News Bulletins Pensions

Governor appoints anti-pension ideologue to Pension Review Board

December 10, 2015
Chris Knapp

On Monday, November 30th, Governor Gregg Abbott appointed anti – pension lobbyist Josh McGee as chairman of the Texas Pension Review Board. McGee is Vice President of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation – a private organization that advocates phasing out state employee pensions and forcing public workers into high-risk 401(k) style retirement plans. Unlike our current pension system, 401(k) defined contribution plans leave employees and retirees unprotected from stock market risks and do not provide lifetime retirement security.

PensionHenHouseIn recent years, anti-pension shill groups such as the Arnold Foundation have lobbied local, state and federal governments to force these changes onto public employees. They falsely claim that our pension systems are financially unsustainable and a burden on tax payers. In reality, this is just a blatant attempt by Wall Street fund managers to privatize and profit off public pensions at the expense of hard working employees and retirees. By charging numerous fees and skimming from the top, the Wall Street firms managing 401(k)s stand to make unimaginable wealth if our pensions were to be switched to defined contribution schemes. The majority of Texas public pension systems are adequately funded and performing well above national standards. Governor Abbott’s decision to appoint Josh McGee to the Pension Review Board shows that he favors Wall Street interests over those who have dedicated their careers to public service.

The Texas Pension Review Board is an independent state agency whose mission is to monitor the financial stability of all Texas public retirement systems and recommend policy and legislation to governing bodies. However, any specific changes made to state pension plans have to be passed into law through the Texas Legislature.  The board consists of seven members who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.

Governor Abbott’s appointment decision has also drawn protest from police and firefighter unions who endorsed him in the 2014 election. Various representatives from these unions have stated that they feel betrayed by the Governor’s decision and refer to his Pension Review Board appointee as a “fox watching the hen house.”

The governor’s board appointment is only a piece of a larger movement to dismantle public employee pensions. Other anti-pension groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) have repeatedly advocated for cuts and drastic changes to public employee pension and health care benefits.

TSEU has fought off past attempts to cut benefits and convert our pension plans to 401 (k) defined contribution systems. As recently as the 2015 legislative session, TSEU was instrumental in defeating proposed pension cuts on employees enrolled in the Employee Retirement System (ERS).

Call your State Senator today and tell them:

My name is _______ and I’m a state worker/retiree. I’m calling to ask Senator _______ to urge Governor Abbott to withdraw his appointment of Josh McGee to the Pension Review Board. Anti-pension advocates should not be overseeing my pension benefits. Thank you.

You live in or near:    Your State Senator is:    Phone number:

  • Abilene  –  Sen. Troy Fraser  –  325-676-7404

  • Amarillo  –  Sen. Kel Seliger  –  806-374-8994

  • Austin  –  Sen. Kirk Watson  –  512-463-0114

  • Beaumont  –  Sen. Brandon Creighton  –  409-838-9861

  • Big Spring  –  Sen. Kel Seliger  –  432-268-9909

  • Brenham  –  Sen. Lois Kolkhorst  –  979-251-7888

  • Brownsville  –  Sen. Eddie Lucio  –  956-548-0227

  • Brownwood  –  Sen. Troy Fraser  –  325-676-7404

  • Bryan/College Sta  –  Sen. Charles Schwertner  –  979-776-0222

  • Corpus Christi  –  Sen. Chuy Hinojosa  –  361-225-1200

  • Corsicana  –  Sen. Brian Birdwell  –  817-573-9622

  • Dallas (E, NE)  –  Sen. Bob Hall      –  972-722-3131

  • Dallas (S, W)  –  Sen. Royce West  –  214-741-0123

  • Dallas (N, NW)  –  Sen. Don Huffines  –  214-239-6131

  • Denton  –  Sen. Jane Nelson  –  817-424-3446

  • Eagle Pass  –  Sen. Carlos Uresti  –  830-758-0294

  • El Paso      –  Sen. Jose Rodriguez  –  915-351-3500

  • Fort Worth (North)  –  Sen. Kelly Hancock  –  817-514-3804

  • Fort Worth (South)  –  Sen. Konni Burton  –  817-882-8157

  • Gainesville  –  Sen. Craig Estes      –  940-898-0331

  • Galveston  –  Sen. Larry Taylor      –  281-332-0003

  • Harlingen  –  Sen. Eddie Lucio      –  956-787-5227

  • Houston (East)      –  Sen. Sylvia Garcia  –  713-923-7575

  • Houston (Northwest)  –  Sen. John Whitmire  –  713-864-8701

  • Houston (S, Cen)  –  Sen. Rodney Ellis  –  713-236-0306

  • Houston (SW)      –  Sen. Joan Huffman      –  281-980-3500

  • Katy  –  Sen. Lois Kolkhorst  –  281-394-5610

  • Laredo      –  Sen. Judith Zaffirini  –  956-722-2293

  • Lubbock  –  Sen. Charles Perry  –  806-783-9934

  • Lufkin  –  Sen. Robert Nichols  –  936-699-4988

  • McAllen  –  Sen. Chuy Hinojosa  –  956-972-1841

  • Midland/Odessa  –  Sen. Kel Seliger  –  432-620-0436

  • Nacogdoches      –  Sen. Robert Nichols  –  936-564-4252

  • Orange  –  Sen. Robert Nichols  –  936-699-4988

  • Round Rock  –  Sen. Charles Schwertner  –  512-863-8456

  • San Angelo  –  Sen. Charles Perry  –  325-481-0028

  • San Antonio (Cen)  –  Sen. Jose Menendez  –  210-733-6604

  • San Antonio (North)  –  Sen. Donna Campbell  –  210-979-0013

  • San Antonio (W, S, E)  –  Sen. Carlos Uresti  –  800-459-0119

  • San Marcos  –  Sen. Donna Campbell  –  830-626-0065

  • Temple/Killeen      –  Sen. Troy Fraser  –  254-939-3562

  • Terrell  –  Sen. Bob Hall      –  972-722-3131

  • Tyler  –  Sen. Kevin Eltife  –  903-596-9122

  • Vernon      –  Sen. Charles Perry  –  806-783-9934

  • Victoria  –  Sen. Lois Kolkhorst  –  361-573-7300

  • Waco  –  Sen. Brian Birdwell  –  254-772-6225

  • Wichita Falls  –  Sen. Craig Estes  –  940-689-0191