The World 042121

The Legislature’s Irresponsibility On Pensions
By Don Turner
The last thing you do in the middle of a crisis is kick the
can down the road. Yet, that’s exactly what the Legislature
just did on Vermont’s mounting pension liabilities.
Earlier this year, State Treasurer Beth Pearce delivered a
long overdue message to the Legislature--calling for painful
cuts in order to keep the state employees’ and state teachers’
pensions operation. This comes years after resisting calls for
structural reform to the pension system.
However, the Treasurer deserves recognition for having the
courage to at least present a plan. The Legislature did too--
with leadership in the House Government Operations
Committee unveiling its own similar plan.
But, the Legislature’s plan broke our promises to state
employees and teachers. It called for painful cuts and unfair
modifications to arrangements that the state had assured its
workers it would cover. Unions, state employees, and teachers
were rightly outraged.
However, instead of considering other options to reform the
pension system, Legislative Leadership caved to political
pressure.
For example, Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray issued a
vague, ambiguous statement criticizing the plan--with absolutely
no suggestion for any substantive alternatives. Senate
President Pro Tem Becca Balint did much the same. And,
unsurprisingly, House Speaker Jill Krowinski ditched the
plan--effectively throwing her own colleagues in the House
Government Operations Committee under the bus. She called
for Montpelier’s favorite tool--a “task force”--which really
means doing nothing now. It will also allow the Legislative
Majority to deflect responsibility and start the blame game. I
am sure that Governor Scott will be their first target.
In response, Treasurer Pearce rightly noted her disappointment
in the Legislature’s inability to come to an agreement.
The Treasurer is correct. By delaying action this year, the
Legislature is only making our problems worse. We can’t
afford to break our promises, but we certainly can’t afford to
delay action either.
There are other options out there--options that don’t break
our promises and avoid painful cuts. The Legislature could
give state employees an option to switch to less-expensive
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
During much of western history, “til death do us part”
was a non-negotiable fact.
Now, it is little more than a cool-sounding slogan
that we say because it’s in the wedding script.
We are supposed to view the lack of respect for marriage
vows and the plague of broken homes as a terrible development.
But it’s not that simple.
The bad thing about divorce culture is that it has led to the
dissolution of the lower middle class. In 1970, there was a
solid chance that a working-class child was growing up in a
stable family with enough money to
get by because both parents were
contributing to the household.
Today, that same child only resides
with one parent and lives in a tenuous
world of Dollar Stores and overdraft
fees.
On the other hand, I think it’s fair
to say that physical abuse within
families has been reduced during
the past half century. That wonderful
change is largely due to the fact
that angry, frustrated men can leave
before things get violent – or be
kicked to the curb by their brave
spouses.
I don’t think divorce culture is
necessarily a bad thing. I’ve known
a lot of divorced people. Most of
them remarried. And most are happier
than during their first marriage.
Including me.
“Kramer vs. Kramer” is not what
I was expecting. Writer/director Robert Benton has given us a
loving, passionate pro-divorce movie.
When we meet Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman), his values
are all out of whack. He thinks only of his career. He is a
copywriter on Madison Ave. and he has just been put in charge
of a huge account.
Ted comes home – late as always – to tell his wife Joanna
(Meryl Streep) the good news. She tells him that she is leaving
immediately and forever.
Suddenly, Ted is trying to be Don Draper and Mr. Mom to
his five-year-old son Billy at the same time. And it’s not possible.
• • •
• • •
defined contribution plans (and transition new employees into
these plans); move other-post employment benefits (OPEB)
into the Vermont health exchange; impose a small tax on
retirement allowances until we reach an 80% funded ratio (a
far better alternative than deep cuts); slightly tweak up the
retirement age to match Social Security; and perhaps most
importantly, phase-in reasonable increases to employee contribution
rates over time. I outlined all of these ideas earlier
this year.
I would also encourage modifications to prevent future
bureaucrats from gaming the pension system. It is far too
common for agencies to promote or move staff around at the
end of their career to inflate their retirement pension.
Modifying the system to determine beneficiaries pension
based on the average of their annual salary over their career
versus the highest two years would be more equitable to all
and would not allow someone to manipulate the pension system.
Put simply, there are other options out there. But instead of
considering them, House lawmakers came up with a rushed,
poorly-designed proposal--excluding key stakeholders from
the process--and then abandoned it and established a measly
“task force.”
While abandoning a bad plan is a good step, opting for no
plan which will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars
annually is not an acceptable alternative. I believe everyone
involved in this conversation understands what needs to be
done to stabilize the pensions now. The is problem lays with
the political fortitude to get it done.
Moving forward, the Legislature should make sure the task
force process is inclusive, open and transparent, and considers
all ideas as timing is of the essence.
But the very fact that we’re in this situation is a sign of
failed Legislative leadership. Let’s hope they wise up and
incorporate some realistic, substantive ideas for next year--or
else it will haunt them in the 2022 election.
This commentary is by Don Turner, a former Republican
state representative from Milton, former House minority
leader, current Milton town manager and longtime member of
the Milton Fire and Rescue departments. He was a candidate
for lieutenant governor in 2018
Robert Benton authentically shows us
the experience of suddenly being single.
