing state employees to enter the program. In 2012, SHBP announced that it was “technically insolvent.” Google “SHBP Financial Status 2010″ for more details.
In other words, the state looted the public K-12 teachers’ health insurance fund in 2008–that the teachers had been paying into for many decades–so it is now insolvent.
As I read HB 263, the state legislature is trying to ensure that the state won’t be responsible for filling the health insurance vacuum for public school teachers left by the insolvency of the SHBP.
One other aspect of HB 223 is its sponsorship by State Rep. Chuck Martin, R-Alpharetta. He has no educational or legal background, but only one in business. He was Mayor of Alpharetta from 1996-2002, and has a BBA in Management Science from UGA. Pity that this businessman didn’t consult adequately with legal or education experts before drafting his ambiguous, far-reaching legislation.
Brasstown
March 7th, 2013
12:16 pm
I hope this is a positive outlet for you. It can be a good way to burn up some excess energy right now.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:17 pm
That is some smooth propaganda right there for teaching “feelings” as curriculum in place of literature.
From the author: “We need practice with loss, rehearsal for grieving, just as we need preparation for decision making.” – Katherine Paterson” http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/16/top-100-childrens-novels-poll-10-bridge-to-terabithia-by-katherine-paterson/
Mary Elizabeth
March 7th, 2013
12:20 pm
What readers must understand is that this bill has not come about in isolation. It has had an ultra rightwing political foundation established decades ago, for its emergence this year in Georgia’s General Assembly, and the forces of power and wealth in our nation that established that initial foundation are continuing to work into the future to change our nation from the democratic nation that it has been, which has encompassed a healthy balance between the public sector and the private sector, to a nation in which the private sector dominates all, for the benefit primarily of those few of wealth and power.
1. Rep. Charles E. “Chuck” Martin, Jr. (R-47), who sponsored this bill, HB 263, is a member of ALEC and Rep. Martin is also on ALEC’s Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force.
2. In 2009, retired teachers in Georgia were switched from the State Health Benefit Plan to Medicare Advantage (a Republican-touted Medicare plan in which the federal government subsidizes private insurance companies to implement Medicare Advantage at more cost than traditional Medicare because there is no “middle man” for profit with traditional Medicare). At that same time, Georgia’s SHBP released millions of dollars of its funds (designed to take care of the future healthcare needs of retired state employees, including retired teachers) to the state of Georgia’s General Fund, thereby depleting Georgia’s SHBP’s funds. In releasing its funds – in the millions of dollars – to Georgia’s General Fund made the SHBP’s funds more financially precarious (by design, in my opinion). Republican Governor Perdue was governor and his administration worked with the SHBP to alter retired state employees – including retired teachers – health insurance plans as far back as 2009. Moreover, at that same time, the SHBP changed from insuring retired teachers in the amount of $2 million, each, for their healthcare claims to $200., each, because the SHBP turned that insurance responsiblity – for state retired teachers healthcare claims – over to United Healthcare or CIGNA, the two private insurance companies that became part of the Medicare Advantage program in Georgia’s SHBP in 2009.
3. So, one can see that Obamacare has had nothing to do with this change in Georgia’s healthcare responsibility to retired teachers, and other retired state employees, because Obamacare was not even passed in the U.S. Congress when Georgia’s SHBP was in the process of releasing its responsibility to retired teachers and other retired state employees to Medicare Advantage’s private insurance companies, United Heathcare and CIGNA.
4. The average age of members of the Teacher Retirement System retiring today with 25+ years of service is 59.6 years, not 52 years. The median age for new members of the TRS in FY 2012 was 27 years of age, not 22 years of age. The average years of service for members of the TRS retiring today with 25+ years of service is 31.4 years, not 30 years.
5. In DeKalb County alone (including Decatur), the monthly benefits to the retired teachers of TRS is approximately $29,000,000. a month. However, the monthly economic impact to DeKalb County by those same retired teachers is approximately $50,000,000. Therefore, retired teachers give back to DeKalb County $1.70 for every $1.00 that they receive. With the winds of change constantly in flux in the economic markets, retired teachers have been the one stablizing influence, economically, in giving back to the economic growth of their communities. For example, $20.9 million in direct economic impact are supported by teacher retiress’ initial expenditures, such as food, clothing, furniture, etc., that retired teachers purchase. When retired teachers purchase these products directly, the businesses that supply these products to them, in turn, hire more employees. Moreover, $15.4 million in indirect economic impact results from these businesses purchasing additional goods and services needed from other vendors. Finally, $13.2 million in induced economic impact occurs when employees hired by businessess, as a result of both the direct and indirect impacts, make expenditures, themselves. Again, retired teachers are an economic stablizing influence on the economy in DeKalb County, just as they are in every county throughout Georgia.
