Friends in High Places

Friends in high places
Legislature considers sweet pension deals for judges

It's great to have friends in high places. Roger Monroe's friends in the Legislature could give the former Alabama Court of Civil Appeals judge a sweet early-retirement bonus.

Under a bill sponsored by Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, Monroe, 53, would be able to buy five years of credit to his judicial time for $46,548, qualifying to start collecting a $116,462-a-year pension at age 62 rather than age 70. The eight years' difference adds up to more than $930,000 for Monroe.

What a deal. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to turn a $46,000 investment into nearly $1 million?

But it's an awful deal for the Retirement Systems of Alabama, which must pay out the hefty retirement checks. That's why it's fighting this bill, which also would allow Mobile County Circuit Judge Bill McDermott, 67, to buy four years of service for $24,428 in order to qualify for a $90,278 pension beginning in 2005. Without the legislation, McDermott would not qualify for any judicial pension. Converting $24,428 into $90,278 a year is an equally impressive trick.

Despite the RSA's opposition, Bedford's bill already has passed the Senate (obviously a friendly place for former judges) and is in the House Ways and Means-General Fund Committee. Rep. John Knight, chairman of the committee, last week said he was undecided about supporting the bill. He shouldn't. This bill stinks, as well as several others in the Legislature that seek to fatten the pensions of former judges.

In fact, sponsoring bills dealing with pensions is a favorite pastime of lawmakers in both the Senate and House. This session, more than 60 bills have been introduced dealing with retirement benefits of various sorts, ranging from schoolteachers to Supreme Court justices.

If legislators were as diligent in looking after the everyday needs of the average Alabama citizen, think how much better off this state would be.

Alas, the average Alabama citizen doesn't have the right kind of friends in high places.

Bill withdrawn by Sponsor

© The Birmingham News

Alabama's Great Seal

	Friends in high places Legislature considers sweet pension deals for judges It's great to have friends in high places. Roger Monroe's friends in the Legislature could give the former Alabama Court of Civil Appeals judge a sweet early-retirement bonus. Under a bill sponsored by Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, Monroe, 53, would be able to buy five years of credit to his judicial time for $46,548, qualifying to start collecting a $116,462-a-year pension at age 62 rather than age 70. The eight years' difference adds up to more than $930,000 for Monroe. What a deal. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to turn a $46,000 investment into nearly $1 million? But it's an awful deal for the Retirement Systems of Alabama, which must pay out the hefty retirement checks. That's why it's fighting this bill, which also would allow Mobile County Circuit Judge Bill McDermott, 67, to buy four years of service for $24,428 in order to qualify for a $90,278 pension beginning in 2005. Without the legislation, McDermott would not qualify for any judicial pension. Converting $24,428 into $90,278 a year is an equally impressive trick. Despite the RSA's opposition, Bedford's bill already has passed the Senate (obviously a friendly place for former judges) and is in the House Ways and Means-General Fund Committee. Rep. John Knight, chairman of the committee, last week said he was undecided about supporting the bill. He shouldn't. This bill stinks, as well as several others in the Legislature that seek to fatten the pensions of former judges. In fact, sponsoring bills dealing with pensions is a favorite pastime of lawmakers in both the Senate and House. This session, more than 60 bills have been introduced dealing with retirement benefits of various sorts, ranging from schoolteachers to Supreme Court justices. If legislators were as diligent in looking after the everyday needs of the average Alabama citizen, think how much better off this state would be. Alas, the average Alabama citizen doesn't have the right kind of friends in high places. Bill withdrawn by Sponsor © The Birmingham News

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