Bridge Magazine has been highlighting the fact that many public employers (and taxpayers) now face large unfunded retirement liabilities for pensions and retiree health care. I spent most of my legal career suing employers who tried to cut vested benefits for past retirees. I have spent the last six years suing to get health care benefits restored for county road commission retirees.

Many communities and counties claim the costs are too burdensome and seek relief either from the state or its employees/retirees. I write to suggest that this “problem” was really just a poor choice made by public employers to defer paying (funding) for these benefits.

Kicking-the-can-down-the-road was easy – until now. But retirees are not responsible for this lack of funding and arguments that they should accept cuts are unfair.

Source: Opinion | Why does ‘fixing’ Michigan pensions stick it to workers? | Bridge Magazine