Branstad should forgo pension

By Sioux City Journal

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Quite frankly, we are surprised an astute, experienced political veteran like Terry Branstad wasn't out ahead of this week's Associated Press story in which political opponents criticized him for collecting both his salary as governor and his pension for former service in public office.

Sharp political instincts should have compelled Branstad to voluntarily forgo or reduce his pension during this term as governor in the name of shared sacrifice at a time of economic challenge, it seems to us. Instead, he's facing questions and deflecting criticisms about the subject.

?In the overall budget picture, is the roughly $50,000 pension Branstad is paid for former service as a state legislator, lieutenant governor and governor a significant figure? No. Is he entitled to the money by law? Yes. Is political payback a motive behind criticism of the pension from state employee union officials? Yes.

Still, Branstad should have been more sensitive to the appearance of a “do as I say, not as I do” leadership model, as the president of the Iowa Federation of Labor charged. After all, Branstad signed into law a provision prohibiting state workers under age 65 who return to service from collecting a full pension. Retired workers who return to public employment under those conditions have their monthly retirement earnings reduced by 50 cents for every dollar they earn over $30,000.

That's not the case for elected officials like Branstad.

The smart move for Branstad would be to give up the pension or voluntarily reduce it until his term as governor is over and work aggressively to close the loophole that allows elected officials to essentially double dip.