re: Mike Edmondson to get $128K retirement--state tax free--age 58

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He worked close to 40 years in a job that the vast majority of people would and could never do. He was in the public eye and scrutinized.

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escorting football coaches off the field?

i'd kick arse at doing that

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It's not a cake walk but the problem is how people who work in positions that are funded by taxpayer dollars are now getting better pensions and retirement packages than the working stiffs that pay the taxes to allow this bull shittee.

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He is and was a taxpayer as well and also did work that ensured the tax paying public had safe travels to work and a relatively safe environment in general

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(particularly competent more senior level folks)

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Those are a rare breed indeed. In my near-decade of work with the state most of the costly mistakes I've seen have been from that level. In a lot of agencies leadership skills aren't what determine who gets bumped up into management, it's seniority, degrees/certifications & whom you are friends with. Granted, this isn't much different from large corporations, the difference comes in disciplining poor management.

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You should not make broad statements. In my career I worked hurricanes while others wisely evacuated. I entered dark buildings looking for burglars while the owners watched from outside. I worked undercover assignments, traffic accidents, cared for injured, arrested car thrives, was shot at, etc. It sure was not for the money.

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It was your decision and I am glad you made.

Don't underestimate what the rest of the population did either. They worked and paid the taxes to finance your career.

You should not have your retirement income treated differently than mine or anyone else.

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He worked close to 40 years in a job that the vast majority of people would and could never do.

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Bub there are a shitload of people that can pull people over for speeding on the Basin Bridge. There are not a lot of people that can be CEO's.

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He was in the public eye and scrutinized.

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So

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There has to be an incentive for people to do certain jobs.

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The incentive is getting a paycheck every other week while your on the job....not ripping the state off.

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It's not a cake walk but the problem is how people who work in positions that are funded by taxpayer dollars are now getting better pensions and retirement packages than the working stiffs that pay the taxes to allow this bull shittee.

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Many non-managerial positions in the state pay below the market rate. People take those lower rates in exchange for better pension. What you're seeing with Edmonson is what happens at the top end, the workers "in the trenches" don't make out nearly so well.

On this we agree. I wish all retirement income was tax free, both state and federal.

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about the only arse you could kick, internet tough guy

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nah man, when you talk about who can kick who's arse, that makes YOU the e-tough guy.

sorry that figure of speech confused you

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I'd much rather that everyone in Louisiana get their retirement tax free rather than taxing state and federal employees. Why is your first reaction to always tax someone? Instead, wouldn't it make more sense to just remove the "unfair" part from everyone, not just state and federal employees.

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My first reaction is to get rid of taxes. We are, however, a balanced budget state. Any special treatment one taxpayer gets causes the rest to pay more.

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Because, if you are honest, you will acknowledge that we have a spending problem at the state and federal level.

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Well I am certainly honest and I guarantee you no one on this board has advocated for more cuts than I.

We are exempting $4 billion a year in pension income from state pensions from state income tax and that cost the rest of the tax payers upwards to $240 million just as if the government had written checks for it.

We could tax these pensions and lower tax rates for everybody.