6. Please take a few minutes to read the article written by Diane Ravitch, provided in the link below, about how ALEC is, and has been, attempting to privatize public education – as well as to privatize many other areas of the society besides education.
7. Part of political tactic is to divide and conquer.That tactic, evidently, has been working as can be read in the comments on this thread, in which some workers of private firms are against teachers receiving benefits, such as healthcare which are paid by the government. Actually, those private workers should be working with public workers to insure that workers in both the private and public sectors have healthcare benefits secured, especially in their older years. Do we really want a nation in which we have no Social Security in our old age, or no Medicare in our old age? Do we really want a nation which has become totally privatized in which the middle and working classes will be forced into working for wealthy CEOs for less and less income as the years go by, with less and less benefits? That type of political framework is a plutocracy, not a democracy. Our founders did not envision a plutocracy for this nation. They left Great Britain, which was controlled by a wealthy, powerful ruling class to form a democratic republic for, by, and of the people. Please wake up to the forces of wealth and power in our nation that are, today, changing our nation, stealthily but slowly and surely, to benefit primarily the wealthy CEOs of industry. This filters down to dismantling public education and dismantling other public services. Be aware. Read the link below:
http://www.alternet.org/story/155257/what_you_need_to_know_about_alec
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:20 pm
Brasstown, You ought to take an interest in the quality of education your local kids are receiving. I’d start with math, and how “combined concept” math-salad is taught today, in place of sequentially mastering skills and concepts. When you have adolescents doing geometry and algebra in the same week and mastering none of it, something is wrong. These skills have prior always been taught in sequence. Maybe a math teacher can confirm.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:32 pm
Another twist, you can be a teacher and over time pay $50,000. to “United Healthcare” and no doubt the state is paying another $50,000. as supplement, and then leave the teaching profession and no longer have any relationship with “United Healthcare” and they just extracted $50,000., provided little service since none was needed, and called it “health care.” Looks like a win for them.
Yeahhhh baby. #1!
UnitedHealth Group
CEO-to-employee pay ratio: 1,737:1
CEO: Stephen J. Hemsley
United Health Care CEO salary plus stock options:
$109 million plus 99 million in stock options!!!! This was in 2009.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:35 pm
A lot of teachers in Georgia are “insured” by UnitedHealth Group.
Edugator
March 7th, 2013
12:40 pm
ME, interesting comments. Thanks.
A simple problem with the TRS is folks retiring on grossly inflated six figure salaries from their supervisory jobs, and then enjoying annual retirement benefits for 30 years that exceed the yearly salaries of most teachers actually working. Getting a handle on that might help the entire system operate better.
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:42 pm
A long time ago a friend of mine called it “extortion,” the US system of “pay for health insurance” before services can be obtained. I think he’s right.
Currently the USA system of services seems to be built on preying upon the public. Hence, only rich and poor now.
Btw, keep voting for those same politicians you’ve been voting for. My local representative, who collects lobbying checks from health insurance companies, said he was going to make public health a priority, thereby stop by the fire department and get your blood pressure checked. This sounds like spoof. That’s really what he did. They say he cashed a $9k lobbying check from a health company the same day he voted against health coverage for the people. And the guy keeps getting re-elected, talks about having “skin in the game.” I gave him a brief compliment one time about representing the people and he sort of stopped in his tracks and went, “Huh? Wh.. What?”
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:47 pm
2008 PBS 1-hour program comparing different health care systems in the world. http://video.pbs.org/video/1050712790/
Private Citizen
March 7th, 2013
12:49 pm
byline from the PBS program: “Five capitalist democracies around the world – Japan, Taiwan, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Germany – all have health care systems that provide health care for everyone. They have higher life expectancies, lower infant mortality rates, and spend less money than the U.S. for health care. “
Dennis
March 7th, 2013
12:50 pm
It is always notible how state legislators and Deal want to cut the salaries and benefits of other state employees, but not their own.
If the state is that financially dire, let them lead by example – beginning NOW.
This state and this country have been going backwards on financial matters because of fuzzy-headed thinking like this -the kind of thinking that has led, and is leading, to financial collapse.
An economy is created by the circulation of money, not the withdrawal of it.
Retirements and benefits are a huge part of that economy.
ColonelJack
March 7th, 2013
12:51 pm
You mean “United WhoCares”, don’t you?