Mr Swift, Maybe in the private sector lifetime health insurance isn't available for the rank and file, but I am pretty sure CEOs and probably other high level management jobs get this benefit. The conventional wisdom is that public employees often are paid lower than their private sector counterparts, however the better benefits help to close the gap, and to retain these vital employees.
How does Mr Bell represent any one of us? He is an appointed member of the Met Council. The Center of the American Experiment (a conservative think tank) talked about changing the structure of the Met Council and one issue they have it is an unelected body. Since your comments include "large transfusions of cash" I wouldn't be surprised if you were one that argued that when we had a budget surplus we were being overtaxed. Well now that we have a budget deficit, that line of arguement would conclude that we currently are being undertaxed. Finally, tangent to the focus on the transit system, shouldn't we be asking our employers for these better health care benefits. Why the rush to the worst benefits, lets push for the best benefits for all of us. -Josh Kroll, Mpls. > --------------------------------- > Tom Swift, St. Paul > --------------------------------- > > "Fat Cats? > > Mike, the "fat cat's you're talking about is us; you, me and everyone > that pays taxes. Mr. Bell and Governor Pawlenty are negotiating on > behalf of us fat cats, they are representing our best interests just > as surely as the union is doing so on behalf of the drivers. > > > The fact of the matter is that the drivers currently enjoy pay that > is right inline with other major urban centers, and in addition they > recieve health benefits that are unheard of anywhere outside of > public employ. > > Lifetime paid health insurance? Never seen the creature in the wild, > I had always thought it was the jackalope of employee benefits..but > there it is! > > Unfortunately, we fat cats cannot continue to keep the jackalope > alive. It's artificial, can't live without constant intervention in > the form of large transfusions of cash from us fat cats." > > ------------------------------------------------- > > > -- > ================================================= > Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com > St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 105978430 > ================================================= > > > > _______________________________________________ > Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum > http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro > Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day. _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day.