Ted has sleepless nights and difficulty
doing household tasks that Joanna used to
do. Instead of looking in the mirror, he
blames Joanna’s friend who left her husband
the year before.
The first months are brutal and painful
to watch. Ted and his son are angry and
they take it out on each other.
But slowly and organically, Ted and
Billy bond. Dustin Hoffman does a fantastic
job of showing us a man who stops
prioritizing work and starts prioritizing
parenting without ever having to tell us.
“Kramer vs. Kramer” is not a He Said/
She Said courtroom drama. It is an ode to
fatherhood. And that’s just what we need
right now. We live in a society that values
motherhood much more than fatherhood,
and a lot of people are suffering due to this
strange misconception.
I am not the ideal audience for this movie. When someone
I know is having a baby, all I can think is how bad I feel for
them. They will be dealing with loud, expensive human children
instead of quiet, wonderful cats. However, Ted and Billy
won me over with their sweetness and love.
“Kramer vs. Kramer” won Best Picture in 1979. Some
people might view this as a low point in Academy history
when they were obsessed with the First World problems of
white men like them. But the film actually does deserve the
honor. “Kramer vs. Kramer” beat out “Apocalypse Now.”
Oscar got it right; this little movie about a happy divorce is
first rate and pretty important.
PUBLIC
Tina
VOTE
LUNT
NOTICES
BARRE TOWN CLERK
STATE OF VERMONT
SUPERIOR COURT
Orange Unit
PROBATE DIVISION
Docket No. 21-PR-01545
RE: ESTATE OF
JOSEPH L. TROMBLY
Late Of Orange, VT
Notice To Creditors
To the creditors of the Estate of
Joseph L. Trombly
Late Of Orange, Vermont.
I have been appointed personal
representative of the above-named
estate. All creditors having claims
against the estate must present
their claims in writing within 4
months of the date of publication
of this notice. The claim must be
presented to me at the address listed
below with a co filed with the
register of the Probate Court. The
claim will be forever barred if it is
not presented as described above
within the four-month deadline.
Dated: April 13, 2021
Signed:
Heather Reddick
Address:
c/o Jake L. Thompson
Otterman and Allen, P.C.
P.O. Box 473
Barre, VT 05641
Name of Publication: The WORLD
Publication Date: April 21, 2021
Address of Probate Court:
Vermont Superior Court
Probate Division, Orange Unit
5 Court Street
Chelsea, VT 05038
STATE OF VERMONT
SUPERIOR COURT
Orange Unit
PROBATE DIVISION
Docket No. 21-PR-00960
RE: ESTATE OF
PAUL WALTER VALLEE, SR.
Late Of Newbury, Vt
Notice To Creditors
To the creditors of the Estate of
Paul Walter Vallee, Sr.
Late Of Newbury, Vermont.
I have been appointed personal
representative of the above-named
estate. All creditors having claims
against the estate must present
their claims in writing within 4
months of the date of publication
of this notice. The claim must be
presented to me at the address listed
below with a co filed with the
register of the Probate Court. The
claim will be forever barred if it is
not presented as described above
within the four-month deadline.
Dated: April 13, 2021
Signed:
Paul Walter Vallee, Jr., Executor
Address:
c/o Jake L. Thompson
Otterman and Allen, P.C.
P.O. Box 473
Barre, VT 05641
Name of Publication: The WORLD
Publication Date: April 21, 2021
Address of Probate Court:
Vermont Superior Court
Probate Division, Orange Unit
5 Court Street
Chelsea, VT 05038
NOTICE
City of Barre
FLUSHING
WATER MAINS
The City of Barre Water Department will begin flushing
water mains at midnight on Monday, April 26, 2021 and
will continue through Friday, April 30, 2021 on a 5am
to 5pm schedule.
People in higher elevations will be affected and water
will be discolored. In case of dirty water, open cold water
faucet for approximately 5-10 minutes to flush your
service line.
Customers are encouraged to draw water in advance for
cooking and consumption.
City of Barre Water Department
I am Caitlin Janus Tucker, and I am running
for Barre Town Clerk. I currently reside
in South Barre with my husband, Dwayne
Tucker, where we both continue to be proactive
members of the Barre Town Community. My
mother, Mary Janus, was a teacher at BTEMS
for 28 years, and I strive to be as dedicated as
she was to our community.
For the past 7 years, I managed, taught, and
co-ran the uine rogram at VT. duties included finance
management, facility maintenance, construction, and animal care
and welfare. I was a supervisor for 5-6 employees.
I also manage my husband’s construction/excavation/septic
design and installation business. There I learned the details of
surveying, property boundary lines, lot line adjustments and quit
claim deeds/deed research.
am seeing to fill this osition of ublic office and to run as
an unbiased, nonpartisan, honest person. I have the skills and
ualifications that will allow me to succeed as Town ler, and if
elected, I will work hard for the residents of Barre Town.
VOTE MAY 11TH
PAID FOR BY CAITLIN JANUS
April 21, 2021 The WORLD page 13