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Show DAILY Thursday, April 20, 2006 HERALD NATIONSWORLD | DailySHerald Congressional lawmakers outpace most Americans in pensions, health benefits _ JimAbrams THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Membersof Congress oclose elections, but they neverlose retirement and health benefits that most Americans can only en A lawmaker who retires at 60 after just 12 years in office can count on réceiving an immedi- ate pension of $25,000 a year andlifetime benefits that could total more than That doesn't include 401(k) benefits. ‘And any memberwho lastsfive yearsin office also can get taxpayer-subsidized health care until he or she reaches Medicareage. Congressional pensions tend to be far more generous than those offered inthe private sector. Benefits start earlier and — unlike most private pension plans promising a fixed monthly paymentbased on years worked and pay — come STEVE NESIUS /Associated Press with annual cost-of-livingincreases. They also accrue a third faster than the average plan offered by private companies. Any member of Congresswith five years of service is eligible for full benefits at 62. Those with 20yearsin office can get full benefits at 50, Sara Jane Cross, 75, a kindergarten teacher at Sawgrass Lake Elementary School, reads to her class Tuesday,in St. Petersburg, Fla Teachers dubious about ‘No Child’act younger than most workers. Cost-of-living adjustments, a shield against in- flation, “haven't beenslightly commonsince the 1980s”in the private sector, said John Ehrhardt, an expert in corporateretirement programs at the Seattle-based consulting andactuarial firm Milliman. He said COLAs could add 25percent to the valueof a congressional plan overits lifetime. It doesn't matter what a lawmakerdoes before or after leaving office. Former Rep. Randy “Duke” -Calif., who was sentenced to eight years and four months in jail after pleading guilty to bribery chargesthis year,is still entitled to an annual pension of about $36,000 for his15 years in the House. That doesn’t includehis military pension or 401(k) benefits. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, RTexas, whois resigningafter 22 years,will qualify for an initial pension of $56,000. DeLay could get pension paymentsof nearly $2 million over his expected lifetime, according to the National Taxpayers Union, which tracks congressional pensionissues. Lawmakersalso have the peace of mind of knowing their federally backed plan will be there whentheyretire. “] don't think that many people in Congress would be quite so indifferent to the demise of the defined-benefit plan if they didn’t have such a robust plan themselves,” said JamesKlein, president of the American Benefits Council, which represents companies with pension plans. ress is now working onpensionlegislation aimed at shoring up the defined-benefit plans available to some 44 million employeesandretirees, but there’s no stopping the trend of compa- BenFeller Rep. Tom DeLay speaks during a news conference after announcinghis decision to abandonedhis bid to rernain as House majority leader in Sugar Land, Texas on Jan. 7 encourage.In 2003 he asked the Congressional Research Service to see what would happen to lawmakers’ benefits under such an:approach. “Theresult would have been huge cutbacks for some members,” Sanderssaidin a recentinterview. For example, say a representative retired at 56 at the end of 2002 with 18 years of service. At 62 he or she would have a defined benefit plan worth $608,000. A comparable cashbalanceplan would be worth $251,000. Under currentrules, lawmakers who serve 30 yearswill receive a yearly pension of 44 percent oftheir annual pay, whichthis year is $165,200. That doesn't include their Social Security benefits and whatthey get back from their 401(k)plans. Like other federal workersin the Thrift Savings Plan, the government's equivalent of a 401(k), lawmakers mayinvest up to $15,000 yearly, more if they're over 50,and receive a.contribution from the governmentequal to 5 percentof their pay. Older lawmakers. "ho werein office before the rules were changed two decades ago, can receive even high: pensions, thoughtheir Social Securityis less. Rep. HenryHyde, R-Ill., whois retiring at the end ofthis session after three decadesin the House, will receive a pension of $119,000 a year, Employersalso are eviching to less costly cashbalance plans, under which employees gen- according to the National Taxpayers Union, an interest group that keeps track. Ted Stevens, R- retire or leave the company. Rep. Bernard SandersofI-Vt.,is a critic of the cash balance plans that the Housebill would WASHINGTON — Teachers are far more pessimistic than parents about getting every studentto succeed in reading But the law does demand regulartesting and yearly from the stateofdiscipline to the qualityof high schools. the No Child Left Behind Act. That's left a huge expectations gap between the two main sets ofadults in children’s lives. An AP-AOLLearning Services Poll found nearly eight in 10 parents are confidenttheir local schools will have students up to state standards by the 2013-14 school year target. Yet only half of teachers are confident the kids in their schools will meetthat deadline. improvementbyschools, all aimed at getting 100 percent of children to do grade-level work y If teachers themselves are skeptical about the goal, it may A majorreasonis that adults see the children differently. Parents-tendto focus ontheir own children, while teachers work with dozens of students from different backgrounds. “I think the standards are makethe job even harder The surveyalso found:that being applied to everybody in- 64 percentof teachers say discriminately, without regard to their abilities,” said Steve their state standardsin reading and math are about right. Most Peterson of Knoxville, Ill., who has been teachingfor 31 years. werealso twiceas likely as “are not goingto be able to teachers, 31 percent to 15 percent, to say current standards parents agreed. But parents “Schools in general,” he said, meetthe standards.” are too lenient. UTAH COUNTY’S LARGEST! PIANOYtty rl SALE vv La rs aa TT Sots Alaska,a senator for 38 years, would be eligible for $125,000 if he retired at the end ofhis cur- GRANDS,VERTICAL PIANOS, rent term. He has a highersalary as the Senate's DIGITAL PIANOS AND President Pro Tem. The federal lawdoesnot set math and reading standards. States decide whatis taught. andteachersoften disagree on daily aspects of education, and math as boldly promised by nies shrinkingtheir plans ornotletting new hires join them. erally receive one lump-sum payment when they | Thefinding underscores a themein the poll. Parents DAVID J. PHILLIP /Associated Press PLAYER PIANOS! OVER 100 The Largest Collection of Pianos and Grand Pianos Ever Seen In Utah County! Spinets, Consoles, Studios, Grands, Digitals, & Player Pianos! A SALE SO LARGE WE HAD TORENT THE FORMER WAL-MART BUILDING " QS NEW * USED - RENTAL RETURNS - REPOS MANY BRANDS REPRESENTED! 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