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Friday, March 17, 2006

Ind. Law - Star criticizes Senator Garton

The Indianapolis Star's editorial cartoon today is a Gary Varvel drawing of Senator Garton walking away from the Statehouse with a large turkey tucked under his arm. The turkey is dropping golden eggs labeled "Health Care Perk" and "401k".

The Star's editorial today is headed "Unfinsihed Business" and includes this:

Senate leader fails to cut perk

Early in the session, House Speaker Brian Bosma eliminated a benefit that provided heavily subsidized health, dental and vision insurance for retired state representatives and their families for life. However, his counterpart in the Senate, President Pro Tempore Robert Garton, failed to follow Bosma's lead.

Senate leaders were shamed into modifying the perk, reducing the subsidy taxpayers shell out and requiring senators to serve for six years and past the age of 50 to qualify. But the deal is still amazingly sweet, especially when tied to the part-time job of serving in the legislature.

Senators defend the perk by noting that their base pay, at $11,600 a year, is quite low. Which is true. Yet, legislators also have given themselves a 401(k) plan that would make corporate executives envious. Taxpayers kick in $4 toward lawmakers' pensions for every $1 they contribute. A more straightforward way for legislators to compensate themselves would be to reduce or eliminate the perks and raise the base salary to a respectable level.

By the way, Garton has the authority by himself to wipe out the perk. He, along with the House Speaker at the time, John Gregg, implemented the benefit in 2002 over the objections of then-Gov. Frank O'Bannon.

Garton so far has stubbornly refused to act. Voters should keep that in mind as they head to the polls in May and November.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 17, 2006 09:55 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law | Legislative Benefits