Philip Howard

Yeah, that's right. And that was because of work rules, rules that required feather bedding.

Yeah, that's right. And that was because of work rules, rules that required feather bedding.

So the contracts have been negotiated in a way that's designed to avoid public awareness. Benefits in the future don't show up in the bottom line this year. So early retirement, pensions that aren't put on the balance sheet this year, that sort of thing. Most public employees can retire, again, varies widely by the contract.

So the contracts have been negotiated in a way that's designed to avoid public awareness. Benefits in the future don't show up in the bottom line this year. So early retirement, pensions that aren't put on the balance sheet this year, that sort of thing. Most public employees can retire, again, varies widely by the contract.

Public safety officers often after 20 years, they're talking about retirement, somebody in their early 40s. and you get a pension, studies show that the pensions are materially richer than private pensions by some significant percentage. And then if someone retires early, in many jurisdictions, then they go back to work.

Public safety officers often after 20 years, they're talking about retirement, somebody in their early 40s. and you get a pension, studies show that the pensions are materially richer than private pensions by some significant percentage. And then if someone retires early, in many jurisdictions, then they go back to work.

So they get their pension, which in many cases is almost the same as their salary. And then they go back to work and start all over again. So they're collecting their pension and they're collecting their salary. And it's called double dipping.

So they get their pension, which in many cases is almost the same as their salary. And then they go back to work and start all over again. So they're collecting their pension and they're collecting their salary. And it's called double dipping.

What is that? Spiking is when the contract provides that your pension will be determined by your average compensation in the last year or two years of work. And the practice, which has been ended in some jurisdictions but not in all jurisdictions, is to give the person who is nearing retirement as much overtime as possible

What is that? Spiking is when the contract provides that your pension will be determined by your average compensation in the last year or two years of work. And the practice, which has been ended in some jurisdictions but not in all jurisdictions, is to give the person who is nearing retirement as much overtime as possible

so that their $100,000 job becomes a $250,000 per year in the last year or two, so that their pension is determined against a base of $250,000.

so that their $100,000 job becomes a $250,000 per year in the last year or two, so that their pension is determined against a base of $250,000.

Yes. And indeed, the budget in New York City, I think, would be dramatically improved if only public workers had to pay the same percentage of health benefits as private industry does. In many jurisdictions, health benefits when working are free. There's no deduction for them. And then after they retire, they're also free.

Yes. And indeed, the budget in New York City, I think, would be dramatically improved if only public workers had to pay the same percentage of health benefits as private industry does. In many jurisdictions, health benefits when working are free. There's no deduction for them. And then after they retire, they're also free.

The difference in state and municipal budgets is apparently just radically altered by the fact that there's no contribution as required in the most private sector context.

The difference in state and municipal budgets is apparently just radically altered by the fact that there's no contribution as required in the most private sector context.

The politicians get campaign contributions. So the politicians in exchange for this, what is in effect a new spoil system? You know, the old spoil system, politicians would get campaign funds and then they would give people public jobs. no matter how bad a job they did. And we supposedly got rid of that with the merit system.

The politicians get campaign contributions. So the politicians in exchange for this, what is in effect a new spoil system? You know, the old spoil system, politicians would get campaign funds and then they would give people public jobs. no matter how bad a job they did. And we supposedly got rid of that with the merit system.

The union collective bargaining creates a new spoil system, except it's different because it's permanent. It doesn't change with the change of party control. And in this system, the unions consolidate the mass of big government

The union collective bargaining creates a new spoil system, except it's different because it's permanent. It doesn't change with the change of party control. And in this system, the unions consolidate the mass of big government