Your view: Flawed pension

As a Kansas City Star article of Sept. 18, 2004, illustrates, the Missouri Judges ALJ Legislators and Elected Officials Retirement System is a flawed pension program which is a travesty for Missouri taxpayers. It is outrageous that a political appointee to a state commission is eligible for a lifetime pension of $27,000 a year after serving a mere 16 days.

Both Gov. Matt Blunt and State Auditor Claire McCaskill have promised to address this issue and have called for changes in the current retirement system. Members of the General Assembly have also expressed dissatisfaction with this extravagant pension entitlement.

Another inequitable aspect of Missouri's Judges ALJ Legislators and Elected Officials Retirement System relates to spousal benefits. As the former wife of Sen. Christopher Bond, I am a victim of this legislation. I was married to Senator Bond for 28 years and, as is customary in marriages of long standing, I was awarded half of his retirement benefits. Because I was married to Senator Bond throughout his service in Missouri State government, I was entitled to a full 50 percent of his pension. During eight of those years I served as first lad of Missouri.

The projected pension benefit at the time of the divorce was estimated to be $4,800 per year for each of us. However, when the Missouri Judges ALJ Legislators and Elected Officials Retirement System became law, former Governor Bond was the beneficiary of an enormous windfall. By opting to move from the old pension system, Governor Bond received an annual tenfold increase. For the year 2004, former Governor Bond's portion was approximately $50,000 while I received $5,023.32. Former spouses were specifically denied a share of this legislative largesse (V.A.M.S. 104.312).

There are compelling philosophical and ethical arguments for revising the 2000 judicial retirement system on several fronts. However, because of multiple, ongoing health issues, I have a very personal interest in seeing the wrongs righted in this law. At 63, I am unmarried and self-employed as an interior designer without typical benefits such as medical leave and disability insurance. Continuing to work while coping with myriad health issues has been extremely difficult and the future is scary, indeed.

It is my fervent hope that Governor Blunt and State Auditor Claire McCaskill will work with members of the Missouri Legislature to rectify the demonstrated abuses and inequities of the Missouri Judges ALJ Legislators and Elected Officials Retirement System during the coming session.

Very sincerely,

Carolyn Reid Bond