State Retirees and Bloated Hogs: amazing similarities

The Idaho budget-boat is riding low. While we are not yet taking on water, any movement not carefully choreographed is likely to result in a dangerous dip below the surface. At times like this, everyone needs to work together and share equally in the act of keeping the boat balanced.

Unfortunately, the state retirees consider themselves exempt. Their recent tantrum on the steps of the statehouse further solidified their reputation as entitled infants. In a period of economic uncertainty, they have a guaranteed pension which happens to be one of the last solvent state-run pension programs in the country. You would think they would be writing thank-you letters to our elected representatives especially considering the tragic decline many private retirement accounts have suffered in the last two years.

No. These bloated piglets are more than content to continue suckling at the lean teat of government while other more worthy groups are left to fight for scraps.

Apparently these noble retired educators, county commissioners, and an odd assortment of diligently ineffectual bureaucrats think it blasphemous they should be expected to give up their sacred 1% cost-of-living increase. This, at a time, when active teachers and other state employees are being presented with actual cuts in pay and/or job losses.

If the Senate can tell the parents of special-needs children that State support has to be cut during these tough budgetary times, it must gain the resolve to face down these entitlement junkies and tell them it will not be covering the obviously devastating price increases for their Viagra and Flowmax prescriptions.