Public pension end should be on table

Public pension end should be on table

We shouldn’t be discussing public pension reform. We should be discussing public pension elimination. We should pay public employees today for the services they provide today, and stop promising future compensation. Our government leaders have proved they are incapable of honoring promises made to public employees. What gives us the right to pass obligations on to future generations, future taxpayers?

Eliminating public pensions will likely result in the need to increase base salaries in order to attract qualified employees. Maybe, then, we would know what the true cost is of public services and we can decide if we can afford them.

Given how government leaders are beholden to unions, we cannot expect them to enact change. There should be a constitutional amendment prohibiting any kind of deferred compensation for public employees. As was pointed out in the Daily Herald’s Our View, doing nothing will lead to insolvency. That won’t be good for anyone, including public employees who deserve a fair compensation.

Kevin Madden

Naperville