Will Texas Lawmakers Cut Their Own Benefits?

by Ross Ramsey
March 11, 2011
12 Comments

As they talk of cutting pension contributions and raising premiums for state employee health care, having state employees pay to park in state garages, and mandating layoffs and furloughs at state agencies, what are lawmakers doing to their own compensation and benefits?

It’s a mixed bag. They already trimmed their regular pay, in a roundabout way. Their health benefits work just like those for state employees, which means lawmakers shoulder the same added costs and/or lowered coverages they impose on state workers. Their retirement benefits — arguably the most lucrative benefit available to a state legislator in Texas — probably ...

Full Story

Comment Policy

The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your user name will be displayed. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Sign-Up

Comments (12)

March 11, 2011 @ 8:39 a.m.

Angel R. Rivera via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I am in the wrong line of work.
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 8:42 a.m.

Beverly Fraytet Smythia via Texas Tribune on Facebook

This really angers me! I just retired after 27 years of teaching and get about half of this amount, without buying into the TRS health care. Let's see our lawmakers take a cut to their benefits before ever asking teachers to do so.
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 8:43 a.m.

Jill Emery via Texas Tribune on Facebook

What about the recovery taxes on this retirement? Currently texans who receive Texas Teacher's Retirement are paying ~$50 in tax each month on their TRS checks. Will lawmakers face the same taxing structure as other Texas State retirees?
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 8:54 a.m.

Luis Vela Guevara via Texas Tribune on Facebook

They better or else!!!
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 9:06 a.m.

Grumper Ward via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Do not ask others to do what you are not willing to do yourself.
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 9:21 a.m.

Michael B Openshaw

The retirement packages should be adjusted up to 65, dead minimum. And the health benefits need to be cost effective and not a massive burden of future indebtedness
March 11, 2011 @ 9:25 a.m.

Jim Stewart via Texas Tribune on Facebook

cutting everything else, why not that, I wonder???
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 9:31 a.m.

Cynthia Kirby via Texas Tribune on Facebook

And what about our hard working teachers??
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 9:37 a.m.

Cristal Robinson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

They (lege members) get paid more in retirement than they do while doing the job. They are paid onlt $7200 a year plus a $168 per diem the 120 in session every 2 years. That clearly does not sound right.
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 9:53 a.m.

D J

What the story fails to mention is that the average state retiree earns less than $18,000 a year for 23 years of service. Legislators earn triple that amount. Plus, because Legislators only contribute to the pension based on a "$600 a month salary," state employees (and taxpayers) must subsidize legislative pensions.
March 11, 2011 @ 10:55 a.m.

Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook

They certainly deserve to be investigated. Represent the people?? Answer to them, then!!
- + Reply
March 11, 2011 @ 4:09 p.m.

Nanci Wilson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Lawmakers kids get covered under the state's health plan until they marry. Doesn't matter how old they are....unmarried = covered.
- + Reply