Branstad defends drawing his pension from his previous tenure and his current salary simultaneously.

[Skidmore]

He's earned it, he says. If we have a pension fight here with union members, we'll need to remind him that we earned ours too.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110222/NEWS09/102220361/Branstad-says-he-s-entitled-to-receive-pension-plus-salary

Branstad says he's entitled to receive pension plus salary
11:23 PM, Feb. 21, 2011 |

Written by
THOMAS BEAUMONT

Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday that he was justified in receiving a pension from his previous years in state government and his salary as governor, arguing he is earning both.

The Iowa Democratic Party has begun airing an Internet ad criticizing Branstad for receiving both while he calls for deep spending cuts.

"What I earned from the 26 years I served in public service before, like any other employee, is something I earned. And I never intended to refuse to accept that," Branstad told reporters.

Branstad served in the Legislature, was lieutenant governor for four years and governor for 16 years before leaving state government in 1999. He returned in January after defeating Gov. Chet Culver...

[NNN0LHI]

1. I never realized this pension plus salary stuff was going on

I got into the wrong business.

Don

[Skidmore]

2. You can draw SS at the same time you are drawing a salary if

you continue to work past age 65 too.

[notadmblnd]

3. That is true. However, after you make about 12k, you have to pay SSI back.

[NNN0LHI]

4. That I knew about

We had a few cantankerous old guys who wouldn't retire because of it. Some had more than 50 years with the company. One guy had started working at Ford in Michigan somewhere when he was only 16 years old. Some could barely walk any more and they were still coming to work every day. They never turned down a minute of overtime either.

Most of them ended up going out feet first on a stretcher with an EMT or nurse beating on their chest. What a way to retire.

Don

[Thav]

5. Austerity for thee, but not for me, sez Bumstead

He argues that he earned his pension, but then says everyone else didn't.