Strange Bedfellows

Is the topic of pension reform so hot that it can’t be discussed in public?

Depending on who you talk to, it’s an issue that’s already been addressed — or one that should continue to be talked about as a campaign issue leading up to the elections in November.

Steve Bailey, chairman of the Baltimore County Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, is in the latter camp, but says it’s an issue at least one councilman doesn’t want people talking about. (more…)

This week’s chat with Maryland Morning News anchor Bill Vanko. This week, we talk about recently passed legislation to reform pensions for county council members and Ken Holt and Del. Pat McDonough, two top GOP prospects for county executive

Today’s debate over two bills that would reform pensions for members of the County Council might be the first skirmish of the campaign season between two men thought to be the top contenders for county executive in 2010.

Councilman Kevin Kamenetz in November proposed capping pensions for councilmen  at 60 percent for freshman council members elected in 2010. The proposal sounded strangely like an idea Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder said he raised but never filed a bill on nearly a decade ago but could find no supporters.

So in December, Bartenfelder struck back and offered his own bill with language that would not only cap pensions at 60 percent but would also tighten the pension rules that allow so-called double-dipping pensions when council members run for county executive. The bill also seeks to change the age at which retiring members can collect their pensions. (more…)

One by one the county’s seven councilmen are speaking about the possibility of reforming the pension plan that has been in place for the last 50 years.

The issue attracted attention after it was revealed that Democratic Councilman Vince Gardina would retire after completing an unprecedented fifth term and be eligible immediately for a pension equal to 100 percent of his current $54,000 annual salary.

Since then, some on the council, including Gardina, have expressed an opinion about possible changes to the system. Not everyone, however, has made up his mind.

“It’s something I haven’t thought about,” said Councilman John Olszewski Sr., a three-term Democrat who represents the 7th District, including Dundalk, Essex and part of Rosedale.

Current Council Chairman Joseph Bartenfelder said he wanted to cap council pensions at 60 percent 10 years ago but had no support. Two weeks ago, he said he’d sponsor a bill with a similar cap if he could find at least three more votes.

Olszewski said he couldn’t comment on Bartenfelder’s idea, repeating that it wasn’t something he had thought about.

Would you support an effort to reform the pension system, I asked Olszewski.

Olszewski smiled and said, “You never say never.”

Another County Councilman is weighing in on the issue of possible pension reforms for council members.

Bryan McIntire, the council’s lone Republican, said he believes the current council will have to confront the issue.

“It’s out there,” said McIntire, who represents the 3rd district, including Parkton, part of Cockeysville, and Kingsville. “The public is concerned about it, and it must be addressed.”

McIntire made his comments during a Thursday night phone interview. All seven councilmen were called about the pension issue. (more…)

The current controversy about pensions for County Council members is a no-win scenario regardless of what the council may or may not do in the way of reform, according to former County Executive Don Hutchinson.

“There’s no way they can win on it,” Hutchinson said, adding that voters would likely see any action as “nothing more than reaction to a story of exposure.”

“I don’t think this council can do anything about it,” Hutchinson said. “I think the council, any council, could have changed it, but they chose not to. The new council can talk about it, consider it, discuss it. I think this council is best to leave it alone.”

The two-term Democratic executive talked about the pension issue during an interview about a possible return to politics.

Hutchinson said he understood why the pension issue has captured the attention of the public.

“I think that the average man and woman always look at somebody else’s life in comparison to their own and what they know,” Hutchinson said. “They know that when they retire, regardless of the job they had or what they’ve done, they know they’re not going to get full compensation for their retired years. They know they’re income is not 100 percent of what it was when they left their job.

“That’s all they know, and that’s what they think is fair. They think what is fair for everybody is what has been fair for them.”

So is the public wrong? (more…)